Posted on 05/27/2003 8:25:10 PM PDT by xp38
WASHINGTON -- The victors got more of the spoils Tuesday when the Angels were welcomed to the White House by President Bush as the 2002 World Series champions. A caravan of two charter buses escorted by police officers took the Angels and staff to Washington, D.C., from their Baltimore hotel for a reception in the Rose Garden that was attended by guests of the President, quite a few of whom were bedecked in Angels caps.
The players and staff, looking sharp in their finest suits, amassed around the podium and awaited the arrival of the president, who strode to the dais to a standing ovation and immediately busted out the joke book.
First on Bush's target list was shortstop David Eckstein, who had already met the president in an offseason dinner hosted by Bush and George Will.
"I understand some of the players were so excited that, well, like David Eckstein, who actually went out and purchased a suit," Bush cracked. "Fine looking."
Eckstein appreciated the nod.
"It was pretty neat," he said. "That was the first time I wore that suit. Obviously he has spies everywhere. They know."
After the icebreaker, Bush read off a list of personal congratulations, which included a shout-out to new team owner Arte Moreno, who attended the festivities with his wife, Carole.
Bush continued with his light-hearted approach by bringing up memories of his own experience with baseball. Bush served as managing general partner of the Texas Rangers from his purchase of the team in 1989 until his election as governor of Texas in November 1994.
Bush also paid his respects to Angels past, mentioning team owner and founder Gene Autry.
"Gene was the owner of the team when I was fortunate to be in baseball, and he's an amazing guy," Bush said. "I know that he's smiling down now here ... looking at the Rose Garden and realizing his beloved Angels have finally won the world championship."
Bush continued his greetings by congratulating the management of the Angels for inspiring the players to take pride in their never-say-die style of ball.
"I do want to congratulate Bill Stoneman, who's a fine executive," Bush said of the Anaheim general manager.
"He's a good, steady fellow who did a great job. ... I know you're proud of the job he did, as well as all the business folks here to make sure the operation runs well."
"I want to congratulate [manager] Mike Scioscia," Bush continued. "He's turned out to be a pretty good fellow, it looks like, you know? Manager of the year; a good, steady guy."
"It's hard to bring a team from being 41 games down the year before to become the world champs. It says something about focus and desire and willingness to win. It speaks a lot about hope. And that always happens because you've got good management."
Scioscia was impressed with how much homework Bush did.
"He knows a lot about baseball and definitely followed our club," Scioscia said. "He had some busier things on his plate, but he knew what our club was about."
Of course, it wouldn't be a proper Angels gathering with a barb or two aimed at the Angels' clubhouse jester, hitting coach Mickey Hatcher, whom Bush knew when Hatcher served as the Rangers' first-base coach from 1993-94.
"I also want to say hello to my friend, Mickey Hatcher," Bush said. "Obviously, we didn't do a very good job about checking the security of every person that came."
Bush waited for the laughter to subside before firing more salvos in Hatcher's direction.
"I got to know Mickey when he was working for the Rangers. He was a breath of fresh air," Bush said. "I suspect you're still a breath of fresh air. Occasionally a bad breath of fresh air."
Bush wouldn't be Bush without a mention of his home state, so the next order of congratulations went to the two Texans on the Angels, pitchers John Lackey and Ben Weber.
"I wasn't that surprised," Lackey said. "I figured he'd say something about Texas. Texans are very proud. None of us are afraid to mention that we're from there. It was probably more about that than it was about me."
Bush continued by asking the whereabouts of the Angels' famed primate mascot, the Rally Monkey, and was delighted to see an audience member with a stuffed monkey.
"Oh, there he is," Bush said. "Keep your remarks short, please."
Jokes aside, Bush used the forum of the ceremony to communicate a message about what teamwork and character can do.
He expressed a strong belief that last year's Angels were the consummate team and that by working together through a "long and grueling season," Anaheim showed that putting aside selfish interests allows people to work for "something really greater than yourself."
Bush commended the team on its off-the-field contributions to community service, as well.
"And so one of the reasons why we like to host world champs here in the White House is to be able to remind our fellow citizens that there are certain ingredients necessary to become a champion," Bush said.
"A champion is somebody who assumes responsibility of a champion, which is to not only set a good example, but when you're in your community, use the spotlight that you've achieved to encourage our fellow citizens to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself."
Scioscia concluded the event with the traditional gift of an Angels jersey -- with the No. 1 and Bush's last name emblazoned on the back -- to the President.
"Mr. President, it took us 42 years to say this, but we'd like to present you with a world champion Anaheim Angel jersey that I know you'll wear proudly," Scioscia said.
"And we apologize for going through your beloved Texas Rangers in the American League West."
The President then escorted the team to a tour of the White House's Red Room, Green Room, Blue Room, East Room and Oval Office.
The players were in awe, according to Weber.
"It was cool, but then you start thinking, 'We're sitting there at the most powerful place in the world, standing next to the most powerful man in the world.' That sends tingles down your spine."
Tim Salmon echoed those feelings.
"The first phrase that came to my mind was that the weight of the world is on his shoulders," Salmon said. "I couldn't get that thought out of my mind."
Neither could pitcher Jarrod Washburn. When asked what his favorite part of the tour was, he said, "leaving."
Then he explained.
"I admire him and respect him," Washburn said. "But I didn't want to be wasting any more of his time. He's got more important things to do."
Doug Miller is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Me too!
Bush meets the angels.
President Bush welcomes Angels to White House
WASHINGTON -- Funny how things happen in America, President Bush said in welcoming the new owner of the World Series champion Anaheim Angels on Tuesday.
"You buy the team, now you're at the White House,'' he told Arte Moreno, who became owner of the Angels last week.
Before becoming governor and then president, Bush was the managing partner of the Texas Rangers baseball team. Now, Moreno found himself sitting in the Rose Garden as the president praised his team.
The White House visit came before the first game of the Angels' four-city, 12-game road trip that starts in Baltimore.
Bush joked that Gene Autry, the original owner of the Angels who died in 1998, was in the Rose Garden too -- in spirit.
"I know that he's smiling down now here on -- looking at the Rose Garden and realizing his beloved Angels have finally won the world championship,'' Bush said.
The president poked fun at players and coaches, telling hitting coach Mickey Hatcher: "We didn't do a very good job about checking the security of every person'' arriving at the White House.
Bush said he got to know Hatcher when he worked for the Rangers.
"He was a breath of fresh air,'' Bush said. "I suspect you're still a breath of fresh air -- occasionally, bad breath of fresh air.''
He announced that infielder David Eckstein actually "went out and purchased a suit'' for the event, and that when Eckstein was at the White House once before for dinner he "didn't take any silverware.''
The president said he remembers infielder Benji Gil when he was a "fresh-faced'' rookie.
"Came up with the Rangers,'' Bush said. "It's amazing what facial hair does.''
The fun was followed by Bush's standard speech about how sports champs need to set good examples for America's youth.
"There are a lot of kids who look at the world champs and wonder about the example you set,'' he said. "They look at you and say, 'Is it OK to curse or drink or carouse?' And I hope the answer you give them loud and clear is, in order to be a champ, you got to make right choices in life.'' |
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