Obama a Steelers Fan, gets Rooney endorsement?

by HinesField on Apr 14, 2008 1:28 PM EDT

This is almost too weird to be true, but also too weird not to post.

The Illinois senator said he has been a Steelers fan since he was 10 years old. He said they are a "favorite" team of his, though he has "to root for the Bears when those two teams are playing."
Despite that, the Steelers chairman released a letter endorsing Mr. Obama. "As a grandfather and a citizen of this community I think Barack Obama's thoughtful, strategic approach is important for America," the letter addressed to "fellow Pennsylvanians" said. "When I hear how excited young people seem to be when they talk about this man, I believe he will do what is best for them, which is to inspire them to be great Americans."

Apparently it's also being reported by KDKA.

Normally I try to keep politics and football in their own worlds since nothing good comes from mixing the two (for example, my recent dislike of Tony Dungy), but this is too interesting to pass up.

Also, a hat tip to epic at DailyKos for first posting this.

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I wonder what to make of this.

You'd naturally think that team owners would lean towards the GOP, but if any were to break that stereotype, I'm not at all surprised that it's Rooney.

I remember seeing Al Gore when he came through the 'burgh during his campaign in 2000. Now it appears that both Clinton and Obama are there this week. It kind of makes me wish I weren't... well... stuck here.

by HinesField on Apr 14, 2008 1:36 PM EDT 0 recs

Ahh... My two obsessions

Since the end of the football season I've become a political junky, watching news shows like I would usually watch the NFL Network. Fun for me to see Rooney speaking out on the topic. Also glad to see he's an Obama supporter as that's my candidate of choice and it just adds more reason for loving the Steelers.

by Chicago Steeler on Apr 14, 2008 2:32 PM EDT 0 recs

politicians

too often pander to what the most vocal masses want. regardless of whether the politician agrees with that view, they just do what they need to to get re-elected. i can't stand politicians, fortunately our economy has been so powerful in the last 100 years that the presidency hasn't mattered all that much in the EVERYDAY lives of (the majority of) Americans. the presidency is overrated is what i'm saying, in sports terms. i'm not going to bother posting who i would vote for since I can easily see this thread turning into political mud slinging, not necessarily amongst the regulars, but people who are drawn to this site because they see a search result somewhere or something.

by TheMostViolentTeam on Apr 14, 2008 2:42 PM EDT 0 recs

For the most part, that is true

Reminds me of John Kerry talking about what a huge Red Sox fan he was, then putting the first name of one player together with the last name of another player (can't remember which ones). I may be cynical, but it's interesting that Obama says he's fan of the team from the major metro area that he's doing worse in, whereas he's doing better in Philly. Would he be an Eagles fan if it were the other way around? Maybe not, I don't know.

Or, for that matter would Arlen Specter be so interested in Spygate if two of his major constituencies didn't have teams (potentially) affected by it?

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 14, 2008 2:59 PM EDT up 0 recs

warning

As much as I enjoy politics and love all of you guys, I gotta throw a quick warning out there against anything overly political here. The diary was totally kosher, as it was Steelers related.

I hate to be that guy, but it's probably better to be safe than sorry.

by Blitzburgh on Apr 14, 2008 2:49 PM EDT 0 recs

I hear ya.

These things can never end well. It's just amazing, though, how much press this is getting outside of the Pittsburgh and/or football-related media. It even made it into The Guardian (UK).

by HinesField on Apr 14, 2008 3:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

Passions can run high

in politics as well as sports. I know I have to check myself sometimes in that department. But, it is a little surprising that this aspect of the election would be getting discussed in the UK. I guess it just goes to show that this election is important (or at least of interest) to people around the world. And, since there are 24-hour news networks, blogs, etc., there is a nearly insatiable need for more material.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 14, 2008 3:07 PM EDT up 0 recs