by John McCormick
As much as President Barack Obama would like to be at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field on April 6, it seems unlikely that the First Fan will be there for the home season opener against the Kansas City Royals.
On that day, Obama is now expected to be in Istanbul, Turkey, making the visit to an overwhelmingly Muslim country that he has promised during the early days of his administration.
The stop in Turkey will follow a trip the president and First Lady Michelle Obama are making to Europe from March 31 to April 5 that will include a NATO summit and meetings with European Union leaders.
The Sox had invited their highest-profile fan to use his left-handed toss to throw out the ceremonial first pitch on the South Side, something Obama did during the 2005 playoffs.
Brooks Boyer, the Sox's chief marketing officer, said the ballclub has not heard anything official from the White House about the team's offer.
"We'd love to have him there, but we've known all along that if duty calls, duty calls," Boyer said. "Hopefully, at some point, he'll make it out to a game."
While he may not be there in person this year, Obama's favorite Chicago sports teams are never far from his mind. Just last week, he mentioned two of them while trying to make a point about federal spending to reporters gathered at the White House from 15 regional newspapers.
"I'd like to make sure that the Chicago Bulls win the championship every year and the White Sox win the series," he said. "But you know, show me how you're going to do it."
Comments
Bring on the conservative conspiracy theories!
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | March 17, 2009 8:29 PM
I like Pres Obama but I don't like the White Sux....Go CUBS!
Posted by: Ghost of Harry | March 17, 2009 8:54 PM
Although his rooting for the Sox is the only thing I like about him, stay in DC and go to a Nationals game.
Posted by: Terry | March 17, 2009 9:13 PM
Terri,
We're trying to win another world series and we want our #1 fan President Obama to be with us as much as possible. We would appreciate it if trailer trash buttboys like you would abstain from getting drunk and running out on the field this year.
Thankyou, Management
Posted by: Chicago White Sox | March 18, 2009 1:09 AM
Good!! As a WSox fan, I never want to see his lying mug there. It gives the rest of us true Sox fans born in this country a bad name.
Posted by: Regular Guy Mike | March 18, 2009 6:53 PM
CWS,
.
Obama the #1 Sox fan - w/o a teleprompter he probably couldn't tell you five players on the team
Posted by: Terry | March 18, 2009 9:43 PM
Hey Regular Guy Mike,
Why'd you include "born in this country"? Barack was born in the U S of A, too, dumbass. Me like make catch for White Sox. Chi chiri chi!
Posted by: Timo Perez | March 20, 2009 10:56 AM
I hear he's being replaced by Roland Burris.
Posted by: tommyboy | March 31, 2009 8:19 PM