STEELERS WIN 6TH LOMBARDI TROPHY: Owner Dan Rooney thanks President Obama!
by Steve MasonI have had the privilege of being in Tampa all week to cover Super Bowl 43, and one of the lesser reported stories of the week is the relationship between Steelers chairman and owner Dan Rooney and President Barack Obama. I wrote a quick post on the subject Friday here on Big Hollywood.
Then-Senator Obama with former Steelers star Jerome Bettis, Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey Jr. and Hall of Fame Steelers running back Franco Harris
Earlier this week, President Obama told reporters that he is a Steelers fan. The truth is that the legendary Rooney, a lifelong Republican, was enraptured by Obama on the night of the Iowa Caucuses after the junior Senator from Chicago defeated heavily favored Hillary Clinton. An endorsement from the powerful Pennsylvanian was quick to follow. It’s no wonder that Obama gave his full-throated support to the legendary franchise in today’s big game.
Obama and Steelers patriarch Dan Rooney
In fact after the Steelers defeated Baltimore in the AFC Championship Game, Rooney, with the blessing of head coach Mike Tomlin, gave the game ball to Obama. After becoming the youngest head coach in NFL history and only the third African American in history to get his team onto sports’ biggest stage, Tomlin said, “What we are doing here today pales in comparison to what’s going on in our nation’s capital, President Obama’s inauguration. As a citizen and a parent, the hope that he potentially brings to the table is exciting … the hope for the future, the hope for our children, I’m more excited about that than anything else going on right now.”
Before today’s game, President Obama appeared on the marathon Super Bowl pre-game show on NBC in a conversation with Matt Lauer from the Today Show. There were initially some technical problems, but they were resolved, and he was able to touch on the economy and foreign affairs before reaffirming his love for Mr. Rooney and the Steelers.
Steelers WR Santonio Holmes making the game-winning catch in Super Bowl 43
As for the game itself, it was a thriller. After Larry Fitzgerald caught a TD pass streaking through the center of the Steelers’ vaunted defense, it looked like the 6 1/2 point underdog Cardinals were poised for the upset at Raymond James Stadium. Kurt Warner had led Arizona to 16 unanswered points for a 23-20 lead. But 2:37 is too long to leave for Ben Roethlisberger to work some magic. Santonio Holmes made a remarkable catch on a Roethlisberger bullet in the corner of the end zone that proved to be the game winner.
In what is likely unprecedented in the annals of sport, a team owner thanked the President of the United States on national television just moments after his team won the championship. Accepting the Lombardi Trophy is generally quite apolitical, but it was a partisan affair tonight. The bond between Obama and the Steelers patriarch is deep, and Rooney may even be in line to become the next US Ambassador to Ireland.
Regardless, President Obama is clearly grateful for the role that Rooney played in the 2008 election. The 76-year-old owner made a lot of long bus trips across the Keystone state to stump for the Democrat, and Rooney certainly played some role in Obama’s 7-point win there.
Head coach Mike Tomlin with LB James Farrior after the Steelers sealed the win
Mr. Rooney now presides over the most successful franchise in pro football with 6 Super Bowl Championships, and the Steelers are, arguably, the finest organization in all of sports. Thanks to Dan Rooney, there are more black head coaches in the National Football League. His so-called Rooney Rule, requiring NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate whenever a head coaching job opens, has helped to propel the league to eleven black head coaches hired since the policy was put in place.
At some point, maybe as soon as tonight (although there is no confirmation), President Obama will likely make a congratulatory phone call to Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin. It will be unprecedented as the first African American President congratulates the second African American head coach to win the Super Bowl (joining Tony Dungy from 2 years ago). Dan Rooney will have played a role in both of their successes.
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45 Comments
The Steelers win with a healthy dose of assistance from the referees. As usual. That’s the third time they’ve won a Super Bowl with serious officiating favoratism.
But of course, that’s probably why Obama is a Steelers fan – rather than win on merit, the officials hand them their rewards.
If I’m a Republican fan of the team, I’m pissed. It’s bad enough having psuedo-intellectual celebrities driving everything to politics, now we have it in sports.
And half the black coaches in the league think the Rooney Rule is a sham – which it is.
I was pulling for the Cardinals, and thought, too, that they were getting a raw deal from the refs most of the game.But the zebras gave them a big break with that late 4Q holding call in the end zone resulting in a safety, and negating that huge, clutch pass by Roethlisberger, the one that seemed to have gotten Pitt out of the jam, and set to ice the victory at 20-14. That was the.biggest.call.of.the.game. And it went Arizona’s way.
As for Rooney, that was cool mentioning Obama; he didn’t overdo it. Good on him for promoting A-Americans to head coaching positions, etc. Sad that, despite all he’s done, 50% of Americans would still insist he’s racist (“whether he realizes it or not”) merely based on their prejudices about the political party he belongs to.
I didn’t watch tonight’s “big game”, mainly because I’m not a fan of lacross.
Rooney needs to retire. We don’t need anyone to politicize football. It’s thankfully one of the few escapes from politics left. Not only that, but if Rooney ran the Steelers using Obama’s policies and general philosophy, the franchise would collapse in one season.
By the way, does anybody know which team Obama supported three years ago? I doubt if he even knew the Steelers existed until Rooney opened his wallet.
Rooney's a nut-job (yeah, nice daily masses Catholicism in action there, Danny), will still love dem dere Stillers n'at.
Oh, AETIUS and other ref whiners, don't suppose Gandy couldn't have stopped bear-hug tackling as "blocking," eh? That holding call that resulted in the safety almost as dubious as the roughing the passer call, too. How exactly to you hold someone who is steamrolling over you?
Being a Cards fan I didn’t continue watching after they lost, it’s a good thing I didn’t. I had a problem with them even interviewing the messiah in the pre-game show. What in the world does the prez have to do with the superbowl?
Lets see here, Obama turns the heat up in the Whitehouse and celebrates the superbowl while millions are freezing their butts off, and still criticizes Bush for enacting the largest rescue effort ever while actually going to the disaster zone to help. Can some libtard explain the double standard to me
He was just thanking Obama for his support and for being a fan. I don’t like Obama or the Steelers by any means, but there is a difference between thanking him for his support and thanking him for the victory. What’s the big deal?
Lukeet, What did Obama Do that actually helped them win the superbowl, Why would he be thanked, if he is a Chicago Bears fan. Maybe he should thank the Head coach, players, staff, or fans, or himself for spending that much money on his players. Better yet, maybe he should thank the three cardinal defenders that let the receiver catch the ball that put them ahead.
Rooney is Another Ozombie?…who will be next? Rooney, Clooney they’re all looney.
Come on folks! Quit hating on the Steelers! I’m 43 years old and have
been a Steeler fan since I was 6. I will bleed Black and Gold till I
die, and I am not going to let Dan Rooney’s gushing over a President
that I didn’t vote for ruin a great moment for the team I love. Hey,
even the rich and powerful can be suckers! I not thrilled about him
doing what he did or the fact that he, as a Republican and a Catholic, let
himself be taken in by this snake-oil salesman. But to say you’re not
going to root for your team anymore because of it. Get Real! You wanna
be mad about something? Stick to Obama’s policies ( stimulus, defense
budget cuts, tax raising, national healthcare etc…). Oh and AETIUS
and the rest of you wackos saying the Refs handed us the game. Get a
life! Cards made a hell of a comeback but they couldn’t hold it.
Plain and simple. Quit your crying and stand your defeat like a man.
Congrats to the Steelers. I was pulling for the Cards, but it was a fun game to watch.
My comment is on the following in the post:
“It will be unprecedented as the first African American President congratulates the second African American head coach to win the Super Bowl (joining Tony Dungy from 2 years ago). ”
Seriously, come on. Next time, it will be unprecedented that the first African American President congratulates the third African American head coach . . .
This is starting to sound like those Iraqi Islamofascist complaints about the US destroying “the eleventh-most sacred Islamic site in all of Tikrit” etc. Give it up.
I’ve only got one thing to say:
When the Steelers were goal-to-go with no time outs and the clock running down, the Cards should have put that Fitzgerald cat in the end zone as a DB and let him play jump-ball with Holmes.
They should just go ahead and give Obama MVP of the game, screw that Sanantonio guy. They should give Obama an honorary Superbowl ring too, he earned it.
On a serious note, it was a helluva game. Kurt Warner is a top notch human being, and Larry Fitz is a badass.
Glad I missed Rooney’s rediculous statement. Like the Living Colour Song, It’s a Cult of Personality.
The refs handed the game to the Steelers, just like the media handed the “presidency” to B. Hussein al-Obama – plain and simple. What a shame.
This article could explain some of Rooney’s Obama love: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/mostread/s_577048.html
This was the first Super Bowl I have not watched in over 30 years. I have no use for the Steelers…I think they were handed their last SB win over Seattle (worst officiated championship game I’ve ever seen in ANY sport) and I figured the same thing would happen in this game. Now, I’m hearing about Rooney sucking up to Uhbama, and the fact that Springsteen did the halftime show after apologizing to his fans for allowing the evil Wal-mart to sell his music….I’m glad I decided to skip it. I’ve had about all the liberal crap I can take for a while.
NEOCONJEDI:
Amen. This year we will see the World Series trophy returned to its rightful owners!
JP, I couldn’t agree with you more. Pretty sad for Rooney to sell out to Obama, and thank his messiah. Obama is my president, my commander-in-chief, and NOTHING more. I will follow his orders, Etc., and I will always respect the office and the man who occupies it, even if someone like Clinton. I will NEVER respect Obama nearly as much as I respect and admire President Bush, #43, and his father, #41.
Obama won’t get 1/10th the respect that I have for the late President Reagan. And, Reagan was too classy to name a favorite team like Barry…
He should have thanked Bush for keeping his old butt safe.
Steelers suck. Obama sucks. The mainstream media sucks. Baseball sucks (steroids). Now, the NFL sucks (Patriots cheating and now the officials). This year’s officiating was the worst since I’ve been watching the game (since the mid 1970’s). Yeah, there were bad calls here and there back then but theis year was pathetic, just like the “Election”.
There were several games this year undeniably decided by the “officials”. That last call in this year’s “Superbowl” was a sham. Warner threw a sloppy incomplete pass with 4 seconds left. They could’ve pulled it off and al-Obama knew it. Rooney knew it. So it was decided that they would call it a “fumble” in order to end it up and appease the Obamatrons.
Where has all the integrity gone?
The griping over the officials seems to be misplaced or at worst sour grapes. The roughing the passer call on Rothlisberger was the only questionable call the whole night. I agree they should have reviewed the fumble by Warner at the end of the game, but on the replay it was clearly a fumble, evidenced by the fact that even Warner didn’t contest it, unlike the previous play early in the first half.
Dave R
It was a fabulous game, although Harrison wiped out all my good will when he roughed that guy up, and Rooney thanking Obama didn’t bother me. (and as I recall back over on Dirty Harry’s place people were ecstatic when the volleyball gold winners thanked/praised President Bush, so ease up! In a moment like that they can thank the Easter Bunny or Attila the Hun for all I care. Ok maybe not Attila.) The Boss’ performance felt a little forced, and hte commercials sucked, but MAN! What a great game! I do feel for Warner & Fitzgerald because their stories were so compelling, but…sometimes Cinderella doesn’t get that glass slipper.
To DAVE R: I don’t know what planet you watched the game on, but here on Earth it was exactly the opposite of the cr@p you wrote. You probably voted for Obama too, huh?
I’d like to thank Al Gore for inventing the game of football, and noted grocery stoer novelist Danielle Steele for creating the Pittsburg Steelers franchise. I’d also like to thank McCloud for the rain, and Sunny Delight for the warm sunlight in the daytime. Oh, and thank you Obama for restoring my hope for some change I can believe in.
The game became political when B. Hussein al-Obama got involved and was worshiped by the illegitimate “winner” of Superbowl XLIII. I’m not necessarily an Eagles fan but I also spit on you, Steelers/Obama nation.
I assure you I didn’t vote for Obama, but I am a Steelers fan, and I don’t like the fact that the Rooney’s heart Obama.
I didn’t see any problems with the officiating, other than the two I cited. The first roughing the passer call probably should not have been called, but it didnt effect the outcome of the game. The Steelers had completed a first down pass on that play anyway.
For the fumble call, the NFL has already come out and said that the call on the field was correct. This is the same NFL that was not afraid to throw Ed Hoculi under the bus when he made bad calls. Kurt Warner didn’t even argue the play on the field like he did the previous one. They should have had a booth review just to appease the sour grapes crowd, but the call on the field was the right call.
Dave R
I’m not at all sure the Rooney Rule had much to do with increasing the number of black head coaches in the NFL. In fact, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin may well be the ONLY black coach who owes his job to the Rooney Rule.
More often than not, the Rooney Rule is a waste of everyone’s time. Here’s a hypothetical: suppose Bill Cowher decides he’d like to coach again, and suppose the Cincinnati Bengals want to hire him. Does everybody agree that Bill Cowher is an excellent coach and that the Bengals would be lucky to get him? Of course! So, why can’t the Panthers just go ahead and offer him the job? Because the Rooney Rule requires the Panthers to go through the motions of flying a black man into Cincinnati to interview for a job that ALL parties know he isn’t going to get.
Speaking as a white fan who was tired of seeing quality coaches like Tony Dungy repeatedly passed over, while inept white coaches like Marion Campbell and Dan Henning got MULTIPLE chances to be head coaches, I’m GLAD that football teams are more color-blind, and that capable black men are getting a fair shot at head coaching jobs.
But the Rooney Rule didn’t get Lovie Smith his job in Chicago. Smith was hired for the same reason Bill Belichick was- because he’d built a defense that went to the Super Bowl!
The Rooney Rule was based on the hope that maybe, just maybe, if a team unwillingly had a meeting with a black assistant coach, he just MIGHT wow them in the interview. As far as I can tell, that scenario has actually happened just once. After Bill Cowher retired, the Super Bowl champion Steelers were expected to promote one of their assistant coaches (Ken Whisenhunt or Russ Grimm) to head coach. Mike Tomlin was the token black interviewee requried under the Rooney Rule. And by all accounts, he was very impressive.
But Lovie Smith, Raheem Morris, Herman Edwards, Art Shell, Dennis Green and Tony Dungy did NOT get their jobs that way.
For a “post-racial” society (since Jan 20), we’re sure seeing a heightened interest in race, aren’t we?
Oh and HOPE – yeah, the Leader’s recent speeches warning how we’re doomed economically are sure inspiring too.
Keep the CHANGE, Dear Leader.
Love to see people get mad because a football owner and coach have a political opinion. You guys have to lighten up. Most of the NFL is actually as conservative as they get. Heck Troy Aikman was a big Bush supporter and even got a limo service for free once – but who cares. He was a great player and is one of the best announcers on TV.
I was thrilled until I heard Dan Rooney start off thanking Obama after the Steelers win. It ruined my whole year!!! My grandmother raised me to become the Steeler fan I am today. She must have rolled over in her Iron City grave! Obama just cares about votes and power. All those dumb Pennsylvania Steeler fans who voted for him will be crying after Obama wrecks their state but wait! he’s going to give them all hand outs, right?
Dan Rooney wants a ambassadorship to Ireland
I am not kidding
He was bought cheaply
As a hardcore steeler fan and Conservative Republican I too was shocked when I found out about Rooney and the selling out of his principles. How can a catholic conservative republican ever vote for Obama? Looking at his reason’s for supporting Obama I will say Rooney has been definitely drinking the kool-aide.
I love my Steelers and always will but by politicizing the team Rooney is basically spitting on those in the Steeler Nation who don’t support the policies of the current president.
I am very disappointed in the Rooney family and the organization. I love the players and they can support whoever they want but the owner should know better.
Rooney’s actions have forced me to take drastic measures of my own. I will not be buying anything Steelers associated with this super bowl. I am a huge fan and it’s gonna hurt but I can’t see me giving my money to an owner and organization who supports a president that is clearly against my views and the views of Steeler organization.
Steelers are hardnosed, tough and get things done the hardway. There is nothing about Barack Obama that says Steelers. I am glad that the Steelers got six and that they are argueably the best football team ever but unfortunately this victory will always come with an asterisk. A time when the Steeler nation should be celebrating the greatest of the sport instead of the politics of our day.
Sad day for this Steeler Fan.
Glad I did not root the blacks as the underdog reds are more representative of Real America
It does not surprise me that another trust baby, who inherited everything, pennsylvania rino is bhobama sycophant
When can we get over the fact that Tony Dungy is Black along with Mike Tomlin being the same. Does anyone actually think these guys get up in the morning and say,”Man, does this feel great to be Black”, or, “Isn’t it neat that both Mike and I are Black and won Super Bowls? It’s only Blacks and journalists who keep beating the same drum.
I love the Steelers. I’ve been a fan since I was 12 years old. I was with them during the years when we were on the brink of a return to the Super Bowl if not for Kordell Stewart’s propensity to choke during crunch time. I was thrilled when Bill Cowher and Jerome Bettis finally were rewarded for their years of work at Super Bowl XL. I was thrilled to see the team I support win again this year, but it was tainted by the partisan activities this year.
The actions and statements made by Tomlin and Rooney tainted an otherwise great victory. I watch football for the football. I’m not about to tell anyone else that they can’t support the candidate of their choice, but I don’t feel it’s their place to use their non-partisan position within sports entertainment to push their political agenda. It was unnecessary for Rooney to say what he did, because President Obama wasn’t on that field. He didn’t have a single damn thing to do with what happened in that game. If Rooney wanted to thank anybody he should have thanked the troops that are currently making a normal way of life possible for those of us here at home. I’d like to blame senility for Rooney’s recent political adventures, but that would be an insult to the senile.
I don’t consider myself a minority but an American, it would drive me nuts if I got a job or promotion because I am a “minority”. I think that is as bad as not getting a job because I am a “minority”. If we truly want to take color out of the equation than we gotta get past this I am a (insert nationality) American. We are all just Americans, no matter creed or color so that we can finally get past this race issue.
Rooney not only made this a political issue but a race issue as well.
The masa….er messiah hath blessed the Steelers before the game. Dat’s why dey done won.
I got a nice Holmes jersey from sport-jerseys.biz.
Didn’t any of you whining Cardinal fans notice Polamalu invoking the Trinity before and after each play? The players won the game, not the heretic owner.
I used to be a PGH fan – NEVER again. anyway.. Rooney has not backed any Repun that I can remember in teh last 15 yrs – what a load of crap… Why didn't he back Gov candidate fellow R & teammmate Lynn Swann? – he backed D – Rendell. The Ref's handed the game to them – Ben is a potato head & Harrison is a thug. Troy is overrated & Tomlin.. thx for bringing bad behaviour to PGH. Even Rich eisen said PGH fans were cocky & got in his face. I decided to sell 20 yrs of PGH cr@ap
Is this place good?
lol dude the refs have called a fair game in every superbowl we have won……stop hating!!!
[...] Unfortunately Rooney was not alone in injecting personal politics into Steelers football. After their 2009 AFC Championship Game win over the Baltimore Ravens, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and the Steelers coaching staff asked Rooney to give the game ball to Obama. [...]
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