Red Sox Fans Cheer on Their Team at The White House
WASHINGTON, March 2 – Just because the Red Sox won the World Series doesn’t mean their fans have changed.
Guests attending President Bush’s congratulatory greetings to the Red Sox players chanted and heckled Wednesday afternoon as they awaited Bush’s arrival on the South Lawn of the White House.
One audience member held up a sign that said, “Jeter and A-Rod – Wish they were here.” Another shouted, “Who’s your papi?” into the crowd.
Many of them burst into the familiar “Here we go Red Sox!” cheer as the players stood, beaming, on risers set up in front of the Oval Office.
Only when President Bush took the podium did the fans briefly fall silent.
“So, like, what took you so long?” Bush, a former co-owner of the Texas Rangers, asked the team. The audience broke into laughter.
Amid a slew of one-liners, Bush congratulated the Red Sox on their victory against the St. Louis Cardinals. The team claimed their first World Series title since 1918 by sweeping the Cardinals last fall.
“I appreciate the way this team played baseball. It took a lot of guts and a lot of hair,” he joked. “No one really expected the answer to the curse of the Bambino would come from a group of players that call themselves ‘idiots,’ except for maybe idiots who don’t understand baseball.”
Sen. John Kerry, who, along with Bush, had just attended a Capitol ceremony honoring baseball legend Jackie Robinson, arrived late to the White House event.
Bush interrupted his remarks to welcome Kerry as his former opponent hurried towards his seat. “I like to see Senator Kerry, except when we’re fixing to debate,” Bush quipped.
Bush thanked former Red Sox stars Dom DiMaggio, baseball legend Joe DiMaggio’s brother, and Jimmy Piersall, for being at the event.
“You guys represent a lot of great Boston Red Sox players that a lot of us grew up watching play,” he said. “You’re representing a great tradition of wonderful folks.”
Guests stood and cheered in true Red Sox fashion as team captain Jason Varitek and pitcher Curt Schilling presented the 43 rd president and Vice President Dick Cheney with jerseys that said “Bush 43” and “Cheney 2.”
Rep. Martin Meehan and Sen. Edward Kennedy also attended the event, along with other members of the Massachusetts delegation.
“I came to the White House today not just because the last time we won the World Series Woodrow Wilson was President but because I think it’s important to recognize the achievement of these classic underdogs,” Meehan said in a statement after the event.
Johnny Damon, Kevin Millar, David Ortiz and Varitek met with members of the press after the ceremony. They thanked their fans and expressed their gratitude for being welcomed to the White House.
“We’re definitely going to try to get back here next year,” Damon said.
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