On Sunday, there was uncommon crossover between sports fans and politics geeks when New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie attended the Dallas Cowboys playoff game as a guest of owner Jerry Jones. When the Cowboys won, Christie excitedly embraced Jones, and the hug exploded on Twitter, launching all manner of think-pieces about whether the public display of affection toward a divisive sports figure would torpedo Christie’s presidential ambitions.
On a sports radio show Monday, hosts Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton gave Christie a hard time.
“Let’s look back to the big picture, here for a second, Mr. Governor,” Esiason said. “Do you think we can carry Texas now if we’re running for president?”
“Let’s just say this Boomer, I think our chances have improved,” Christie said. “It’s funny, though, to watch all these people, you guys have known me for a long time and you know, I have been a Cowboys fan the whole time, and when the Cowboys are losing the last game of the year, the last three seasons, not to make the playoffs, there’s nobody getting on social media giving me a hard time about being a Cowboys fan. We all know what this is about, and that’s fine.”
Politicians have long used sports for more than entertainment, be it to cozy up to a donor, better their image, pander to constituents or campaign. For Christie, although the game was certainly a thrill purely from a sports perspective, developing a kinship with Jones could pay dividends later.
Here, a brief history of some other moments when presidential politics and sports collided:
Obama introducing Monday Night Football
Barack Obama was still a first-term senator from Illinois when he introduced Monday Night Football with a nod to his presidential ambitions. “I’m here tonight to answer some questions about a very important contest that’s been weighing on the minds of the American people,” Obama said. But he wasn’t talking about the presidency. “I’d like to announce to my hometown of Chicago and all of America that I am ready — for the Bears to go all the way, baby.” With a laugh, Obama donned a Bears cap — and created buzz about whether he would challenge Hillary Clinton.
Obama mocking Romney with extended football metaphor
Obama has been a fan of talking sports on the campaign trail, too. In 2012, Romney vowed he would “be the coach that leads America to a winning season.” Obama seized on the comment with an extended football metaphor. “On first down, he hikes taxes … by nearly $2,000 on the average family with kids in order to pay for a massive tax cut for multi-millionaires,” Obama said. “Sounds like unnecessary roughness to me.” And it went on for multiple downs.
John Kerry’s sports gaffes
Sports can be so important in politics that even those politicians who aren’t diehards are often obligated to feign interest. Take John Kerry who, in 2004, referred to the Green Bay Packers’ stadium as “Lambert Field,” not its correct name, Lambeau Field. Packers fans ultimately forgave him: Kerry won Wisconsin in the general election.
Hillary Clinton inviting the Yankees to the White House
Hillary Clinton raised some eyebrows in 1999 when, just days after she announced she was exploring a bid for Senate in New York, she invited the World Series champion Yankees to the White House. In a ceremony there, she called Yankees owner George Steinbrenner a “great friend.” But Clinton, born in Chicago, was widely known as a lifelong Cubs fan — leading to accusations of pandering.
Jets owner Woody Johnson picks Mitt Romney victory over his team
Sports teams don’t only pay dividends to candidates from an image perspective, but can also pay real dividends. In 2012, Jets owner Woody Johnson was a major donor to Mitt Romney and even said in an interview that he would pick Romney winning over the Jets winning.
Rand Paul with Rupert Murdoch at the Kentucky Derby
Like Christie with Jones, sports events can be an excellent venue for donor-candidate bonding. Just ask Rand Paul, who escorted Rupert Murdoch to the Kentucky Derby last year.
