Look what I found, a dead horse and a whip!
Those of you who don't care about sports don't get it, but don't be so quick to dismiss it. McCain's blatant attempt to pander to Steeler fan has repercussions not only in Pennsylvania and Ohio, but among sports fans everywhere. If there's one thing a true fan hates, it's a bandwagoner.
Please, step into our world...
McCain's original story, that he named the offensive line of the Green Bay Packers is plausible enough. The Bart Starr era -- especially the years 1961-1967 -- is the stuff of football legend. During this time, the Packers won five championships, and were...in terms of media coverage, at least...America's team.
It's not much of a stretch to imagine that a lonely POW in the pit of the Hanoi Hilton knew the names of their starting offensive line (or, at least Forrest Gregg's name), and gave them to his captors in lieu of giving up the names of his squad mates.
In contrast, the Pittsburgh Steelers of that era were absolutely woeful. Although they would dominate the NFL in the 1970s, in the 1960s, they were one of the league's perennial doormats. In 1964, the Steelers finished 5-9. In 1965, 2-12. 1966: 5-8-1. 1967 (the year John McCain was imprisoned) 4-9-1. In 1965 alone, the Steelers' defense gave up 397 points. They weren't just unmemorable, they were a joke.
So, why does this matter? Who cares? Aren't there more important issues facing the country?
Almost certainly there are. But this is big, and it matters. Because McCain committed perhaps the greatest sin in the world of sports...he bandwagoned.
Nobody likes a bandwagoner. At least, nobody who follows sports. Those of us who are fans suffer through our teams' bad times (don't even ask me about the past 15 years of 'Skins futility), and we celebrate the good (Super Bowl XVII, baby!). And we harbor resentment for people who become fans when the times are good, or who try to act like fans if they think there's something in it for them.
And that brings us to Senator McCain...either he was one hell of a Steeler fan in the 1960s and knew the names of a bunch of stiffs whose own teammates probably couldn't have named them, or -- the much more likely scenario -- he was pandering while campaigning in Pennsylvania. It's pretty obvious to anyone with an ounce of sports knowledge. And that's why it pissed so many people off...and that's why it matters.
For McCain to win, he needs an almost ridiculous amount of support from regular Joe. Guys who like to drink beer and watch sports on the weekends. Guys a lot like me. McCain's pander...errr, gaffe...hits guys like us exactly where we live. Sure, maybe calling us "whiners" was worse, but sports fans across the country saw through this little bit of bullshit. The sports talk radio stations picked it up, and fans everywhere were put off by it. And they will remember it. And they'll roll their eyes when they hear some more bullshit about "straight talk."
And that's why it's important, maybe not in the grand scheme of things -- there are certainly more important issues to deal with. But, in one simple sentence, McCain proved that he's full of shit, and that he isn't one of us. He may want to paint Obama as an elitist...but he just nailed himself on that very charge. Or worse, he branded himself as a bandwagoner.
He might as well have praised Martin Luther while speaking in a Catholic church. Or given a shout out to Jeff Gordon in Charlotte.