Mail Bag: No Obama? No Problem

Written by William Yoder

Wednesday, 15 April 2009 09:13

A letter from Beta Yoder:

I went to THE Ohio State University recently to watch classic movies from the Baseball Hall of Fame. One of the videos was about Washington baseball patriarch Clark Griffith and his memories of Presidents that have thrown out the first pitch at Washington's home opener. To me, this is one of baseball's great traditions. Even though the Nats have stunk over the years, we can usually count on the President supporting the club, the city, and the game of baseball. I write this as an Obama voter, so this isn't political at all. But, I was disappointed that President Obama snubbed the Nats' invitation to throw out the first pitch in Washington.

After watching some of the old films it's clear that baseball has the richest tradition and history of American sports. I'm not a "baseball guy" but any sports fan has to have some appreciation for the history of the game. Part of this tradition is the President throwing out the first pitch in Washington. It puts baseball in its proper place as our national pastime, and it's a cool ritual. So, why did the Pres ignore a near century old tradition? We all know he's an avid sports fan. If he has the time to talk hoops with Andy Katz and fill out a bracket on ESPN, surely he has time to go to the ballpark. He even reportedly wanted to go to Chicago to throw out the first pitch for the ChiSox. If the President ignores the Nats, why should anyone else pay attention? Let's face the facts; it would have been THE highlight of the Nats' season to have President Obama in the house yesterday.

It adds insult to injury that VP Biden threw out the first pitch in Baltimore on Opening Day. Not only does the White House ignore Washington, but they send the #2 guy to Baltimore. The team sits winless, the Acta Watch has begun, Stan Kasten is clueless, and now no love from the White House? The military reps were certainly worthy of doing the honors, but don't the suffering Nats fans deserve a little support from the First Fan?

Thank You,

Confused Ohioan

Beta,

While it was disappointing not to see Obama throw out the first pitch as he is the nations first African American president and a symbol of hope for the country, in the overall scheme of Washington Baseball it wasn't that big of a deal.

From the fan-at-the-game's perspective when the president throws out the first pitch it is really more of a hassle than anything else. I remember going to the very first Nationals game at RFK only to miss the entire first inning because the gates closed the minute George W. Bush showed up to the stadium. I was at the game over an hour early.

Logistics aside, while the President throwing out the first pitch is a great national symbol for the beginning of baseball, but at least for this Nats fan it really doesn't do much in terms of marking the beginning of my teams year.

For Washingtonians the President isn't really that big a part of the local community. He is the national figurehead who we in some cases love, some cases hate, but in all cases we think of as a neighbor with a gigantic front yard/secure fence/ and closed doors. Yes, it is an honor to have the president throw out the first pitch, but there are so many better options of people who better connect with the Washington community.

The first pitch isn't a chance to compete with other cities on who can provide the biggest celebrity. It is a chance for the city as a whole to recognize and honor someone who has served us in a way that deserves our cherishing respect.

A list of people who I would rather see throw out the first pitch than the president:

Joe Gibbs espn_pti_412

Mark Warner

Jim Webb

Abe Polin

Sunny Jurgenson

Mike Wilbon AND Tony Kornheiser

The Family of Shirley Povich (minus Maury)

John Thompson Sr.

Darrel Green

Cal Ripken Jr. (No Nationals before his retirement, no problem)

Frank Howard

Frank Robinson

Wes Unseld

John Riggens

Steve Buckhantz

These are all local figures that people can rally around. Presidents are traditionally unpopular, why not give the fans a chance to honor someone they all respect and love.

Besides, have you seen his form?

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Comments (8) Add Comment

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written by YardYoder, April 15, 2009

A few things:

Bush only threw out the first pitch twice in four years. Once was the Nats first ever home game, and the other was the opening of the new Stadium. So he only really threw out the first pitch when it was a huge occasion.

If the President ignores the Nats, why should anyone else pay attention?

This is logical. If the busiest and most important man in the world doesn't have time to follow a sports team, than logically no one else will...

Obama filled out his bracket after ESPN went to visit him in the white house, that probably took no more than an hour. When the President has to go to a public place like that I'm sure it takes many.

He was clearly preoccupied:http://www.keyc.com/node/20399

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written by Lucky Jarmes, April 15, 2009

They did far better with out him. I was peeved at the snub, only in that he was reported to show and then pulled out the week of the game. Kasten had said he had recieved no word, positive or negative about him coming. That's kinda lame.

Instead of Obama clogging up security (if you thought it was bad for Bush, Ha.) we got 4 veterans throwing out the pitch. In an area rooted so firmly in the Military, and with the current situation abroad, I'd much rather see deserving, hard working veterans a chance to be honored by a sold out stadium and a chance to see the game than a President that's going to leave in the 2nd.

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written by Confused, April 15, 2009

I like what y'all said, but I think you're missing my true point. It's not about celebrity or ballpark hassle. It's about the tradition of the game and the negative publicity for the franchise. Of course our hard working vets should be honored, but the Nats can use some positive news instead of a very popular president publicly slighting the franchise. It creates the perception that the Nats don't matter. Is that not an issue for the Nats fan? If it's the case that the Nats don't matter, then they will be in Portland in 5 yrs

As for your list Willy you'd rather see 2 VA Senators? Would that benefit Washington or is that because you're from Arlington, lol? Maybe they should be the Northern VA Nats, idk, I'm just a confused Ohioan haha. The Pres doing the honors represents the entire country and it's a celebration of our national pastime. But Willy I can't agree with you more:
Steve Buckhantz > Barack Obama

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written by Lucky Jarmes, April 15, 2009

Well, I fully agree with the tradition. However, I think the Nats will do fine with out Obama. He'll have another 3 seasons to do the first pitch. With the game falling on the same day as the White House Easter Egg Roll, he was obligated to a slightly more presidential tradition. I agree that it is important for the president to do it, but I just don't think it's as big of a deal right now.

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written by YardYoder, April 15, 2009

As for your list Willy you'd rather see 2 VA Senators? Would that benefit Washington or is that because you're from Arlington, lol? Maybe they should be the Northern VA Nats,/quote]

The district is just a small part of the Nationals fan base. The Majority is made up of Northern Virginia and Maryland. Maryland of course splits its allegiances with the Orioles. The two Virginia senators are wildly popular in northern VA and both live/work for the area. Obama works for the Nation, not specifically Virginia.

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written by poppayoder, April 16, 2009

It is ironic to see you refer to Clark Griffith -- Griffith, of course, moved the Senators to Minnesota to get away from the black fans in DC. I wonder how he would feel about Obama throwing out the first pitch -- would he even allow it?

As a fan, I am glad that the President was not there. In the post-9-11 world, DC residents have lost an incredible amount of freedom of movement. I can validate Willy's story about missing the first two innings of the first Nats home game despite arriving at the park an hour early. Similarly, if the President had been at the game on Monday, it is likely that many of the fans would have been stranded outside for an hour or more while the excessive security protected him. Much as I respect the President, I would much prefer that he stay away from the ballpark.

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written by Less Confused But Slightly Per, April 16, 2009

I'm glad this has sparked a discussion...I didn't know that about Griffith, but it would seem that an Obama appearance would make a powerful statement given that history.

The ballpark hassle issue is well established. I guess I would put up with it in order to take part in the history/tradition of the moment, ya know, have something to tell the grandkids about, I'd just have to show up 4 hrs early...but I understand not wanting to have to deal with it.

I still would like for someone to address how this story plays with the Nats fan in a bigger picture. Is it not more negative publicity in an already rotten season that Obama declines their invite? Outside the beltway the team is a farce (i.e. Acta Watch on PTI). Is the snub symbolic of a general ambivalence for a bad team? As a fan of the game, I want baseball in Washington. But if the losses keep piling up, attendance drops, and the team is generally an afterthought does DC baseball have a long-term future?

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written by Lucky Jarmes, April 16, 2009

D.C. baseball having a long term future and the president showing up are completely different topics. Also, PTI is inside the beltway. The snub of the team had to do with the President having other obligations to attend to. It's really not a big deal, and says nothing about baseballs future in the city.