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..........
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