I really could have done without Steelers owner Dan Rooney thanking President Obama, who he had endorsed during the fall election, in the immediate postgame interview last night. I swear, an awful lot of Obama supporters seem to have some sort of mental block that prevents them from acknowledging even the possibility of an opposing point of view. It’s not that public figures outside politics should never do endorsements and the like; I accept the fact that they have their views, and I have mine. But there’s a time and a place for everything, and really, sticking your politics in the face of the audience in the biggest sports telecast of the year is just obnoxious, and a good reason to root against the Steelers as long as the Rooneys have anything to do with them.
As for the game itself, first of all, this had to be the most referee-dominated Super Bowl in memory, and not in a good way. Some of the more intrusive calls were necessary (the holding call in the end zone that gave the Cards a crucial fourth quarter safety), some of them just looked wrong to me (calling back a Steelers TD in the first quarter).
If there’s one guy who just impressed the heck out of me in these playoffs, it’s Larry Fitzgerald. He didn’t have a huge game for much of last night, but the late breakaway touchdown was a thing of beauty when everyone knew he’d be Warner’s top target, as he’d been in so many big plays over the past five weeks.
14 thoughts on “Mixing The Two, Part Two”
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It was a fairly harmless reference. He was thanking Obama for being a Steelers fan, not stumping for his policies. If you are looking for something to be truly upset about, you only need to look at the House-passed stimulus package.
It was just an odd comment. I had no real problem (other than questioning his judgment) with Rooney backing the guy in the election. He is free to back whoever he wants – though being as he used to present himself as a devout Catholic his choice was odd to say the least. In a post game trophy speech it just seemed weird that he felt the need to thank the president. Maybe thank the coaches and players (and to some extent the refs), but thanking a politician??? Whatever.
I agree the game was referee-dominated, but they properly overturned the TD call in the first quarter. Of course, they never should have had to replay it at all, because the Steelers offensive lineman was illegally pulling Big Ben into the endzone. I’ve got to say, the Steelers have been the beneficiary of some pretty favorable officiating in their last two appearances in the Super Bowl. Still, it was a great game, and congratultions to both teams.
Where was the beneficial officiating in favor of the Steelers? They were penalized 6 times in the 4th quarter, had a TD overturned and had a safety called on a penalty in the end zone on a play that likely would have iced the game for them. Because AZ had 3 personal fouls on one drive (face mask-absolutely, roughing the QB-yes, roughing the holder-unquestionably)? Because Gandy got nailed for 3 holding calls when he probably could have been called for 25? There were a lot of flags because there was some sloppy and stupid play. Pittsburgh dominated the game for 3 quarters, nearly gave it away and pulled it out on a pretty gutty drive when their offensive line had essentially given up and Roethlisberger had guys in his face practically the whole time.
The officiating was variable to me. They called little in the 1st half, then called alot in the 2nd half. They could have even called more-they always can! I don’t like it when they start calling (or not calling them) one way, and then switch part way thru the game.
In the end, the game was decided on the field. The Steelers ended up with more time for their last drive than AZ did. If AZ had more time, they probably would have scored. I call it a draw.
I was hoping Warner would say “God f***ed us” in his postgame interview.
Crank wrote:
“I swear, an awful lot of Obama supporters seem to have some sort of mental block that prevents them from acknowledging even the possibility of an opposing point of view.”
You are kidding, right? Between 9/11 and Katrina, anyone who differed from Bush was deemed at best unpatriotic, at worst a traitor. There was absolutely zero tolerance for alternative views by Bush and his administration. You are one of the most hypocritical bloggers on the net.
People name-drop Obama mostly out of hope. Bush was name-dropped due to the extremely neo-McCarthyism of the early 2000’s. You don’t see this difference, do you?
Between 9/11 and Katrina, anyone who differed from Bush was deemed at best unpatriotic, at worst a traitor.
Point missed completely. The question has nothing to do with criticizing opposing views. My point is that people like Rooney, or the White Sox, or IKEA, or the NY Daily News, or some of the other Obama-praising/Obama-merchandising folks just act as if everybody loves Obama and thus it’s just fine and dandy to invoke Obama outside the context of a political argument.
“…folks just act as if everybody loves Obama and thus it’s just fine and dandy to invoke Obama outside the context of a political argument.”
My arse, Crank. The years from 2001-2004 were RIFE with Bush invocations that had NOTHING to do with politics. NASCAR, CMT Awards, ANY sporting event, they all had the obligatory “I support President Bush!” mantra. This assumed that everybody loved Bush and it was fine and dandy to invoke his name outside the context of a political argument. My, my how forgetful and biased we’ve become, Crank. Idiot….
Examples?
Look, I don’t watch NASCAR or CMT, but I seriously have not seen this sort of thing happen even once in my lifetime, not with Bush, not with his father, not with Reagan. I do vaguely recall reading that a few country musicians had responded to the Dixie Chicks at country music events.
Yeah, there was no Bush-material to buy from 2001-2008. None. Please.
jim, there is always stray merchandise, but you can’t seriously argue there was ever anything like what we are seeing with Obama.
And certainly, Bush never inspired anything like this. (NSFW).
Again, whatever. Obama isn’t pumping this stuff out. People are making money off of things that people will buy. And to say that there was “stray” Bush stuff is to ignore the facts. There was CRAPLOADS of Bush stuff (on both sides of the coin) for sale. Hell, at this point you should thank him for helping the economy for having SOMETHING that people are willing to lay money out for these days.
I love the equanimity by liberals trying to compare “Bush Passion” what what is happening to Obama these days. Way to ask for a link, Crank – no response because none exists. These fools believe that conservatives actually spend the day wearing Bush t-shirts, hats and flair in support of the President (election time doesn’t count, mind you). Furthermore, it’s not like the Bush WH had to come out and say they were going to limit the the likeness of Bush being displayed on shirts, hats and whatever else NSFW items that Crank linked to. I am afraid that didn’t happen, either.
In addition, Jay Nordlinger at NRO has done a fine job documenting “personal/political” creep – a phenomenon whereby liberals assume everyone is in agreement with their views and constantly make the political into the personal. I hate that. I am hear to watch football. What the hell did Barack Obama have to do with your 53 guys beating the other 53 guys? Football and other leisure events are there to **escape** real life – thanks for bring real life back into it with the unnecessary thanking of the President. Did he play tackle for you guys? Did he include a Steeler subsidy in the latest stimulus package? Just pointless.