Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Obama to Help NL Win All-Star Game

The President's a lefty!

From "President Obama to kick off 2009 ASG" (AP/ESPN.com):

President Barack Obama plans to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the All-Star Game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 14.

The White House said Tuesday that Major League Baseball's focus on community service matches with Obama's service initiative this summer, known as United We Serve.

"The central theme of the 2009 All-Star Game is community service, celebrating the extraordinary work being done by ordinary people," baseball commissioner Bud Selig said. "We are thrilled that we can come together with President Obama, who has encouraged a renewed spirit of national service, and illustrate a call to action in our communities. President Obama will continue a great tradition that joins our nation's leader and the national pastime."

Obama, a White Sox fan, will be the fourth president to throw out the first pitch at an All-Star Game, following John F. Kennedy (1962 in Washington), Richard Nixon (1970 in Cincinnati) and Gerald Ford (1976 in Philadelphia).

It's nice to see the Commander-in-Chief giving our favorite sport some love, but of more pressing importance is the performance of the National League squad. I'm already resigned to having only a token Dodger or two on the team but — without resorting to jinx-baiting specifics — it would be a welcome development if the NL had home-field advantage in this year's World Series. Sure, the Phillies won without it last year. Don't care about that.

As for that misleading headline? How can President Obama, a fan of an AL team (that the Dodgers beat last night!), help the NL win? Let's see...he could request a White Sox player catch his pitch, then bounce it so the player pulls a hamstring in his haste to block the ball to help the Prez save face. Or have Sasha and Malia cause interference at the plate, à la Darren Baker in the 2002 World Series. Or set Bo loose in Busch Stadium, trained to attack pitchers who look like they've never touched a bat. Stuff like that.

Earlier at SoSG: I Know Who I'm Voting For

6 comments:

Mr. LA Sports Czar said...

I find it comical that Obama will throw out the first pitch in Busch Stadium.

Unknown said...

There is pretty much no way Broxton and Billingsley aren't on and I think Hudson makes it too. Matt Kemp deserves it and Blake is borderline, but neither will be chosen. If you actually look at overall contributions of NL catchers this year, Martin actually deserves to make it again (slow year behind the dish) but I think he won't just based on all the hype around his lack of homers.

As for the President being a lefty, all us great ones (Juan Pierre being the exception to the rule) are. :-p

W was a righty, Clinton is a lefty. I will leave the judgments as to the inferiority of right handed presidents up to everyone else here. ;-)

Steve Sax said...

Do lefties utilize emoticons more than righties?

Unknown said...

Perhaps Sax. We are supposed to be more artistic.

;-) :-p :-@

Eric the Ice King said...

I found Bush comical in general even without throwing a pitch, and keep him away from mountain bikes, Segways and killer pretzels.

jose said...

Wouldn't left-handed emoticons face the other way? (: