President Bush Honors Red Sox at White House
WASHINGTON, March 2 – Most spring training workout sessions are followed by a shower, not by shaking hands with the President of the United States.
But after a two-hour workout at Fort Myers, Fla., members of the 2004 World Series championship team who are still with the Red Sox donned designer suits rather than baseball uniforms to stand on the White House South Lawn Wednesday and do just that.
President George W. Bush welcomed “the mighty Boston Red Sox” to the White House in a speech filled with jokes.
He opened by referring to the 86 years it took for the Red Sox to win a World Series, saying, “So, like, what took you so long?” and later adding, “You know, the last time the Red Sox were here, Woodrow Wilson lived here.”
President Bush was about 30 minutes late to the event because he was participating in a ceremony at the Capitol honoring the late Jackie Robinson with the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award Congress can present to a civilian.
The Red Sox swept the St. Louis Cardinals, four games to none. The team also was the first in baseball playoff history to overcome a 3-0 deficit by winning four straight games against the New York Yankees to win the American League Championship Series.
At the time, Sox owner John W. Henry, who was not present Wednesday – President Bush said he was sick – called the win “an alternate reality,” and one that ended the storied curse of the Bambino.
Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry’s late entrance to the White House event was greeted with cheers from the crowd and a special mention by President Bush.
“Senator, welcome. Good to see you. . I like to see Senator Kerry, except when we’re fixing to debate,” he said to his 2004 presidential opponent. “If you know what I mean,” he said to laughter.
The president teased Johnny Damon by saying, “You know, it took a lot of guts and it took a lot of hair,” as the Red Sox centerfielder tucked his shoulder-length hair behind his ears.
President Bush mocked himself as he listed the Red Sox players’ home towns, saying of relief pitcher Mike Timlin, who shares the president’s Texas hometown, “Finally, somebody from Midland amounted to something.”
Pitcher Curt Schilling, who campaigned for President Bush during the 2004 election, presented the 43 rd president with a white jersey bearing the number 43 and “Bush.” Catcher Jason Varitek presented Vice President Dick Cheney with a red jersey bearing the number 2 and “Cheney.”
President Bush has a history with baseball. He was once co-owner of the Texas Rangers after he and a group of partners purchased the franchise in 1989.
Audience members, who had been invited by the White House to the ceremony, braved the chilly weather to witness the event, including Bristol County Sheriff Tom M. Hudgson, who was in town for the National Sheriffs’ Association’s midyear conference and said he happened to stumble across a ticket.
“I thought the president’s remarks were actually great,” he said after the event. “I thought it was great for him to recognize really what was a huge achievement for Boston, and I think he put it into perspective in a funny way . which sometimes people don’t get to see about him.”
Following the president’s speech, Red Sox players said they enjoyed their time at the White House, something that first-basemen Kevin Millar said was “truly an honor.”
Mr.Varitek said the team owed a lot to Red Sox Nation, thanking the fans for their support.
“In Boston, things are different,” he said. “Everywhere else people would say ‘congratulations;’ [there] they’d say ‘thank you.’ ”
Mr. Damon said he believed the team “wouldn’t lose spirit” and would focus on the new season.
Mr. Millar agreed, saying, “Last year was great, but the guys that weren’t here last year don’t want to hear about last year.”
“We’re going to try and get back here next year,” Mr. Damon said, adding that the 2005 team, “might even be a better team.. We don’t have to live with the curse anymore.”
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