Deadspin
President Bush is never more likable, engaging or, frankly, informed as he is when he's talking about baseball. He lights up, displaying a breadth of knowledge that, uh, we never sense when he's discussing the Al-Anbar Province. He threw out the first pitch at the new Nationals Stadium last night and was, predictably, booed. We almost — almost — felt bad for him.
We're not going to get too much into politics here, swear, but honestly, has a guy ever looked more sick of being President than Bush does? Ordinarily, when the President throws out the first pitch on Opening Day, he'll pop by the booth to chat with the broadcasters for half an inning before being shuffled off to handle, you know, matters of the national interest. Bush talked to Jon Miller and Joe Morgan for an inning-and-a-half last night. And he didn't look like he was in any particular hurry to leave after that either.
It kind of creeped us out, actually, that Dubya was so well-versed in the world of baseball; he even knew that Jeff Francoeur had been hit in the face with a pitch in spring training. As cool as we might think it is for our President to love the great game so much, we're still not sure we feel comfortable with the commander-in-chief having that much free time.
The saddest part, really, was when Miller asked President Bush about steroids. The Prez sighed deeply. He knew this question was coming, but dammit, why does everyone have to be so negative all the time? I'm at the ballgame, people. Leave me be. President Bush didn't want to talk about policy, or being President; he wanted to talk about baseball. This makes him a pretty cool guy ... and it makes us extremely happy we only have 10 months until he's no longer President.
Comments
I was glad he was taking a few hours off from ruining the country. And Joe Morgan appeared to be a little perturbed, which made for awesomely awkward moments.
Although I'm sure Bush wouldn't have given up that walk-off homer to Ryan "GET THE FUCK OUT!" Zimmerman.....
/god damnit
They're not booing, they're saying "Booooooooo-ush!"
/obligatory
//only 9 1/2 more months of dealing with this turd
When Bush leaves office, we are not gonna hear from him again. No Jimmy Carter charity work, no Richard Nixon elder statesman-ing, no Bill Clinton campaign work. He's gonna be as invisible as Dick Cheney is now. And thank fucking god.
As far as feeling sorry for him goes, he's very low on my list, after several thousand people who are dead or maimed thanks to him.
/rant
My favorite part was when they brought up Nolan Ryan being president of the Rangers, and Bush says:
"Yeah, I discussed this with Nolan when we were talking about another matter."
WHAT OTHER MATTERS IS THE PRESIDENT CONSULTING NOLAN RYAN ON? Are these rebate checks really Nolan Ryan's economic stimulus package? Did Bush need some Advil? I need to know.
It's still jarring every time I see what Jon Miller actually looks like.
And I did not feel sorry for Dubya.
it makes us extremely happy we only have 10 months until he's no longer President.
...and 10 months and 1 day until he stages a bloodless coup to overthrow Bud Selig.
That's the most effort he's put into anything since... um... ever.
The contrast to the 2001 World Series opening pitch was incedible. And couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
If he had only blown out a knee while throwing out the first pitch...we could have put him down.
He did look quite jaunty in his sweater vest ensemble. And seemed more relaxed than he had in years. I personally think he just always wanted to be a baseball announcer, and had to settle for POTUS instead. Also? The awkward silences at the beginning? Painfully priceless.
@The Secret Weapon: God help us all in that case.
Bush talked to Jon Miller and Joe Morgan for an inning-and-a-half last night
I missed this, thank God. But I can only imagine it must have been the most inane 30 or so minutes of conversation ever recorded.
I find it more amazing that he was at the ballgame at about 9:30 last night, and was still on Marine One at 7:30 AM to head to the Ukraine.
I figured he has to have at least ten hours of sleep a night.
My Republican friends hate him more than I do. And I really, truly hate him.
Despite what the numbers say, Joe Morgan believes that President GW Bush is the most beloved president of all time.
I think the Pres met with both teams before the game, which might explain how he knew about Francouer's HBP.
In fact, Miller, Morgan and Bush all met up after the game to drink MGD cans and read Maxim.
@Sarcastro: The line forms behind me, bucko.
W's pitch was still better than Ankiel's in 2000.
/Bitter Cubs Fan
@ArkansasFred: That should be DRINK Maxim and read MGD cans in the case of Joe and W.
Ah jeez I don't hate they guy...I just mildly dislike him.
Then again I mildly dislike all politicians.
As woeful as he's been as the leader of the free world, I'd still rather have him leading Major League Baseball.
@Camp Tiger Claw:
Texas Legend Key Party. The issue was whether Romo still gets an invite if he is no longer with Jessica.
@twoeightnine:
Does that include his impressive ICP (Invaded Country Percentage)?
@White Speed Receiver:
Hell, I'd take him over Selig. That's not a joke either.
Eh. His family and personal fortunes will buy a lot of therapy. I'm not feeling too sorry for him.
The best thing I can say about Dubya is that at least he never shot someone else in the face and made it out to be someone else's fault.
Person I want commenting on Chipper Jones's at-bats: Bush > McCain> Clinton> Obama
Person I want leading our country next January: Hunter S. Thompson
At least he never said "SO?" to the steroids question.
Joe Morgan became a Bush supporter the minute someone told him about the Value Over Replacement President stat.
Politics, schmolitics... Washington is in FIRST PLACE, people! This may never happen again!
@ghostsoftheSCupcountry: We've got to question our national priorities when a fine man such as William McKinley (Allegheny College dropout. Go Gators!) is assassinated and this cat gets to roam free.
@The Secret Weapon: Given the guy's track record, I'm guessing it will be a rather bloody coup.
@Le Kangourou de Kataroo is the REAL white lobster.: The awkward silences were the result of him waiting to hear the answer from his ear piece, ala the first 2004 Presidential Debate.
@Little Wooden Boy: Couldn't be worse then Selig, could he? And when he fucks up it won't kill thousands of soldiers (not to mention the countless civilians), it will just cost the owners some bank.
@Chamomiles Davis: so much for the old "first in war, first in peace..." line.
@UkraineNotWeak: You're talking about Marvin aren't you. Jules hit a bump, gun went off, end of story.
I'm very jealous he got to call the HR by sure fire hall of famer Chipper Jones.
@Gourmet Spud: Every time I go to one of those I end up smelling like Von Erich
@Matt_T: the FIRST! homerun in this BRAND NEW (yet-to-be-named) STADIUM!
True, story.
I once saw his father, while in office, get smacked in the face with a give-away glove at a Frederick Keys minor league game. He apparently decided to come down at the last minute from Camp David and attend a game. Thanks to his appearance security was a bitch and the lines took forever.
He was just sitting in his box for the first couple innings, talking to the people in the next box (us) and signing autographs. After the third the announcers officially welcomed him and he leaned over the edge of the box and waved. Bam, right in the kisser with a glove from the lower deck.
The guy claimed he was tossing it up to get an autograph. Still one of the funnier things Ive ever seen.
Honestly? I thought the whole affair was really nice. I literally can't come up with a single snarky comment to make about it. It was nice and it make me smile.
@futuremrsrickankiel: and it MADE me smile.
Say what you will about W...but his father is horrible to have as a neighbor...driving donuts around my front yard and hanging a banner from his house saying two bad neighbors. Gerald Ford was the bomb though.
@futuremrsrickankiel: Boom! Right in the kisser! Boom! Right in the kisser!
@tater: I thought that was Truman, not Ford.
Say what you will about the guy, but that's one more pitch than Curt Schilling will throw this year.
@futuremrsrickankiel: His time in the press box was the most I've liked him since he's been in office. He looks ready for retirement.
Damn Secret Service stole my keychain knife. Totally ruined the day. Almost made it not even worth it to go.
/threadjack
Hank Aaron is speaking right now on WGN in honor of Ernie Banks and I think it has gotten dusty in my house.
/threadjack
great arm.
listen, all of you, he's OUR President and if you don't support him than you sleep with hairy terrorists and you can move to Venezuala you commie humping pinko reds.
those who booed OUR President last night caused 9/11.
In light of the booing, the Capital Steps have written the following songs:
It's My Ballpark and I'll Boo If I Want To
Since U've Been Booed
Booin' In The Wind
Boo-exual Healing
My roommate and I were sitting in section 109 last night, and we were part of the chorus of boos, and it was very satisfying. My dad called me during the game to tell me (gleefully) that the booing came through on TV. DC hates this guy almost as much as we hate(d) Reagan, and that is saying something.
@Le Kangourou de Kataroo is the REAL white lobster.: Yeah. I'm guessing he probably feels ready for retirement, too. This could be one of those rare situations in politics where everyone comes out a winner. Unlike the NL East.
At first I felt embarrassed that he was being booed. Then I remembered he was president, and I felt ashamed.
He was born on the pitcher's mound and thinks he earned the start.
Just think about it... Bush was on the list to become Baseball Commissioner after Fay Vincent stepped down. Who knows? Baseball might have been better off... the country certainly would have.
@twoeightnine: What I like best is that Morgan calls him Homer Bush.
Bush- crappy president, decent guy if he wasn't entrusted with running the most important country on earth
Selig- crappy commish, sleazy guy
I propose a 3 way trade:
Illinois sends Obama to Washington
Washington sends Bush to MLB Commish Office
MLB sends Selig to Illinois to get beat up by that father/son Chisox tag team.
Everybody wins.
@DirtyJersey: I like the way you think.
Is it disturbing to anyone else to think that Selig is actually worse at his job than Bush is at his? And it's not so much Bush, in my mind, as it is the Hitler Youth he's surrounded himself with.
Baseball Commisioner? Come on. This dipshit could run a fruit stand into the ground. Put him in charge of MLB and by the time he's finished the games will be less popular than swimming competitions.
my favorite part of the evening was when W reflected on the importance of baseball in the inner city. i couldn't agree more that baseball is so important those poor, disadvantaged kids and neighborhoods because (rough quote), "The (baseball) contracts are much more lucrative and the players careers are much longer (than in other professional sports)."
i can't even come up with a snarky comment to make that seem even more astoundingly stupid.
I actually caught some of his commentary while he was in the box, and was it just me, or when asked about the steroids did he respond by saying something to the effect of "I'm happy that they recognized the problem, but I want them to continue to work on sophisticated stuff to prevent cheating". I mean, if the guy's gonna bring it up in the State of the Union, you'd think he'd know a little more about what anti-juicing measures he wants than just "sophisticated stuff".