Which is better: Winning the Super Bowl or having President Obama nominate you to be ambassador to Ireland? This question stumped Pittsburgh Steelers Owner Daniel Rooney as he responded, “I don’t think I could answer that.”
Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday, Rooney said he would respectfully sever ties with the football team if the Senate confirmed his nomination.
Same goes with Sen. Edward Kaufman, D-Del., who as chair opened saying he was grew up in Philadelphia making him a “lifelong Eagles fan,” but admitted that wouldn’t hold him back from acknowledging the accolades of Rooney’s team.
“I will not hold your Steelers ownership against you, though I would appreciate you sharing some of your six Super Bowl trophies with us one day,” Mr. Kaufman joked.
Being of Irish heritage, Rooney has visited Ireland during the last 40 years and co-founded the American Irish Foundation to promote peace and education in Northern Ireland.
Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Arlen Specter, D-Pa., also spoke on Rooney’s behalf. Specter said, “The sooner there is an Ambassador Rooney in Dublin, the better America will be.”
