Baltimore Ravens’ head coach John Harbaugh got the best of his parents during a national teleconference Thursday morning, but it didn’t take long for his kid sister, Joani, to catch him in the act.
Jack and Jackie Harbaugh have been bombarded with media interest since their sons John, coach of the Baltimore Ravens, and Jim, coach of the San Francisco 49ers, both won their championship games and turned their sights towards a brother versus brother match-up in next Sundays Super Bowl.
John and Jim’s younger sister, Joani, joined Jack and Jackie on the teleconference Thursday held by the NFL network. A caller who indicated he was from Baltimore came on the line, “Is it true that both you like Jim better than John?” he inquired.
Jackie Harbaugh immediately spoke up, “We do not . . .”
But sister Joani, wise to her brother’s ways, piped in, “Is that John?” Joanie recognized his voice, and his antics, and set her mother’s nerves at ease.
Jack Harbaugh chimed in, “Hey, John, Mom was ready to come right through the phone. I’m so happy that Joani recognized your voice.”
Though Jack and Jackie are undoubtedly proud of their boys, it not surprising there is a certain level of stress when only one can win, and one will quite definitely lose.
“I really would like it to end in a tie. Can the NFL do that?” asked Jackie.
John’s Ravens and Jim’s 49ers played once previously on Thanksgiving of 2011; the Ravens won. After the game Jack said he went to the Ravens locker room and saw the celebratory mood. When he checked on the 49ers, the spirit was somber and he recognized that was where he was needed most.
Super Bowl XLVII has an added and interesting twist with the head-to-head sibling aspect, and it has a lot of people talking and excitedly anticipating the game. Yet regardless of the outcome, it is sure to be a bittersweet game for Jack and Jackie Harbaugh. At least for a moment, John Harbaugh lightened the mood with his prank.
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