Those who publicly claim firm allegiance to a sports team should at least know something about their organization's history, shouldn't they? Bits of information like a favorite player from the past or the name of the team's old home should be common knowledge, right? Not for the sharp politician this land calls its president. On Monday, following his questionable ceremonial first pitch toss on Opening Day, President Barack Obama visited with the Washington Nationals broadcasters during the live TV broadcast. When asked to name his favorite White Sox player from years past, by analyst Rob Dibble, the Prez couldn't quite come up with an answer.
In the above video, you can hear the president stammer, while trying to think of a White Sox player name to throw out and, instead, he spoke about how he liked some Cubs players too, and mentioned how he was a fan of the Oakland Athletics as a child in Hawaii. Obama went on to add that he resided near old Cominskey Park. That baseball venue might be more commonly known to sporting fans as Comiskey Park.
Flashing back to last year, Bob Costas interviewed President Obama for MLB Network, during which the president referred to the same stadium as Cominskey Field. He's obviously been brushing up on his White Sox trivia, as he now at least gets the Park portion correct.
It's not often anyone will see President Obama struggle for an answer or seem caught off guard by a question. It's a shame that his weakness is something as simple as baseball. But why does baseball make the most powerful man in the world nervous?
Obama's questionable fandom certainly should raise some eyebrows. Choosing a sport where his hometown voters would be split (Chicago is also home to the Cubs, and both teams have rabid fan bases) is not a clear political move. Unifying the people by selecting a sport with only one team in Chicago, like the Bulls or Bears, would have been more ideal. So, why the White Sox? Did the club purchase Presidential Product Placement with a hefty campaign donation or other funding?
Perhaps Obama is simply a very casual fan of the White Sox. But, with that in mind, why does he find it necessary to assert his White Sox ties each chance he gets? Acting like a die hard fan and not knowing the team very well is a blatant lie. During the Nationals broadcast, President Obama expressed his concern over not making White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf angry with the jacket the Nationals gave him to wear, and thus put on a White Sox cap at the last moment, before the first pitch. Why would he be so concerned about causing a rift with the White Sox brass?
Also consider the unreported confusion by various foreign dignitaries when they have been served bratwurst, peanuts and Cracker Jack at White House functions, as well as those bucket hat give aways during White House tours for the public, and I think we have the answer to all the questions I've been asking- The Chicago White Sox are secretly running the United States of America!
You read it here first- This is going to be President Obama's big scandal. Reagan had Iran-Contra, Clinton had the intern, Bush 2 had the terrorist attacks and now Obama will be mired by governing on behalf of a professional baseball club. Just plain awful....or is it?
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