Football player not going to White House because Obama would have met with other team if they'd won.

[Kerrytravelers]

I kid you not.

From the story...

Mr. Harrison isn't going to Washington; Steeler spurns Obama
By Chris Chase

On Thursday, President Obama will welcome the Pittsburgh Steelers to the White House to honor the team for its recent Super Bowl victory. But, just like in 2006 when the Steelers had a post-title meeting with George W. Bush, defensive MVP (and Super Bowl hero) James Harrison won't be in attendance. But he has a good reason:

"This is how I feel -- if you want to see the Pittsburgh Steelers, invite us when we don't win the Super Bowl. As far as I'm concerned, he would've invited Arizona if they had won."

Of course the Cards would have received the White House invite if they had won. Winners get to go meet the president, losers don't. They also get the trophy, the parade and those hats that say "Super Bowl champs". I don't think James Harrison(notes) turned down any of those things, which makes his refusal to go to the White House a tad hypocritical.

When Harrison won the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award, he didn't decline and say, "As far as he was concerned, they would've given this award to someone else if they had had a better defensive season." And when he scored that touchdown in the Super Bowl after returning an interception 100 yards, I'm pretty sure Harrison didn't tell the ref to take the points of the board because, as far as he was concerned, if Larry Fitzgerald(notes) had caught him, he wouldn't have scored.

[BlooInBloo]

1. That's close to the stupiest thing I've ever heard.

[Kerrytravelers]

3. At least he's equal opportunity stupid: He didn't go in 2006, either.

[madokie]

26. equal opportunity stupid

has got to be the funniest thing I've read in a while:rofl:
:rofl: my sides hurt

[shanti]

18. he must have been

hit in the head too many times...:eyes: good grief, what an idiot. it doesn't even make sense.

[BlooInBloo]

19. "I refuse to accept this trophy. If we had lost, you wouldn't be offering it to us."

:rofl:

[Occam Bandage]

30. "If you want to give the Pittsburgh Steelers a trophy, give them one when they don't win."

He seems unaware of who is supposed to be honoring whom.

[spanone]

2. dumb meet ass

[goforit]

4. CRY me a phucking river!!! millions of people umemployed & he has the audasity to be petty.

[BlooInBloo]

9. "audacity"

[Jackpine Radical]

21. odd-assity.

[Happyhippychick]

5. Please file in the "No Shit Sherlock" folder

[Captain Hilts]

6. Tiger Woods did the same thing to Bill Clinton and Rachel Robinson when he was

invited to Shea to retire Robinson's number 42 for the whole league ceremony, right after he won his first Masters.

He said they should have invited him before he won and went on vacation instead.

[Vickers]

36. That's not entirely correct.

He *did* decline, but only because he had already made plans with his friends, and not because he wasn't invited "before he won" the Masters.

Maybe his friendship with his buddies was more important to him than some folks trying to cash in (metaphorically) on his newfound fame (OK, newer-found fame).

:P

[Captain Hilts]

40. He DID mention he should have been invited "earlier," i.e. before he won. Since when is it

more important to go on vacation with friends than appear with the president at his invitation?

AND Rachel Robinson?????

[Vickers]

41. Not before he'd won...before he'd made prior plans.

I'm sure his response would be different now, but I distinctly remember his reasoning at the time (probably because I disagreed with it).

:thumbsup:

[madmom]

7. Sounds like he's been hit in the head one to many times.

[Catherine Vincent]

8. What a dumbass. nt

[obxhead]

10. ummmm. 'scratches head in confusion' nt

[Ian David]

11. He also bailed on Bush in 2006.

For the record, this isn't in any way related to politics. Harrison skipped a meeting with then-President Bush in 2006 after the Steelers won the Super Bowl. Sounds like he just thinks he's so important, world leaders should routinely clear their schedules for him -- even if his team misses the playoffs.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8413437

[JVS]

25. Good for him. There's no rule that says superbowl winners have to accept all invitations.

[Kerrytravelers]

31. I don't follow sports enough to care one way or the other.I just through the reason was pretty funny

If the White House had every athlete from all sports across the nation as guests, Obama wouldn't have time to do anything, like make Commencement speeches! So, the people who win the playoffs can go, but somehow, that annoys this guy. It's funny what people get their jockstraps all in a twist about. That's all.

[Catherine Vincent]

12. What a dumbass. nt

[Rex]

13. Someone drank the fucking kool-aid.

[JI7]

14. and if Obama had lost he would not even have invited them to the WH, it would have been McCain

everything is so unfair.

[islandmkl]

15. sometimes...being a dumbass, and trying to be all philosophical and shit...

just doesn't work out the way you thought it would...

nice MORAL STAND, jimmy....

yeah, stick your chin out and hold your head up...you got some principles, alright...

thanks for the laughs, jimmy...and, by the way...great game, just the same...

[MadMaddie]

16. Wow!! This guy who gets to play

a sport for a career, who gets paid $$$ to chase pigskin around a field doesn't realize how blessed he is. His stupidity can't be measured...

[GreenInNC]

17. same story posted here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8413437&mesg_id=8413437

[rateyes]

20. I have always wanted to say this to a Pittsburgh Steeler:

Go fuck yourself, Mr. Harrison. Oh, nevermind, you already did.

[jobycom]

22. Doesn't bother me. If that's what he feels is important, then good on him.

He's not making a political statement, since he did the same thing to Bush. I have no idea what kind of statement he's trying to make, but if it means something to him, he should make it.

Reminds me of Garth Brooks leaving his CMA award on the podium, or George C Scott rejecting his Oscar. Both were making a statement about artists being judged against each other, and the arbitrary nature of the award. Maybe Harris feels something like that. Of course, since he was on the team with more points at the end of the Super Bowl, he'd accept all of the rewards of that. But maybe he feels that being invited to the White House is a different kind of honor, and that it's more arbitrary. The other team could have won, but events went his way, and maybe he feels uncomfortable receiving an honor that he doesn't feel he earned, and that the other team could have just as easily earned.

I don't know. I never liked awards, and when I won them, I usually stuffed them in a drawer and ignored them. I always felt embarrassed by them, since most of the time it was just someone else's set of rules and priorities that gave me the award. I used to get awards for high grades, and I ignored them, because the grades and the awards weren't why I studied and learned. I even tried to get lower grades sometimes so I wouldn't win Valedictorian because I didn't think it should be a competition. On the other hand, I won a spelling bee once, and displayed that trophy, because it was a direct competition and the trophy was the result of the competition. I competed to win it, so it meant something that I won it.

It's hard to explain, but I think I know how he felt. Or maybe I'm reading my own motivations into someone else. Who knows? Who cares? WHo would even bother reading all these words? No one sane, that's for sure. We should all be out in the real world making friends and showing loved ones what they mean to us rather than worrying about rich jocks and their idiosynchrasies.

[Kerrytravelers]

27. I read your whole post... are you calling me an insane loner? ; - )

:rofl:

:P


:evilgrin:

[jobycom]

29. Not to your face.

:smoke:

[Kerrytravelers]

32. !!!!!!

:rofl:

[Occam Bandage]

34. To me, it reads more like

he's of the opinion that the invitation is a request for the Steelers to honor the President with a visit, rather than an offer from the President to honor the Steelers. "If you want to see us, see us when we don't win" seems to fit with that mentality, and doesn't really square with your theory of refusing an honor that is not earned.

[jobycom]

38. Dunno.

Maybe. Doesn't jibe with the second part of the statement, though nothing really jibes with both parts of that statement.

I wasn't really saying he doesn't feel the honor was earned, more like he might feel that it's an honor Obama doesn't really have a reason to give out.

Meh. He's a jock, and we're trying to make sense of him. That's like listening to Carrie Prejean and expecting political philosophy.

[bleever]

23. He should have been ejected from the Super Bowl after that personal foul

he laid down on some immobilized Cardinal.

Maybe its roids talking; it ain't sense.

[Stellabella]

24. Another great example of poutrage.

Getting your knickers in a twist over something petty. Like Repukes about everything they're 'outraged' about these days.

[Occam Bandage]

28. "I ain't gonna accept this ring. They'd have given rings to Arizona if they won."

:crazy:

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Occam Bandage]

35. This must be one of the final Grovelbots of this drive. nt

[rucky]

37. I guess he won't be going to Disneyland, either. n/t

[Wickerman]

39. Ego Overload

So sad to be living in his little bubble. One day he'll blow out a knee and his petty little world will crash down around him. I wouldn't wish that on him but the odds are pretty great he won't play thru a natural end to his career.