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A Warm Encounter with a Steeler

August 29, 2008 6:25 PM

This afternoon in Pittsburgh, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., greeted Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin.

"Hey coach. I'm Joe Biden," said the vice presidential candidate. "I'm second string."

Biden told Tomlin that after his wife and daughter were killed in 1972, the owner of the Steelers Art Rooney -- whom Biden called "Old Mister Rooney" -- had players from then-world champion Steelers bring an autographed football "to the hospital in Wilmington, Delaware with a signed football for my sons" as a Christmas present, "and I have been a Steelers fan since that day."

"Not much has changed," Tomlin said.

"They are first-class, first rate people," Biden said.

Soon Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, and his wife Michelle came out.

The coach introduced everyone to the three Tomlin children Michael, Mason and Harlyn.

The shy Mason refrained from shaking Obama's hand.

"You going to leave me hanging like this?" Obama asked. "Aw, man, that's a shame."

After posing for a family photo, Obama told Tomlin, "If I didn't live in Chicago I'd be a Steelers fan."

"You've brightened what has been a miserable day," Tomlin told Obama. "I had to cut 23 guys this morning. Hardest day of the year."

"Your owner has supreme confidence in you," Obama told the coach. "Good luck on the season. We're very proud of you."

Tomlin replied, "You have our support, our well wishes, our blessings and prayers."

"I'll be watching the games, I might even try to come to one," Obama said.

"We're playing in DC the night before the election," Tomlin said, "but no pressure."

"We're kind of in the same business, they renew my contract every six years, yours after every game," Biden said, adding that optimism is "an occupational job requirement."

- jpt

August 29, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (21)

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Posted by: anon | Aug 29, 2008 6:41:26 PM

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