US President Barack Obama honored the Green Bay Packers on Friday for winning the Super Bowl despite being a die-hard fan of the team’s long-time rival to the south, the Chicago Bears.
Green Bay, winner of four Super Bowls and 13 NFL overall, beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 in Dallas in February for their latest championship, earning the annual invitation to the White House extended to the game’s winner.
“I’m just going to come out and say it. This hurts a little bit. This is a hard thing for a Bears fan to do,” Obama told the Packers, who had shed their usual green and gold football jerseys in favor of suits and ties.
Photo: AFP
“You guys come into my house to rub it in,” he said with a smile.
The Packers and Bears hold one of the longest and most spirited rivalries in the NFL, with the two Midwestern cities meeting for the first time in 1921.
The White House visit was extra sweet for some of the Packers. Obama said before Green Bay beat the Bears in the a conference championship game in January, he would only attend the Super Bowl if the Bears were in it.
Photo: Reuters
The proclamation provided extra motivation for Packers cornerback Charles Woodson, who later said if Obama did not want to see them play, the team would visit him in Washington.
“I know he’s a Bears fan, but we’re winners, so it’s all good,” said Woodson, who earlier presented Obama a share of Green Bay Packers stock.
The Packers have more than 112,000 stockholders, and have sold shares to raise funds for things such as stadium improvements. The shares are not traded on an exchange.
Entering the season, the Packers are among the early favorites to earn another White House visit. They won last year despite injuries to several key players, and the Packers boast a young team led by the Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player, quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Obama told the Packers to enjoy their Super Bowl victory “while it lasts,” pointing to Sept. 25 and Dec. 25 when the Packers and Bears play again.
“If you guys are on a roll by, then just keep in mind there is only one person here who can ground all planes in and out of Green Bay if he has to,” Obama said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping