President Obama Wishes Cardinals the Best, but Will Pull for Steelers

Last week, I mentioned that Steelers owner Dan Rooney, so moved by Barack Obama's candidacy, campaigned heavily for the then-Illinois senator. And in the months that followed, the two developed a bond. (Though not nearly as strong as the one Peter King and Brett Favre share. Obviously.)

Rooney even traveled to the White House shortly after the inauguration to hand-deliver the AFC Championship game ball. Given that -- coupled with Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill supporting John McCain -- it makes perfect sense that Obama would be a Steelers fan on Sunday.

And, apparently, beyond. When the president was asked about it in the Oval Office on Thursday, he offered this:

"I have to say, I wish the Cardinals the best. Kurt Warner is a great story, and he's closer to my age than anybody else on the field, but I am a longtime Steelers' fan. Mr. Rooney, the owner, was just an extraordinary supporter during the course of the campaign. Franco Harris was campaigning for me in Pittsburgh... Coach Tomlin was a supporter ... so, you know, I wish the best to the Cardinals. They've been long-suffering, it's a great Cinderella story. But other than the Bears, the Steelers are probably the team that's closest to my heart."

And then Obama added: "I've also ordered the National Guard to detain Phoenix mayor Phil Gordon and give him a Code Red using Terrible Towels. Just to send a message for any other would-be funny guys."*

* For the dim-witted, that was a joke. Obama said no such thing.

Super Bowl Rings

The NFL pays for up to 150 Super Bowl rings at $5,000 per ring. Above is the Super Bowl XLII version presented to the N.Y. Giants after a 17-14 win over New England at University of Phoenix Stadium. Eli Manning was MVP. Click through to see all 42 rings.

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Super Bowl XLI: Indianapolis 29, Chicago 17 at Dolphins Stadium in Miami. Peyton Manning was MVP.

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Super Bowl XL: Pittsburgh 21, Seattle 10 at Ford Field in Detroit. Hines Ward was MVP.

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Super Bowl XXXIX: New England 24, Philadelphia 21 at ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville. Deion Branch was MVP.

Jostens, Inc.

Super Bowl XXXVIII: New England 32, Carolina 29 at Reliant Stadium in Houston. Tom Brady was MVP.

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Super Bowl XXXVII: Tampa Bay 48, Oakland 21 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Dexter Jackson was MVP.

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Super Bowl XXXVI: New England 20, St. Louis 17 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Tom Brady was MVP.