and strike!
Posted on 04/03/2006 5:33:43 PM PDT by pissant
CINCINNATI -- President Bush combined twin passions — baseball and politics — today, throwing the ceremonial first pitch as the Cincinnati Reds, run by a major Bush political fundraiser, and the Chicago Cubs opened their seasons.
Bush, whose political world of late has been as chilly as Cincinnati's 50-degree opening day temperature, fared better in the baseball world: From the pitcher's mound his 59-year-old arm found the vicinity of home plate despite a stiff breeze. It was just wide enough to be called a brushback on a right-handed hitter. Reds' catcher Jason LaRue, on the disabled list after knee surgery, grabbed it from a modified crouch.
"Jason LaRue said he had a real hard time gauging that 30-mph fastball," the president said to CBS News reporter Peter Maer, who encountered him as Bush left the press box after a short interview with the game's broadcasters.
Still, the Reds would have been forgiven for leaving the president on the mound. Starter Aaron Harang gave up five runs in the first inning. The Cubs won 16-7.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
and strike!
The LA Times are not even willing to give Bush the credit for throwing a perfect strike.
He could have thrown a 100 mph fastball and they'd write that he through it with his "Good" arm.
He looked good, healthy. Unbelievable though is how much his hair grayed.. the stress of the job must be incredible.
"Threw"...
Thank you for your comment. It was so classy.
There are plenty where you can go bash Bush till your heart is content.
Nope. Because John Kerry bounced it in the dirt from about 30 feet away. LOL
I'm thinking he will be the one that kills the Senate version, so just hang tight with your critcisms.
"Keep the immigration crap out of non-immigration threads."
Too bad you don't hold to the same standard.
LOL. And Bush called it his slowball. I thought that was funny.
"The LA Times are not even willing to give Bush the credit for throwing a perfect strike."
It was far from a strike. What they din't do, however, is note the overwhelming cheers for the President when he came on the field. An even bigger cheer when he threw the ball to the catcher without a bounce.
At least he isn't using Grecian formula. Though it would be perfect considering he called the greeks Grecians back in 2000. LOL
The LATimes can kiss my grits.
I admire him greatly, despite his flaws. The only President that would make me (and the rest of Freepdom) happy would be me. LOL
The President jokingly refers to his "30 mph fastball." If it had been President Kerry (shudder!) the ball would have bounced twice before reaching the plate, and it would have been someone else's fault.
After all the Reds spring training hype ... new ownership, new management, a new team spirit with a goal of play-off baseball this season ... they lose to the Cubs in their opener 16-7.
Realize it's a long season but it seems to me the Reds haven't changed that much ...
These pics are over the course of 5 years and the consistency between the 3 is amazing.
Unlike President Bush..........
I think he did just that when he bounced one in the dirt in 2004, if I'm not mistaken.
I'm just praying the Mariners leave the cellar this year. Uhg!
Maybe if the Reds had brought in Cheney as a reliever.
They're just sooo obvious.
When he was hugging the folks on the field and they were getting teary, I was crying too.
Let's All sing it together now, class:
No matter how your heart is dreaming,
If you keep on believing,
The dream that you wish,
Will...come..trrruuuuuue.
That is our president in a nutshell. Consistent and determined.
None who were there will ever forget that day. Wish I could have been there.
Agreed.
PERFECT! LOL
That is pretty cool. He's in terrific shape by anyone's standards. The 'vest' is visibly adding bulk in the first photo. You rock, Mr. President!
.....and the big dork still bounced it!
Couldn't have hurt. LOL. And Rummy as the closer!
..the President has good mechanics, keeping the ball just to the right of the center of the plate--has been accused of illegal pitches at times though...
LOL. Good one.
That's an insult to dorks the world over. LOL
Comprende?
Clever. But then when the games on the line, he ties the batters in knots. ;o)
As the Euk said in "Major League",
Juuust a bit outside"
It was a more manly throw than Kerry could ever hope to throw but a strike, no.
Idiot journalist.
You spammers are getting past annoying as you hit every thread with your unoriginal comments against the President.
My son and I who are huge Reds' fans have one word for your post: BOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
I have him face front with the arm raised with a thumbs up and the ball in the other hand. It was the most emotional moment after the day.
If it was an MSM journalist at the plate, Bush would have served up chin music. LOL
"At least he isn't using Grecian formula. Though it would be perfect considering he called the greeks Grecians back in 2000. LOL"
And THAT'S a whole lot different from the conservative talk show folks and radio preachers calling Muslims "Islamics."
Also LOL. ;>D
Hey lady! Nice to see you!!!
I call them islamo-facists, at least the terrorist variety. As did GWB, BTW. ;o)
How was your visit?
We learned to 'Boo' very well this year in the Big 12 football season with the worst refs in major college football so I figured I needed to keep the edge preparing for next fall. :)
I haven't decided if that's good or bad yet.
Have you been to the new stadium? Was there twice last summer -- awesome stadium! I think the Reds should have left the President continue pitching! :)
Was Kerry's throw overhand or underhand?
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