Posted on 08/14/2005 12:53:55 PM PDT by Wolfstar
PRESIDENTIAL NEWS OF THE DAY: President Bush, accompanied by the First Lady and Secretary of State, attended a regional championship little league playoff game last night in Waco, TX. The following article from the local Waco newspaper, and the news photos, are such a wonderful antidote to the ugliness that's been going on in Crawford this week, that I decided the story deserved its own thread. It's a perfect exclamation point to yesterday's "The President and the people" thread.
Bush dazzles Little League players, fans
By Matt Joyce Tribune-Herald staff writer
Sunday, August 14, 2005The Little League baseball players competing for a regional championship in Waco on Saturday night experienced an honor unusual even for the big leagues when President Bush threw the game's ceremonial first pitch.
If the ESPN camera crews perched on lifts behind the outfield fence didn't boost the players' adrenaline, then Bush's presence in the stands behind home base, along with First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, surely made an impression on the 11- and 12-year-old players.
"I particularly want to say to the coaches of both teams, thanks for setting such a good example, thanks for taking time out of your lives to help these young men understand the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship and hard work," Bush said in a short speech before the Southwestern Regional Little League Baseball tournament championship game.
A star-struck Jordan Romero of the Lafayettte, La., team caught the first pitch -– which arrived wide right -– and then shook hands with the president in front a bay of photographers gathered behind home plate.
Romero's mother, Lisa Romero, said her son was anxious when he learned Thursday that he might be fielding a pitch from Bush, who is spending August at his Crawford ranch.
Jordan was nervous, but he plays ball with a lot of heart and this is a big honor for him," she said. "I hope we got some good pictures of it."
Bush, who played Little League in Midland in the 1950s, is the first former Little League player elected president, said Stephen Keener, president of Little League Baseball and Softball. Bush also was the first president to attend a Little League World Series and has invited T-ball teams to play on the White House south lawn, he said.
"Clearly, President Bush has helped us bring the lessons learned on baseball fields and softball fields -- the values of sportsmanship, fair play and teamwork -- to more and more children in the United States and around the world," Keener said as he introduced the president.
Before a packed house, Lafayette prevailed 4-1 over Bryant, Ark., in the tournament. They will advance to compete with the regional champions from across the country in the Little League Baseball World Series later this month in Williamsport, Pa.
The evening's electric atmosphere was not lost on Amanda Munos, a junior flute player for the Robinson High School band. Her band performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the game.
"We've never played for somebody as big as the president," she said.
Phil Conrad, of Lafayette, drove to Waco on Saturday to cheer on his two nephews on the Lafayette team. Conrad, who wore his team pass attached to Mardi Gras beads, said Bush's attendance was an honor.
I think we ought to be grateful that he takes a minute, actually a couple of hours, out of his day to attend an event like this," Conrad said. "It just shows what kind of person he is."
Stephen Romero, the father of the catcher who fielded the first pitch, said the evening was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the players.
"These players are becoming little men," he said. "They've grown up so much in a week."
Hi, Wolfstar.
I'm in.
Pinging you to a special Sunday dose thread. Only a few photos today, but they are a treasure.
Prosecute the war..Mr. President. Order up some strikes..TODAY. Show some urgency please.
what a great day for the players
Hi, Peach. Good to "see" you on this fine Sunday.
Hi, zencat.
Super, huh! Those kids (and their parents) will never forget that game.
The Dose is not a political thread. Please take your political comments elsewhere. Thanks,
Thank you, thank you for the Little League story and pictures...
we really need it today, after the week of protests outside his gates.
I watched that game last night and saw the ceremonial pitch. All the kids looked awestruck and the announcers were also quite effusive in their remarks. It was a good game too. They kept replaying the part with the President.
And they showed them watching the game and they got a clip of them when they left. And the President was considerate enough to leave between innings just like you would expect.
Those were great pictures, thanks for searching them out. This is a day the kids will never forget.
Hi, Wolfstar!
Wow, what a great way to start out the dose, with President Bush attending the little league game! Those lucky little kids! Just imagine, telling your kids that you caught a pitch thrown by the President!
I also didn't know that President Bush was the first former little leaguer president!
ping
I agree. It's a real tonic to the political madness that swirls around him -- and us -- all the time.
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