A lot has been said recently of James Harrison not wanting to make Thursday's trip to the White House.
For most, a visit to the Rose Garden to pose with the President of the United States, especially one who made history, would be a dream come true.
Not so for Harrison.
Personally, I don't see the big deal about Harrison's refusal to attend the ceremony. If anything, one should love the guy for sticking to his principles. In 2006 when the team went to visit George W. Bush after winning Super Bowl XL, he didn't attend.
Then it was no big issue. Harrison was a backup to the outspoken Joey Porter. Now, because he had a huge part in the Steelers win in Super Bowl XLIII and the fact he is the reigning NFL Defensive MVP, media outlets are having a field day with it.
Take this story from Chris Chase of Yahoo Sports. In his blog he says this.
When Harrison won the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award, he didn't decline and say, "As far as I'm was concerned, they would've given this award to someone else if they had had a better defensive season than me." 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 off the board because, as far as he was concerned, if Larry Fitzgerald(notes) had caught him, Harrison wouldn't have scored. As far as I'm concerned, James Harrison is sort of a fool.
A fool? C'mon, be real. Harrison may not attend the White House ceremony, but who cares. I like the fact he would rather be training as he told reporters when he came off the field during Tuesday's practice.
My good friend Mike Bires of the Beaver County Times also has a good piece on this. In it, Harrison had this to say about not making the trip.
“I decided not to go because I don't want to go,” Harrison said. “No personal feelings.(toward Obama) No nothing. I just don't want to go. That’s all there is to it.”
And you know what? You have to love Harrison's other reaction to the plethra of media at the South Side facility when posed the question.
"I'm surprised the media is making a big deal about it," he said. " 'Oh my James Harrison must be a devil worshipper!, he ain't going to the White House!"
People have to remember this about Harrison. He'd prefer to be out of the media spotlight. He's said it on numerous occasions.
"There’s not too much they don’t know about me anymore,' Harrison said recently. "They (media) have asked me so many questions that I’ve told everything to somebody somewhere.”
But Harrison is a true success story and epitomizes the Steel City. A man with a strong blue collar work ethic, who worked his way into the player he is today, teammate James Farrior's comments say it all.
“He epitomizes what the Steelers organization is all about throughout the history of the team. He’s a hard, tough-nosed guy. He plays with a chip on his shoulder. He always plays aggressive, and I definitely think he’s the most intimidating player when he’s out there on the field. He doesn’t have to talk, he just goes out there and plays.”
It's not like he is making a political statement either. Bush was a Republican, Obama is a Democrat. Also, Harrison has the utmost respect for team owner Dan Rooney, who was recently named Ambassador to Ireland by Obama and an ardent supporter during the election along with former Steeler greats Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis.
If a political stance was the case, it would be newsworthy. Him not wanting to go is just fodder on a slow news day. The dean of Pittsburgh beat writers Ed Bouchette had a different spin to the Harrison story then most writers which was worth noting.
According to one of Bouchette's sources, the All-Pro linebacker, who fears nothing on the field, has a fear of flying and his agent Bill Parise confirmed this. But like Bires says, he has never missed a team flight or a trip to Hawaii.
So give Harrison credit instead of calling him a fool. Parading out for a media outing with the President isn't a priority to him. Football is his focus, and that is what he will be training for while the rest of the team is in Washington on Thursday.
Comments
Matt, I really laugh out loud when I read the many knuckleheads like Chris Chase on the topic of Harrison’s decision. Maybe Harrison is registered Independent or he votes the green ticket! Ahha! James Harrison is a confirmed Black-n-Gold Party Member. Let me say how I whole heartedly agree with you about Harrison…it’s about sticking to his principals. Nothing more, nothing less…he doesn’t want to go because he doesn’t want to go. He chose not to in 2006 as he does now, and to quote The Talking Heads, It’s the same as it ever was. It’s sad but I guess principals are considered a character flaw nowadays.
Did I really write principal instead of principle...argh.
Mike, love it - Black and Gold party member, and you hit it perfect with same as it ever was quote. I respect the guy for staying home. Maybe his original quote wasn't the brightest, but his reasoning is perfect.
What principles?
The same principles when he beat his girlfriend?
Gimme a break
James Harrison is just being stupid
Hiya Matt! Yeah I agree with you on the quote, it wasn’t the best way to put it. The way I look at it is pro athletes are not philosophers who practice public speaking so I don’t expect them to articulately convey what is on their mind. I has nothing to do with being dumb, it’s not what they practiced most of their growing life..heck, most people don’t. [Don’t hate me for this] When I would hear Big Ben in an interview it reminded me of Tim Robbins’ character Ebby Calvin 'Nuke' LaLoosh from B
Bull Durham and I couldn’t help but hear Costner’s voice saying “alright meat...” when teaching him about interviews. Right after SBXLIII when he did that impromptu interview, he seemed to find his thoughts and have fun articulating them.
MistaerEarl, Yes, Harrison broke the door, the cell phone and delivered an open hand slap. Quite the beat down. So how many arrests of any type does Harrison have prior to and after that incident? No, go ahead, I’ll wait…
Should he have slapped her? I wasn’t there. Common moral decency says No, but other than hearing the argument stemmed from Harrison wanting to have his/their child baptized and the girlfriend/mother refusing to allow it…I don’t know any details that brought this reaction
out of Harrison. I’m not religious, so neither of my children are baptized and it’s no big deal to me, but I hear there are religious types out there who take that sort of thing (a little too) seriously.
Matt, is there a word count cut off now?
Are there security clearances required for the visit - LOL
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