Rooney Rule(s) or We Are Waving Green Terrible Towels Today

Dan Rooney, the convivial owner and chairman of the six-time Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame, pioneer of race in professional sports, and Commander of the British Empire (Honorary) can add to his impressive resume this morning as Barack Obama announced his intent to send him back to his ancestral home as the Ambassador to The Republic of Ireland.

President Obama said, “I am honored and grateful that such a dedicated and accomplished individual has agreed to serve as the representative of the United States to the Irish people.  Dan Rooney is an unwavering supporter of Irish peace, culture, and education, and I have every confidence that he and Secretary Clinton will ensure America’s continued close and unique partnership with Ireland in the years ahead.” 

Ambassador designate Rooney brings with him a lifetime of experience on and off the gridiron.  To go along with his record 6 super bowl rings, 7 AFC championships, and 14 conference championships, Rooney has been a long-time steward of western Pennsylvania and Ireland.  He has been a part of the Irish peace process since the Steelers began their dominance in the early 1970s, helping create the American Ireland Fund. Additionally, Rooney began funding the annual prize for Irish Literature in 1987, and co-founded the Ireland Institution of Pittsburgh in 1989. In 1993, the Rooney Fellowship was created to honor his generosity and charitable works.  Just last night, he was awarded the American Ireland Fund’s Lifetime Achievement Award

The Rooney Family has owned the Pittsburgh Steelers since 1933. Ambassador designate Rooney's farther Art founded the team in an upstart professional league, the NFL.  Dan Rooney joined the team in 1960 after graduating from Duquense University with a degree in accounting.  He initially served as team's director of personnel.  Since 1969 the Steelers, under Rooney's guidance, have had just three head coaches in a time when big salaries and win-at-all-costs attitudes have caused other teams to go through dozens of coaches in that same time span.  The most lasting impact Dan Rooney left on professional sports is the "Rooney rule," which mandates minority candidates be interviewed for all head coaching and general manager vacancies in NFL. 

As a son of both Ireland and Western Pennsylvania, Mr. Rooney I offer you these words of praise and well wishes as you move on to this next chapter in your life, "Mo ghraidhin go deo thu!" and "Oakel-Doakel, Mr Rooney"

Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh!