[Roadmaster1]

Sun May 17, 2009 5:22 pm EDT
Mr. Harrison isn't going to Washington; Steeler spurns Obama

By Chris Chase

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_spor...UBhRBDCc6fVeOwOn 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 [Obama] would've invited Arizona if they had won."

Usually, when a sentence begins with "as far as I'm concerned," it ends with an opinion, not an incontrovertible fact. Harrison's comment is akin to saying, "As far as I'm concerned, George Washington was the first president."
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.
As far as I'm concerned, James Harrison is sort of a fool. If he doesn't want to go to the White House, fine. (Although I can't imagine why anybody wouldn't want to meet the President of the United States.) But don't make a lame excuse in an attempt to justify your decision. Leave that for NFL refeeres.

[mike honcho]

All I can say is BIG money makes people do different things.

[bears9]

This is up there with Arizona State not giving the president a honorary degree because he wasn't qualfied for it, because the 100% of the people who regulatary degrees were more qualified than the president of the United States. Got a Three minute Weekend Update, REALLY! Segment on SNL

Any way does Harrison not watch Sportscenter, they invite the winning teams, the Phillies were there last week. This is just, wow. Too bad the SNL season is over because I need a Realy with Seth and Amy on this one. Just wow