The White House Press Office confirmed today to me that The President Of The United States WILL NOT be attending Monday's Home Opener at Nationals Park and subsequently throw out The Presidential First Pitch. He simply can't make it with everything else going on within his Administration, Our Country and throughout the world.
Also--there are two Easter Egg Roll Sessions on Monday. The first in the morning, the second in the afternoon on the South Lawn. The President and First Lady usually show up at both.
Love the President, but no big deal.
ReplyDeleteSeriously? He went to read books to some third graders a few weeks ago. This couldn't possibly take much longer.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm pouting!
Thanks be to Obama!
ReplyDeleteLess hassle getting to the game, less booing I have to do at the game.
But he has time to invite the Phillies over to the White House on Tuesday. Way to show support for the home team Big O.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20090409_Phillies_to_visit_White_House.html
Anon at 3:57--It's tradition of every champion in most every sport in America to be honored at The White House. Come on--show some respect. It's not like it will take one hour out of The President's Day to show up at Nationals Park. A whole lot of work goes into any Presidential Appearance--anywhere. Any Place--even if he was walking across the park to The U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It would be great to have him there, The Presidential First Pitch is a great tradition too--but it didn't work out this time due to many other circumstances. And it not anybody's fault.
ReplyDeleteSBF, thanks for the confirmation. Your thoughts on the execution of the artwork at the park? And your thoughts about the Kasten interview inviting the Philly fans to the park? Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteSurprising news. But let's get real, SBF. We know you like the new president, but Obama does what he wants to do and he has no more on his plate today than any other president ever has had on Opening Day over the years. The Nats have been dissed, just as they were in 2006 and 2007 when G.W. Bush did not appear. And is there any evidence that Obama has EVER attended a Nationals game?
ReplyDeleteYes, it would have been nice if the Presidential First Pitch Tradition would have been reinstated. But it certainly will make arriving at the ballpark a whole lot easer on Monday.
I should point out that SBF is hardly an apologist for Philadelphia sports teams or their fans. The President works and lives here, but he represents the entire nation. I see no problem with him inviting the world champions to the White House.
ReplyDeleteIf the Nats want to visit 1600 Pennsylvania Ave too, the key to an invitation is simple---just win the World Series.
I'm disappointed that Obama won't be throwing out the first pitch, but not crushed. Barring tragedy or scandal, the man will be here for the next four years. Hopefully, he will come to a Nats game sometime later this year even if it isn't the season opener.
ReplyDeleteJohn R., in defense of Obama's predecessor (whom I did not vote for), President Bush threw out the first pitch last year at Nationals Park even though he knew he would probably be booed. So although he chose to throw out the first pitch elsewhere on more favorable ground in 2006 and 2007, I'm going to cut the guy a little slack.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Obama goes, if the Nats have been "dissed", they can wait in line because Obama has not thrown out the first pitch ANYWHERE in the major leagues. For me, that leads credence to the fact that the President really HAS been too busy. I won't be suprised if he does show up at Nats Park later this year, but if he doesn't, he's not the reason I go to Nats games.
I don't know if Biden or Fenty will throw out the first pitch Easter Monday, but I will give either of them my full respect. (But don't be surprised if soccer fans boo Fenty.)
I'll be pretty disappointed if the first sports fan doesn't show up at Nats Park at some point during the season, but I won't be surprised. The Nats and their ball park get no respect in DC, and since the Lerner/Kasten regime did such a poor job of marketing last year, I think we have very little hope of things changing until the team makes the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteLooks like Obama cares as much about the Nats as most people in the DC area do.
ReplyDeleteI am still holding out hope that the President can clear up his schedule and make it out for Opening Day.
ReplyDeleteThe Yankees were in the White House on their off-day on Tuesday. Invited there by Bush before he left office. They got a tour, as Obama was still out of the country.
ReplyDeleteSBF is right, it is tradition for champions in almost every major sport to be invited to the White House. Obviously those visits have to be arranged at a time which is convenient for both the team and the President. Often they occur during the offseason, but with the Phillies here with an off day on Tuesday it makes sense for them to do the visit then.
I would feel more dissed by Obama if this was the real opener of the season, as it should always be (and was last year). MLB did the first dissing of the Nats this year by not scheduling the traditional Opening Day here in the nation's capital.
The Presidential First Pitch WAS a great tradition.
ReplyDeleteThis does not sit well with me.
Edward, I certainly did not mean to criticize President Bush, for whom I did vote. But I do think he has set the precedent, which Obama is following, that the Nationals are nothing special even though they are the team of the Nation's Capital. So, Bush limited his appearances to historic occasions -- the return of baseball in 2005 and the opening of the new park in 2008.
ReplyDeleteI just don't think we should blindly accept the explanations of Bush or Obama Administration officials that the President is too busy with the problems of the world to deal with a ballgame down the street. (Remember the Jay Leno appearance in L.A.? The NCAA tournament brackets?)
But let us all be grateful for the small favor of not having to go through the long screening process that a presidential appearance inevitably necessitates. Now that's an explanation I can accept and believe!
Hmm,
ReplyDeleteStill lots of buzz on the airwaves he might show.
Take Me Out To The Ballgame!
Sam