Now onto the important stuff
Obama to Eagles owner: Props on the alternative energy thing; but what aboutMichael Vick?
President Barack Obama
Michael VickPhoto by Matt Slocum
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie
President Obama made an important phone call recently — to Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeff Lurie.
The President wanted to discuss a number of things — including the Eagles' plans to use alternative energy to make Lincoln Financial Field the first self-sufficient stadium in the country — but he also wanted to talk about Michael Vick. Sports Illustrated writer Peter King spoke to Lurie shortly after the phone call, who said that Obama had expressed "gratitude" for giving the controversial quarterback a second chance in the NFL.
"The president wanted to talk about two things, but the first was Michael. He said, 'So many people who serve time never get a fair second chance.' He was ... passionate about it. He said it's never a level playing field for prisoners when they get out of jail. And he was happy that we did something on such a national stage that showed our faith in giving someone a second chance after such a major downfall," Lurie said.
The White House was quick to dispute that account of the call's priorities, swiftly releasing a statement explaining that Vick had come up only after discussing the Eagle's plans to incorporate alternative energy — the entire (official) point of the phone call.
But perhaps most interesting is Lurie's admiration for how closely Obama follows professional football. "He's a real football fan,'' he said. "He really follows it. He knew how Michael was doing."
So, we get it, Obama is hip. He follows professional sports, he listens to Jay-Z, he allegedly knows who Snooki is. You're cool, Mr. President, and we totally feel what you're saying about second chances. But aren't there more important phone calls to make?
What do you think? Does the president have more important things to worry about, or is he allowed to exercise some unofficial pardons on the football field?
