Bears fan Barack Obama welcomed the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers to the White House on Friday, and in his comments congratulating the team, he made special mention of Charles Woodson and Aaron Rodgers.
During the Packers’ run to the Super Bowl, Woodson complained about Obama openly supporting the Bears. Woodson used that as a motivational tool then, and Obama mentioned it today.
“I gave Charles a little bulletin-board material last year,” Obama said of his vocal support of the Bears. “Charles said if the president doesn’t want to come watch us at the Super Bowl, then we’re going to him. . . . Charles, you’re a man of your word. And I’ve learned something that every NFL quarterback knows: Don’t mess with Charles Woodson.”
In his address to the team, Obama noted the special relationship that the Packers have with Green Bay.
“Today 112,000 people own a piece of this franchise -- it is the only publicly owned team in pro sports,” Obama said. “Even a Bears fan can admit that the relationship between Green Bay and its team is something special.”
Woodson then presented Obama with a stock certificate making him a team shareholder. That gave Obama a chance to congratulate Rodgers -- and take a shot at Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.
“If I’m a part owner,” Obama said, “I think we should initiate a trade to send Rodgers down to the Bears.”