Sounds petty, but probably important to some apathetic swing voters in Ohio and Wisconsin (sigh). And no Fox News propaganda this. From the
Can John Elway win the US election for Bush?
Dave Hannigan in New York
Friday September 24, 2004
The Guardian
John Elway was the All American hero personified when he introduced President George W Bush at a rally in Greenwood Village, Colorado, last week. "This man knows how to make the right calls when the pressure is on," said the former Denver Broncos quarterback, during a cameo equivalent of Alan Shearer speaking up for an MP seeking re-election in Newcastle.
In a state where Bush and the Democratic challenger John Kerry are running neck and neck, the potential impact of an athlete with the status of a demi-god locally could be crucial. The Republicans are well aware of that, and having the most revered sports star in a state endorse their candidate has become a recurring theme in Bush's bid for re-election.
Jack Nicklaus stepped up to the plate at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio three weeks back and had to wait five minutes for a crowd of 21,000 to stop cheering before he could formally introduce Bush and his wife Laura at another Republican campaign stop.
"I'm not known for taking political positions," said Nicklaus..."He's made the right calls time and again and he's got the scorecard to prove it."
...
"It doesn't get any better than being introduced by Jack Nicklaus in Columbus, Ohio," said Bush.
He was right. In a country where celebrity endorsement is a valuable political currency, the imprimatur of the Golden Bear could prove the difference between victory and defeat. It also offered further evidence that if Kerry is the preferred choice of Hollywood and the music business, the current resident of the White House appears to have a clear edge in professional sports.
Witness the scene at the Kansas City Chiefs' pre-season training camp last month. Bush dropped by, and mayhem ensued.
Excitedly clutching picture phones and cameras, NFL superstars were queuing up to meet a guy whose sporting career peaked somewhere between playing full-back on the Yale rugby team and buying a chunk of the Texas Rangers baseball club. One of them even handed him a copy of the 9/11 Commission report to autograph.
"It was an experience I caught on tape and on camera," said Priest Holmes, the team's best player, whose father is on active duty with the US Army. "I was glad to be part of this day. It meant a lot to me just because of my father being over in Iraq and knowing the whole connection of him serving our country."
Despite reports that a couple of the Chiefs were not too enamoured of the visit, the effusive response of the majority appears far more indicative of the president's standing in the American sports world. At one point in this campaign, it was estimated Bush had received $232,000 (£130,000) in donations from sports industry figures ranging from the New York Yankees third base man Alex Rodriguez to Fred Wilpon, the owner of the New York Mets. By contrast, Kerry's total contributions from denizens of the sports world tallied a paltry $12,250.
"In most of the locker rooms you'll find a little more Republican [support] than Democrat, at least thinking and leaning towards that way," said the former NFL cornerback Jason Sehorn during a high-profile turn at the recent Republican national convention. "I think because we understand that, you know, we're very capable and adept at taking care of ourselves, and we don't need somebody to place a lot of regulations. I mean, put things in place so I can take care of myself, and protect me."
While the most common reason put forward to explain Bush's popularity among athletes is a tax policy that panders to multimillionaires, the fact that he is a genuine sports nut may also explain his ability to mix easily with these people. After all, the man once caught drink-driving with the Australian tennis champion John Newcombe in his car spent his down-time during the 2000 recount fiasco reading Richard Ben Cramer's biography of Joe DiMaggio.
If sports are a part of his persona that Bush does not have to fake, the same cannot be said of his opponent. Kerry's standing with this sector has not been helped by some awful gaffes. Having just about recovered from naming somebody who had never played for his hometown Boston Red Sox as his favourite Red Sox player ever, he then offended the people of Wisconsin by describing the Green Bay Packers' fabled stadium as "Lambert" instead of "Lambeau" Field.
After a faux pas comparable to an English politician talking about Manchester United playing at New Trafford, he also drew jeers with a mistaken reference to the Ohio State Buckeyes while canvassing in neighbouring Michigan, a place where the Wolverines are the beloved college gridiron team and the Buckeyes are especially despised.
Inevitably, Republican lawyers have organised "Football Fans for Truth" to publicise Kerry's lack of credibility but most of their work is being done for them by the candidate. Just this week he admitted bicycling, hiking and soccer were his favourite sports. Not the sort of answer likely to swing voters in middle America.
Of course, Democrats could counter all this by pointing to the nefarious presence of Don King in the Bush camp. Much to the chagrin of Senator John McCain, author of a current bill proposing to establish a National Boxing Commission that would finally bring parasitical promoters like King to book, the Republican hierarchy have openly welcomed into their midst somebody who once beat a man to death.
"Bush has been reaching out," said King, whose presence, it is hoped, will garner African-American votes. "We cannot afford not to be with him."...