I came across this article about James Harrison not going to the White House with the rest of the Steelers by a very anti-white, ultra-liberalwriter I've long disliked, but found the parts about Dan Rooney interesting (Harrison on the other hand is just another uninteresting, girlfriend-hittingNFL idiot-thug).
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Harrison's White House no-show disrespectful
<DIV =story_subline>Linebacker's decision a slap at Obama and Rooney
<DIV =story_lastupdate>Sunday, May 24, 2009
<DIV =story_byline>By
Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
<DIV =story_>
James Harrison couldn't have driven to Washington D.C.?
You're right, that's ridiculous.
Let me rephrase:
With all of his money, Harrison couldn't have hired a limo to take him to the White House Thursday to see President Barack Obama?
Really, is that asking too much?
Put me on the long list of those who were greatly offended by Harrison's decision not to go to D.C. with his teammates for a meet-and-greet with the president, a ceremony that didn't just honor and humble them, but one that they clearly enjoyed. The explanation that he's afraid of flying -- leaked to the media not by him, but by a club source -- seems lame in this case. So does another excuse I heard the other day from a team official: Harrison is afraid the White House is going to be blown up.
Please.
I'm thinking the man didn't make the trip for one reason and one reason only: He's a disrespectful fool.
Disrespectful to Obama. More significantly, disrespectful to the Office of the President of the United States. And most significantly, disrespectful to Steelers owner Dan Rooney.
Certainly, it's OK to not like Obama or his politics, just as it was OK not to like George W. Bush or his before him. In many countries, that sort of thing could get you killed. But that freedom of choice is one of the many reasons America is the greatest nation in the world. We're all entitled to our opinions, be they popular or otherwise.
But there's no excuse for not respecting the Office of the President. It doesn't matter who is in it. The position itself commands respect. To me, it represents all of the freedoms we cherish.
That's why it was so detestable when former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter wore sunglasses throughout the ceremony with Bush in 2006 after the team won Super Bowl XL. He did so even though the festivities took place indoors, in the East Room of the White House. My gosh, does it really hurt to have a little class? No matter how little you might think of Bush?
Maybe Steelers linebackers have a thing with sitting presidents.
But the disrespect Harrison showed Obama and his office is nothing compared to what he showed Rooney. For that, he should be ashamed.
This ceremony was a big deal to Rooney. Sure, it was a gimmicky photo opportunity for Obama. And sure, you can argue the president should have had better things to do with his time during this troubled period of our history. But it still was a meaningful day for Rooney. During the presidential campaign last year, he stumped for Obama because he believed in him with great passion and conviction, often taking severe criticism from those who thought he was wrong not just about Obama, but for politicizing his football team. Now, Rooney is getting ready to work for the Obama administration. Confirmation of his nomination as Ambassador to Ireland is expected next month.
You bet this ceremony was a big deal to Rooney.
And Harrison thumbed his nose at him?
After all Rooney has done for him?
That has very little to do with the six-year, $51.175 million contract -- including a $10 million bonus -- that the Steelers gave Harrison after last season. He earned that with his phenomenal play the past two seasons. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year last season with a team-record 16 sacks and made the greatest play in Super Bowl history, returning an interception 100 yards for a touchdown in the 27-23 victory against the Arizona Cardinals. Yes, Rooney went against his typically sound judgment of not giving a big, multi-year contract to a player in his 30s, but Harrison, who turned 31 on May 4, is a unique case. His production could not be ignored.
What's troubling about Harrison bailing on Rooney is that the two have a relationship that goes beyond football. It was just a little more than a year ago that Rooney rushed to Harrison's public defense when Harrison was accused of assaulting his girlfriend after she allegedly refused to take their son to be baptized. Rooney's clumsy comments bordered on the insane -- "[Harrison] was doing something that was good" -- although those close to him insisted he's not in favor of domestic violence and that he just badly misspoke.
Was Rooney a hypocrite for defending Harrison at about the same time the Steelers released wide receiver Cedrick Wilson because of a domestic abuse incident? Absolutely. Wilson didn't have the same value to the team that Harrison did. But that shouldn't matter to Harrison. All he should care about is that his boss stood behind him at a difficult time, just as Rooney surely will stand behind him now that he's back in the news this weekend because of an incident in his Franklin Park home involving one of his pit bulls.
You might argue that Harrison more than said "thank you" to Rooney by playing extraordinary football last season and leading the Steelers to the Super Bowl. I won't argue. But, sorry, that doesn't change the bottom-line opinion here: Harrison is a disrespectful fool.Read more: "Harrison's White House no-show disrespectful" -
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09144/972102-87.stm#ixzz0Gg3WnUP8&A