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The non-partisan James Harrison
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The sports world, of which I count myself an enthusiastic adherent, is usually taken up with the results on the field, commentary about the results on the field, and the legal misdeeds, proven or alleged, off the field. James Harrison, linebacker for the reigning Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, has provided us with an odd alternative this week with his unique take on his team’s upcoming visit to the White House and his reasons for declining the invitation.
If you’re a sports fan, you’ve probably already heard about all of this, but even if you’re not a sports fan, I advise you to keep reading, as it is a curious tale not of sport, but of personality.
U.S. presidents have been inviting Super Bowl winning teams to the White House for a long time, so it is not surprising that the Steelers are headed over there later this week. Most players seem to regard it as an honor – one of the perks of winning the title. To James Harrison, though, the offer is “…not all that special.” Ah, but the quote continues. Here is Harrison’s underlying logic: “If the Arizona Cardinals won instead, they’d be going to the White House, not us. If the President really wanted to see the Pittsburgh Steelers he should invite us when we don’t win the Super Bowl… Do I invite someone to my house ’cause they just got a raise at work or just bowled a 250? Hell no. That’s just not the way things are done, I don’t care if you’re a factory worker or President of these United States… What’s the big whoop? You’re in for some photos, if you’re lucky the White House dog doesn’t take a leak on your new shoes, and before you know it you’re back on the plane heading home. Plus, Thursday is my day to take the kids to school.”
Harrison went on to make this gracious concession in light of his busy off-season schedule: “Things ease up late June, early July. If the President can find a couple of hours sometime in there, we can work something out. That would tell me he wants me in for me and not James Harrison Super Bowl Champ. Those of you who know only the surly, sullen, monosyllabic James Harrison, have never seen the charming, erudite side I reserve for Presidents and visiting heads of state.”
An unnamed Steeler teammate reportedly had this reaction to Harrison’s words: “What an idiot.” As for the opinion of the unnamed teammate, I can offer little comment, though I can provisionally accept the opinion of someone who knows Harrison better than I do.
As for Harrison himself, I wouldn’t dream of denying him the right to decline the invitation. It’s probably not in his professional contract to attend such functions, so he is free to attend or decline as he sees fit. As the saying goes, do not judge a man until you have walked a hundred yards in his cleats. Now if it were me – yeah, I’d go. But it’s not me.
An acquaintance of mine took great pleasure in hearing about this incident, but for politically partisan reasons. He viewed it as an embarrassment to the Obama administration and an implicit rebuke of current policies. The first thing I would say in response is this: Be careful whom you claim as an ally. It should be noted that Harrison was also a Steeler three years ago when they won the Super Bowl. At the time, of course, President Bush was in office, and when the Steelers were invited to Bush’s White House – you guessed it – Harrison declined the invitation.
Now it is still possible that Harrison’s actions were politically motivated. He could, for example, hold the entire U.S. political system in contempt. But it can at least be said that his words show no partiality towards either the Republicans or the Democrats. So my free advice to the political partisans is this: Consider an alternative bedfellow to James Harrison.
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