June 9, 2013
Vaughn Powell
News Writer
mETRO SCENE
Photos: Jordan Schatz/DC Spotlight Newspaper
On Wednesday, the Baltimore Ravens visited the White House in celebration of their Super Bowl win this past February. Former players, such as linebacker Ray Lewis, safety Ed Reed, and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe were also in attendance to celebrate the moment.
Some players, such as Matt Birk, were not in attendance. When asked why, the former Ravens center expressed his resentment towards the president’s advocacy of Planned Parenthood. “About five or six weeks ago, our president made a comment in a speech and he said, ‘God bless Planned Parenthood.’ I am Catholic. I am active in the pro-life movement, and I just felt like I couldn’t deal with that. I couldn’t endorse that in any way,” Birk stated.
During his speech, President Obama had plenty of jokes to share with the team. While referring to Ray Lewis’s triceps injury, the president commented that it “came from that dance he does.” Lewis joked back 
with the president who responded by saying “I will not be doing that dance.” President Obama also called a gray-haired Ed Reed an “old man.”
On a more serious note, the president commended the Ravens’ resilience throughout their season and postseason. He congratulated the team on their tremendous achievement and also noted the team’s charitable contributions and donations during their season.
