President Barack Obama gained a lot of respect from sports fans during his presidential campaign when he lobbied for a college playoff (guess he will take care of that after health care). He earned even more credibility when he backed the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII. America needs a leader who will pick a football team. Rooting for a good game is the kind of thing that Switzerland would do. (Although Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger does have Swiss roots.)

But who will Obama pull for in Super Bowl XLIV?

Obama told ABC News’ Diane Sawyer (via the Indianapolis Star) that he’s siding with the Saints.

“You know, I think both teams are terrific,” Obama said. “I guess I am rooting a little bit for the Saints as the underdog, partly just because when I think about what’s happened in New Orleans over the last several years and how much that team means to them. You know, I’m pretty sympathetic.”

And don’t forget, Obama caught a pass from Saints QB Drew Brees in a Thanksgiving public-service announcement for the NFL.

The Colts can go to the “disrespect card,” but realize that Archie Manning, the most famous Saints player of all-time (maybe outside of Morten Andersen), has gone on record as saying that he will back his son, Peyton, in the Super Bowl.

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