Mad World
To (Heck) With the Chief
By Mark Madden

Linebacker James Harrison no-showed the Steelers' ceremonial visit to the White House.

Said the Silverback: "If you want to see the Pittsburgh Steelers, invite us when we don't win the Super Bowl. So as far as I'm concerned he would have invited Arizona if they had won."

Harrison's statement, originally made on WTAE-TV, has been heavily edited to exclude, uh, you know, uh, a lot of marginally coherent mumbling.

Part of me says Harrison is absolutely right.

He clearly didn't make the decision along party lines: Harrison snubbed a Republican in '06, a Democrat in '09. It wasn't race: George W. Bush is white, Barack Obama black. Harrison is correct when he says the president invites the Super Bowl winner no matter who it is. It's an honor for the team, but it's a dual opportunity (PR and jock-sniffing) for Obama. Even the prez can have screwy priorities.

There are many layers to this story, however.

Steelers owner Dan Rooney, the newly-appointed U.S. ambassador to Ireland, is obviously heavily invested in the Obama presidency. Harrison's actions are an insult to Rooney, a man who not only gave Harrison a lucrative long-term contract recently, but who (clumsily) spoke out on Harrison's behalf when Harrison was charged with domestic abuse last year.

Rooney went against his usual moral grain to defend (and keep employing) Harrison. Is this how Harrison thanks him?

What should mean more to Harrison: His loyalty and debt to Rooney, or his stance on the hypocrisy of the Super Bowl champs' annual White House visit?

Harrison should have put his personal convictions aside and joined his teammates at the White House. Forget Obama. Forget the presidency. This is about respect for Rooney. He deserves better, especially from Harrison.

If Harrison was going to no-show, he should have done so quietly. But he bragged about his plans to the media. Then sources "leaked" the "real story": Harrison is afraid to fly.

How convenient. Even if Harrison really is afraid to fly, he finds his way into the sky for road games. Given Rooney's affiliation with Obama, this was no less an obligation.

Harrison is a thug, a Steelers rarity. It hasn't been proven that Harrison hits women, but it hasn't been proven he doesn't. In fact, it seems very likely that he has.

No matter how many sacks Harrison gets, or how many tackles Harrison makes, or how often the Steelers win, signing him was a mistake. Things will end badly.

I'm amazed when callers and e-mailers to my show say they don't care what Harrison does in his personal life, all that counts is his performance on the field. Really? I thought the Steelers were supposed to be above that. I thought the Steelers, and their fans, considered the big picture. Is it time to stop making fun of the Cincinnati Bengals?

Increasing the hypocrisy of keeping Harrison is the fact that receiver Cedrick Wilson was cut amid allegations of domestic violence. If you're going to hit women, be a star.

Why is all this being rehashed? Because Harrison refused to visit the White House. After all the breaks Harrison got from Rooney and the Steelers-friendly Pittsburgh football media, he should be treading lightly.

Instead, he blew off the President of the United States and insulted Rooney, the most respected man in pro sports.

Hail to the chief. The chief of stupidity, that is. His name is James Harrison.

Mark Madden hosts a sports talk show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9).