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George W. Bush throws out first pitch in Japan
www.bostonherald.com ^ | Tuesday, November 3, 2009 | Associated Press

Posted on 11/03/2009 6:47:20 AM PST by GOPsterinMA

Edited on 11/03/2009 6:49:23 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

TOKYO — Former President George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3 of the Japan Series between the Yomiuri Giants and Nippon Ham Fighters.

Bush, wearing a Yomiuri warmup jacket, took the mound Tuesday at Tokyo Dome and threw a pitch to Giants catcher Shinnosuke Abe that bounced once in the dirt before being caught.


(Excerpt) Read more at bostonherald.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Japan; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: baseball; bush; georgewbush; gwb
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What a difference a year makes.
1 posted on 11/03/2009 6:47:21 AM PST by GOPsterinMA
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To: GOPsterinMA
Nippon Ham Fighters.

"Ham Fighters"? Sounds Islamic...

2 posted on 11/03/2009 6:52:27 AM PST by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: Izzy Dunne

I guess they had to mention the bounce..


3 posted on 11/03/2009 6:53:35 AM PST by stevecmd
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To: GOPsterinMA

“that bounced once in the dirt before being caught”

hmmm...i wonder why THAT information is SOOOOO important...


4 posted on 11/03/2009 6:54:51 AM PST by MountainWoman
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To: Izzy Dunne

Or is this a team sponsored by a ham producing industry in Japan? If Japan has a pork version of their Kobe beef, it would be almost to die for.


5 posted on 11/03/2009 6:56:02 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck (I am in America but not of America.)
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To: GOPsterinMA
What a difference a year makes.

sure enough...
6 posted on 11/03/2009 6:56:31 AM PST by novemberslady
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To: GOPsterinMA

at least this Bush threw OUT in japan instead of throwing UP.


7 posted on 11/03/2009 6:59:14 AM PST by thefactor (yes, as a matter of fact, i DID only read the excerpt)
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To: MountainWoman

Barry 0 can’t be upstaged by the horrible GWB.


8 posted on 11/03/2009 6:59:17 AM PST by GOPsterinMA ("Henceforth, you shall be known as...'Nobel Obama'".)
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To: GOPsterinMA

9 posted on 11/03/2009 6:59:44 AM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: GOPsterinMA

Why would W. bounce in the pitch? He’s a real man unlike the man-boy obama.


10 posted on 11/03/2009 7:00:34 AM PST by 2dogjoe (Have a Blessed Day)
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To: ArrogantBustard

can’t see the pics.


11 posted on 11/03/2009 7:00:37 AM PST by GOPsterinMA ("Henceforth, you shall be known as...'Nobel Obama'".)
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To: novemberslady

...yep..........


12 posted on 11/03/2009 7:01:05 AM PST by GOPsterinMA ("Henceforth, you shall be known as...'Nobel Obama'".)
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To: thefactor

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


13 posted on 11/03/2009 7:01:47 AM PST by GOPsterinMA ("Henceforth, you shall be known as...'Nobel Obama'".)
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To: GOPsterinMA

Ham Fighters? Must be lost in the translation somewhere.


14 posted on 11/03/2009 7:02:12 AM PST by OB1kNOb (As government grows, corruption flows.)
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To: GOPsterinMA

W should have had the catcher set up on right over the plate.

That was a “perfect strike” when Hussein made his feeble effort.


15 posted on 11/03/2009 7:02:24 AM PST by BenLurkin (Brave amateurs....they do their part.)
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To: GOPsterinMA

This is the one I will always remember. Oct 30th 2001 Game 3 Yankee Stadium.

I love the part where Derick Jeter, says to him. “Dont bounce it, they’ll boo ya”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evb489N11Q4&feature=related


16 posted on 11/03/2009 7:02:31 AM PST by NavyCanDo
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To: GOPsterinMA
Suddenly, I can't see them either ...

Must have violated somebody's bandwidth limits.

They were the logos of the two teams.

"Ham" is apparently a place. The correct name of the team is "Nippon-Ham Fighters".

17 posted on 11/03/2009 7:03:07 AM PST by ArrogantBustard (Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)
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To: stevecmd

It was a waste pitch. He knew the batter was looking for a fastball inside.


18 posted on 11/03/2009 7:03:21 AM PST by Lonesome in Massachussets (The People have abdicated our duties; ... and anxiously hope for just two things: bread and circuses)
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To: OB1kNOb; Izzy Dunne
Translation or not, I doubt they have many muzzies as fans!
19 posted on 11/03/2009 7:03:39 AM PST by GOPsterinMA ("Henceforth, you shall be known as...'Nobel Obama'".)
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To: GOPsterinMA

20 posted on 11/03/2009 7:03:43 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: trisham

Thanks - no “Mom Jeans” on GWB!


21 posted on 11/03/2009 7:05:58 AM PST by GOPsterinMA ("Henceforth, you shall be known as...'Nobel Obama'".)
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To: ArrogantBustard

Thank you!


22 posted on 11/03/2009 7:06:12 AM PST by GOPsterinMA ("Henceforth, you shall be known as...'Nobel Obama'".)
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To: NavyCanDo

Seems like a 1,000 centuries ago...


23 posted on 11/03/2009 7:07:43 AM PST by GOPsterinMA ("Henceforth, you shall be known as...'Nobel Obama'".)
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To: GOPsterinMA

He looks good.


24 posted on 11/03/2009 7:08:20 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: BenLurkin

Would you expect anything less from “The Dear Leader”?


25 posted on 11/03/2009 7:08:24 AM PST by GOPsterinMA ("Henceforth, you shall be known as...'Nobel Obama'".)
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To: trisham

Very good!


26 posted on 11/03/2009 7:09:44 AM PST by GOPsterinMA ("Henceforth, you shall be known as...'Nobel Obama'".)
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To: NavyCanDo

bttt


27 posted on 11/03/2009 7:10:58 AM PST by petercooper (GOP: Big Tent Party??? Not if you are a CONSERVATIVE.)
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To: NavyCanDo
Wow, thank you for posting that.

Even with all of his faults, I'd take President Bush back in a heart beat, sigh

28 posted on 11/03/2009 7:14:09 AM PST by Las Vegas Ron (Oath keepers + The NRA = FReeRepublic (.com baby))
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To: Las Vegas Ron
That Game 3 2001 pitch along with the moment on top of the Trade Center rubble bull horn in hand, will go down for me as among the greatest moments in the history of Presidents.
29 posted on 11/03/2009 7:20:23 AM PST by NavyCanDo
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To: GOPsterinMA

At least Bush wore his big boy Jeans


30 posted on 11/03/2009 7:22:35 AM PST by al baby (Hi Mom sarc ;))
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To: GOPsterinMA

Predictably, the AP refused to mention the enthusiastic reception that President Bush received!


31 posted on 11/03/2009 7:22:40 AM PST by DrDeb
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To: Las Vegas Ron

AMERICANS would.


32 posted on 11/03/2009 7:28:32 AM PST by himno hero
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To: MountainWoman
“that bounced once in the dirt before being caught”

At least he doesn't throw like a girl.

Last night I saw quite a few pitches bounce off the deck in game 5 of the World Series.

33 posted on 11/03/2009 7:40:35 AM PST by nonsporting
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To: GOPsterinMA

Heh. Not meaning to seriously rag on Bush, doesn’t he know the Japanese league is where Americans go when they’re washed up?


34 posted on 11/03/2009 8:42:10 AM PST by FelixFelicis (When can we *change* back? [Get yer bumper sticker at www.cafepress.com/deepright!])
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To: NavyCanDo

That was such a great moment. It’s one of my favorites, too. A real man as opposed to what we have now.

I wish we could all stand together like we did that first few weeks. People were more civil. I want that level of national pride once again. Yes, it does feel like 1976. Only worse.


35 posted on 11/03/2009 10:03:19 AM PST by SueRae
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To: GOPsterinMA

Maybe Laura should have thrown the pitch.


36 posted on 11/03/2009 10:10:10 AM PST by AppyPappy (If you aren't part of the solution, there is good money to be made prolonging the problem.)
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To: AppyPappy
OUCH!!!
37 posted on 11/03/2009 10:49:05 AM PST by GOPsterinMA ("Henceforth, you shall be known as...'Nobel Obama'".)
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To: DrDeb

Of course, Bush is the worst cretin since...Bush?

“All Hail Barry, Lord of the Nobel!”

:)


38 posted on 11/03/2009 10:49:59 AM PST by GOPsterinMA ("Henceforth, you shall be known as...'Nobel Obama'".)
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To: HiTech RedNeck
They are sponsored by Nippon Ham. They used to be based in Tokyo (the third team behind the Giants and the Yakult Swallows) and played in the Tokyo Dome, but moved to Sapporo a few years ago.

Around the time of the move, the company was covered in scandal due to mislabeling beef in order to gain government subsidies. The CEO was canned, life went on.

Since moving to Hokkaido, they have really come into their own becoming a Pacific League powerhouse.

I'm a Yakult Swallows fan and an anybody-but-the-Kyojin fan. Go Fighters!

39 posted on 11/03/2009 11:34:26 AM PST by altair (All I want for Christmas is NO legislation passed for the rest of the year)
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To: FelixFelicis
Not meaning to seriously rag on Bush, doesn’t he know the Japanese league is where Americans go when they’re washed up?

That's not a particularly fair statement. There's some very good baseball in the NPB. Perhaps the biggest issue is lack of depth in the bullpen. Even with a five man rotation, the pitchers throw too many pitches throughout the year, counting spring training (which starts very early). Matsuzaka is brilliant pitcher, but he's not going to last very long.

Jingu Stadium, home of the (Tokyo) Yakult Swallows is a beautiful stadium. It's open air, grass field, reminiscent of Dodger Stadium, but much more compact. All seats are great. It's very much a fan's stadium as Vin Scully would put it.

I was always impressed in a sick sort of way how I could see Hoshino (manager of the Hanshin Tigers who play very near where I was working at the time) on TV wearing a turtle neck and long sleeves in the dugout when I was covered in sweat after walking from the bus stop to my apartment to turn on the TV and watch bsseball.

Another moment I remember was a Carp-Tigers game in Hiroshima where it was raining (spring and summer is the rainy season) and the Carp pitcher was dripping wet, sticking his hand inside his uniform to keep it dry between pitches. He let one pitch slip out of his hand and it headed in the general direction of the batters head, who of course, charged the mound :-(.

(I love baseball and the only pro baseball left for me is NPB. When the Major Leagues went on strike and canceled the World Series, I went on strike as a fan. It's difficult, but not impossible to follow Japanese baseball).

40 posted on 11/03/2009 11:59:15 AM PST by altair (All I want for Christmas is NO legislation passed for the rest of the year)
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To: altair

Thanks for the cool perspective. (And I was 90% joking - just having a little fun with Dubya and the idea that now he’s officially a has-been.)

I happened to become a serious baseball fan at age 12 in 1995, when all the talk was about how many fans would never come back. All these years later, I guess the scars are still there.

Tonight I’ll be watching my Yanks try to bring home #27!


41 posted on 11/04/2009 10:30:12 AM PST by FelixFelicis (When can we *change* back? [Get yer bumper sticker at www.cafepress.com/deepright!])
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To: FelixFelicis
I was 90% joking - just having a little fun with Dubya and the idea that now he’s officially a has-been.

It occurred to me after I hit the post button that you might have been referring to the Tom Selleck movie (Mr. Baseball - which was awesome).

I happened to become a serious baseball fan at age 12 in 1995, when all the talk was about how many fans would never come back.

Yeah, that was when I went on strike.

I don't want to diss another baseball fan, but as a lifelong (former, sigh) Dodgers fan, I hope your Yankees do not get their #27.

Oh and something I didn't mention before, the Yomiuri Giants are the Japanese equivalent of the Yankees. They have the most money, attention and buy up all the free agents they can, have the most Japan Series championships, etc.

May the best teams win. Go Fighters! Go Phils!

42 posted on 11/04/2009 10:48:12 AM PST by altair (All I want for Christmas is NO legislation passed for the rest of the year)
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To: altair
...but as a lifelong (former, sigh) Dodgers fan,...

Come back. It is more fun than ever to be a Dodger fan, with the McCourts having a nasty public divorce battle and now Ve-sen-tay Padilla shot himself in the leg. No, seriously, we have some great guys on team but a lot depends on the off-season at this point. *sigh*

43 posted on 11/04/2009 2:39:03 PM PST by La Enchiladita (Yes, it IS the end of the world.)
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To: altair

>>I don’t want to diss another baseball fan, but as a lifelong (former, sigh) Dodgers fan, I hope your Yankees do not get their #27.<<

Heh. I can’t blame other fans for feeling that way about the Yankees (it IS a little like rooting for U.S. Steel) but in my defense, they are my hometown team and the team my father has been rooting for since he was eight. There IS such thing as a true Yankee fan; it’s just that the arrogant buffoons and bandwagon types have us outnumbered. Oh well. Go Yanks!


44 posted on 11/04/2009 4:09:52 PM PST by FelixFelicis (When can we *change* back? [Get yer bumper sticker at www.cafepress.com/deepright!])
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To: FelixFelicis
There IS such thing as a true Yankee fan

Is the #1 Yankees fan, the former junior Senator of New York, in the stands cheering your team on? /rimshot

How is Godzilla[1] doing this year? As much as I don't like him (being an ex-Giant and all), I have to admire his talent and was somewhat saddened when I read that his consecutive game playing streak was ended due to injury some time back.

[1] MATSUI Hideki. Do they call him "Godzilla" in US press?

45 posted on 11/04/2009 5:01:42 PM PST by altair (Let he who is without sin cast the first stone)
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To: La Enchiladita
Come back. It is more fun than ever to be a Dodger fan

Dodger blue goes straight to the core of one's being. I'll admit to cheering Tommy Lasorda on as an Olympic Manager (or something) on Japanese TV.

What's wrong with copyright law right now: I would pay good money for vintage audio and/or video of classic LA Dodger baseball games and LA Laker basketball (Showtime!) games with Vin Scully and Chick Hearn at the mike. Sell them or release them, please. I found a recording of the 9th inning of Sandy Koufax' perfect game and it is classic Vin Scully.

46 posted on 11/04/2009 5:14:19 PM PST by altair (Let he who is without sin cast the first stone)
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To: altair

Hideki’s been unbelievable for a guy with no knees, especially in this game. (World Series Game 6 in progess.) He can only DH, so the speculation is the Yankees won’t bring him back, but he’s making a hell of a case tonight. Yes, they do call him Godzilla.

Speaking of ugly beasts that wreck everything they get their hands on - no, there haven’t been any sightings of the erstwhile junior senator tonight.


47 posted on 11/04/2009 6:34:27 PM PST by FelixFelicis (When can we *change* back? [Get yer bumper sticker at www.cafepress.com/deepright!])
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To: FelixFelicis
Hideki’s been unbelievable for a guy with no knees, especially in this game. (World Series Game 6 in progess.) He can only DH, so the speculation is the Yankees won’t bring him back, but he’s making a hell of a case tonight. Yes, they do call him Godzilla.

Hmmm. If he can't take the field, that would rule him out ever returning to Yomiuri when his MLB career ends. Probably every team in the Pacific League would be willing to sign him for DH though. The man can really swing a bat and he has enormous fighting spirit when it counts the most ...

48 posted on 11/04/2009 7:21:49 PM PST by altair (I want him to fail)
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To: trisham
Point and throw, W, Point and throw.
49 posted on 11/04/2009 7:26:58 PM PST by Rome2000 (OBAMA IS A COMMUNIST CRYPTO-MUSLIM)
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To: trisham
He looks good.

Definitely doesn't look like a communist crypto-muslim faggot, like the current POTUS.

50 posted on 11/04/2009 7:28:45 PM PST by Rome2000 (OBAMA IS A COMMUNIST CRYPTO-MUSLIM)
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