President Barack Obama talked up the Chicago Bears, while Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney jokingly took credit for the two Super Bowls won by the New England Patriots while he was governor of Massachusetts.
The two contenders for the world's most powerful office spoke with Chris Berman of ESPN in short satellite interviews that aired during halftime of Monday night's 28-13 victory by the New Orleans Saints over the Philadelphia Eagles -- one day before the presidential election.
Rap Sheet Rundown: Hotlanta at 8-0
Ian Rapoport gives the Falcons their due, marvels at the Bears' defense and notes other significant Week 9 developments. **More ...**
Although both men clearly relished the airtime on the eve of a close election, the questions stuck to sports.
"Best defense in the league right now," Obama said of his hometown Bears, who thrashed the Tennessee Titans 51-20 on Sunday. "You saw (Sunday's) game. (Charles) Tillman may be defensive player of the year the way he's playing."
Romney talked about how he went from being a Detroit sports fan growing up in Michigan to supporting the Patriots after moving to Massachusetts.
"And I take personal full responsibility for their two Super Bowl wins, as well as the Red Sox winning the World Series," he joked, according to ESPN.com. "As a governor, you get blamed for everything that goes wrong. You might as well get the credit for what goes right."
"Monday Night Football" aired similar interviews four years ago with Obama and Arizona Sen. John McCain, 2008's Republican presidential nominee.