Steelers & Cardinals players are eager to win the Super Bowl so they can meet Obama

[TeamJordan23]

Teams eager to win Super Bowl, and meet new president Obama

TAMPA, Florida (AP) -- There's more than just a Lombardi Trophy on the line when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals play in the Super Bowl.

There's the prospect of being the first team to be invited to the White House to meet the new president, Barack Obama.

The election of the first African-American commander-in-chief has created a titanic shift in the locker room, turning a fringe benefit into a cherished reward. Players who once ignored the political system spent more time this season watching the news instead of sports. Some voted for the first time; others engaged in fierce debates over tax policy rather than the play of the day.

Come Sunday, Pittsburgh and Arizona will take the field knowing the team that scores the most points likely will get a chance to meet Obama in person.

"That would be very special," Steelers linebacker James Farrier said on Wednesday. "Everybody is excited about our new president. Being the first African-American president, it's a great time in our country. We definitely want to be the first team to go meet him after the Super Bowl. That would be one of the highlights of being in the Super Bowl and winning the Super Bowl."

Steve Breaston echoed Farrier's perspective.

"History has been made with Obama," the Arizona receiver said. "I would be ecstatic if we could be the first team to go in and shake his hand."

A day after the Steelers won the AFC Championship and the Cardinals added to their surprising playoff run by claiming the NFC title, Obama was inaugurated in Washington. In central Florida, Arizona defensive end Bertrand Berry was filming a promotional spot with his daughter, but he took time off to watch history unfold.

"It was really emotional for me," Berry said. "I don't believe I stopped crying the whole time. It's a big moment for a lot of obvious reasons. It just showed that in time, things can change. Even though the country is in the situation it's in now, with the economy and everything else, we can only go up from here."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/super-bowl/01/28/obama.superbowl.ap/index.html

[EraOfResponsibility]

1. and Obama is being interviewed by Matt Lauer on Sunday Morning n/m

[thunder rising]

2. Obama eclipses the Super Bowl ... how cool is that!

[JVS]

3. Lots of the Steelers already met him while campaigning for him in PA for the primaries and the GE

[OneGrassRoot]

17. And Rooney was a vocal supporter. I want one of those....

Obama 08 Steeler jerseys.


GO STEELERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jennicut]

4. I love football to begin with (my Dad got me into it even though I was a girl)

but now I love these players even more! Whoever wins is in for one cool treat-meeting President Obama.

[AsahinaKimi]

10. OMG, YOU TOO?

I don't have any brothers or sisters but my Dad would always take me out to Candlestick park to watch the 49ers play. I so wanted to be a 49ers Gold Rush cheerleader, (but I later was so bad in athletics in high school, I gave up the dream).



Still, I spent much of the 1980s with my Dad watching the Niners and Bill Walsh take his team to the Superbowl. We never could go to that, but it was amazing time in my life, and I still call my Dad today, when our team wins one. I have become a sports nut, thanks to him!!

[Jennicut]

14. My Dad always watched the Giants when I was growing up

though now I am a Patriots fan being in New England. He never cared that I was a girl. My brother just was not into watching games with him (liked music more) but my Dad found a buddy and taught me everything about the game. When women say they can't stand football I don't get it. Half of them don't understand what downs are, a kickoff is, an extra point is, etc. I love the Super bowl.

[AsahinaKimi]

22. Nice to meet another lady who feels like me!

My friends used to think I was nuts when I would suggest going to a baseball game for the afternoon, and at first they were like, what are we doing here? But later, they had fun, even if it was to watch the guys.

When I would go visit my friends in Vancouver, they were like, let's go to a Canucks game! Totally into it up there. When I lived in Santa Barbara, we would drive down to Angels games, and Dodger games..go watch the Mighty Ducks and LA Kings play. Even the Laker's and Clippers once or twice.

I have never been to a Raiders game, but I did go once to see the Oakland Invaders when we had the USFL here. I love to watch sports now.. though the lap over between seasons is killer... How do people deal with that??

[Jennicut]

36. When football or baseball is over its a bummer.

Basketball is my 3rd place sport so it does not hold my interest as much. You should have seen me during the Olympics! My girls, 3 and 4 watched all of it with me. They loved the gymnastics and swimming/diving.

[Nedsdag]

24. My Dad was a HUGE Giants fan and I became a sports fan as well.

I was a quick study and I picked up the game pretty quickly. I asked my Dad about a few things. My brother watched football as well. My mother, on the other hand, wasn't a fan of football, but she eventually became one. After my father passed away, sports became her sanctuary. She watches all three major sports. I even got her involved in soccer's World Cup.

[Dulcinea]

34. Lifelong Steelers fan here!

I'm the oldest of 3 girls, & I was my dad's sports buddy growing up. I spent every Sunday in the basement cheering on the Steelers all through the Super Bowl years of the 1970s! I still love my Stillers! (local prono.)

[Jennicut]

37. Lucky! Steelers are in it this year. At least I got to see the Pats win a couple

Superbowls...we were getting spoiled.

[Cali_Democrat]

5. I hope it's the Cardinals

;)

[scheming daemons]

7. Why do you hate me?

;-)

[Cali_Democrat]

8. I'm a bitter Chargers fan

If my team doesn't make it out of the AFC, I always want the AFC team to lose!

[CalGator]

9. As a SoCal hombre,

F the Chargers!!! }(

I am totally rooting for the Steelers.

[Cha]

23. I have a son who

lives on Kauai but grew up in San Diego who shares your pain.

Me, I want the Steelers..'cause they gave Obama a boost in PA. With me it's all about that.

[BeyondGeography]

6. Cool

not least cuz they mean it.

[ebbie15644]

11. GO STEELERS!!!

[salguine]

12. Of course, if the winning team gets invited to the White House, they COULD do the

really gracious, sportsmanlike thing and ask the White House to invite the other team, too...?

[goclark]

13. That would be the "Obama Thing To Do"

I love that idea!
Respect the other team ~ they worked just as hard to do their best and it helps to bring America together.

[Clio the Leo]

16. No, we're thinking like girls......

..... and my apologies if you're not a girl. lol

The man's fair-handed mindset no doubt ends on the field of play. This is the NFL, not Pop Warner, there will be NO reward for the other guys, be it cash, product endorsements, or White House visits, for the guys that lose.

They're big boys, they can handle it. ;)

[salguine]

18. Maybe the losing team could suffer some kind of penalty for losing, like

having their houses burned down, or being put to the sword like in Roman times.

[goclark]

26. I am a girl but we have brains too

:hug:

[goclark]

33. Of course they can handle it but why stay stuck

in the past.

The winners will still know they won and so will the world.

Both teams were " in the game."

I view it like the Repubs and the Democrats.

Until we are big enough as a country to realize that we are all in the game together, we are all losers.

Just my view.

[JohnnyBoots]

19. That would be a really cool gesture! nt

[ClarkUSA]

15. I hope the Steelers win... Dan Rooney and some Steelers campaigned for President Obama

Besides, Pittsburgh needs some good news.

[ellacott]

20. Even though the Steelers supported Obama I have a hard time cheering for them

I'm a Browns fan. I was thinking about how nice it would be if my Cavs get a chance to meet him, as NBA champs.

[Christine Babineau]

21. My Giants are gone, so I'll root for Pittsburgh

Let the blue state win. :-)

[livetohike]

25. Here we go Steelers, here we go!!

:-)

[reflection]

31. This game can't start too soon... n/t

:scared:

[livetohike]

35. Sunday afternoon will be the worst wait on record with a

6:00 p.m kickoff!! I'll probably be so nervous by then I will be pacing :-).

[reflection]

38. I think it's 5:28p.

But yeah, I'll have a good belly full of stomach acid by then.

[Phx_Dem]

27. Go Cardinals!

[arewenotdemo]

28. And the Browns select Pukes......

Quinn and Thomas.

It sucks to be a Browns fan these days.

[Doctor_J]

29. Obama has brought many NFLers and other athletes to our side

I hope they can live with their taxes going up until we get out of this hole

[BlooInBloo]

30. That's really too bad for the Cards.

[ecstatic]

32. So many people I know are into politics now because of Obama

I've been pleasantly surprised many times in the past month when people who were usually clueless about national politics actually dropped names and weighed in on political stories unrelated to Obama. He truly has caused a revolutionary shift in awareness.