WASHINGTON — Hail to the Chief took a backseat to Hail to the Champs at the White House.
President Obama honored the 2009 Yankees for winning the World Series in a 10-minute ceremony in the East Room on Monday. The President spoke glowingly of the Yankees, but the White Sox fan also got in a few digs.
“That [Yankees] attitude, that success has always made the Yankees easy to love and, let’s face it, easy to hate as well,” Obama said. “For a White Sox fan like me, it’s painful to watch Mariano [Rivera]’s cutter when it’s against my team.”
The Yankees presented Obama with a signed No. 27 jersey, and posed for photos with the President. At one point when Obama held the championship trophy, assistant general manager Jean Afterman shouted, “You might not get to hold it again!”
Obama quickly retorted: “You wonder why other teams don’t root for you.”
Derek Jeter said Obama better watch the negative remarks.
“He better be careful with that. There’s a lot of Yankees fans that vote,” Jeter said.
Most of Obama’s remarks were spent praising the Yankees. He singled out Jeter, Mark Teixeira, Jorge Posada and Joe Girardi in his remarks.
“Last season, this team continued that legacy winning 103 games and leaving no doubt who was the best team in baseball,” Obama said. “What people tend to forget, especially after watching their team lose, is that being a Yankee is as much about character as it is about performance, as much about who you are as about what you do.”
Teixeira was awed by the President singling him out in his speech, which was moved indoors due to rain. Obama spoke about the scholarship Teixeira set up at his high school in honor of a deceased friend.
“I was blown away,” Teixeira said. “What an honor to be singled out.”
Obama spoke about Posada’s charity work and Girardi’s involvement with “Hope Week” last year at Yankee Stadium.
“Where’s Jeter?” the President said turning around to find the shortstop on the platform behind him. “Sportsman of the Year according to Sports Illustrated, and you can see why.
“Everybody says that he epitomizes the best of the Yankee tradition.”
This was Jeter’s fourth trip to the White House, and the third sitting President he’s met. After the 1996 and ’98 titles, Bill Clinton was in office (the team did not go in ’99). George W. Bush met with the Yankees after the 2000 championship.
“They’re all unique,” Jeter said of his visits. “They’re all special. You don’t just get invited to the White House to come say hello. Obviously you have to achieve something.”
Obama sounded envious when speaking about what the Yankees have done through the years, repeatedly mentioning the team’s tradition.
“In the end, that’s what makes the Yankees special,” Obama said. “It’s not simply the names on the roster or the size of their trophy case. It’s the people underneath the pinstripes that set this team apart.”
And it’s something missing from a certain franchise in Obama’s hometown.
“It’s been nine years since your last title, which must have felt like an eternity for Yankees fans,” he said. “I think other teams would be just fine with a spell like that … the Cubs.”
