Via the Tribune:

President Obama heard via email about Mark Buehrle’s perfect game on his way to the Cleveland airport. In the presidential limousine, Obama immediately cell-phoned Buehrle, who stepped into Jerry Reinsdorf’s office to take the call.

He congratulated him, called it an “unbelievable achievement” and said maybe it happened because he (Obama) wore the White Sox jacket at the All-Star game.

Buehrle became the 18th pitcher in Major League history to throw a perfect game.  Courtesy of Dallas Sports Fans, here is the all-time list of pitchers who have thrown perfect games.

And here is video of Mark Buehrle at the post-game press conference.  Watch at the end, the press conference gets interrupted when Buehrle receives the call from President Obama:

 

The disappointing part is right around the 0:30 mark.

I was a little disappointing in President Obama’s somewhat condescending description of White Sox fans who hate the Cubs and actively root against them, mainly because I fall firmly in this category.  I guess he has to toe the line somewhat and not totally ostracize the larger of the two fan bases in his home city.  Again though, he makes up for it later in the interview by subtlely getting in a few digs anyway.  

I know that deep in his heart of hearts Obama hates the Cubs.  (He even discussed dissolving them as a franchise in this “interview.”) How could he not?  He’s a winner.  If Obama was a Cubs fans, he would have found a way to bartman the election at the last minute and John McCain would be president.

He just needs to work on his pronunciation and throwing ability a little bit.

The Prez delivers (barely),
The Host Does Not,
And a Team To Watch in the Second Half.

—————

After a loooong pre-game show which at times was boring to everyone not from St. Louis, we were all ready to play some ball. However, there were some fun moments I made mental notes of while waiting out the 45-minute pre-game.

– I liked watching the player intros from the reserves that are truly happy to be there and might never be back. Not Jeter or Pujols, who get to do this every year, but guys who are just cracking into the limelight. My old buddy Zack Duke of Pittsburgh didn’t even get to play Tuesday night, so taking off his hat and smiling was his only big moment. Go Waco Midway Panthers! Although I must say Duke and the other reserves gotta feel like second-class citizens after getting introduced completely separate from the starters.

– I’ll always like looking at Sheryl Crow, who still looks hot despite being 47. Oh and she sings too.

– The wide stadium shots showed off the cool Arch and Courthouse design in the outfield grass. And there was some weird new MLB marketing things on banners I didn’t really pay attention to.

– And there’s the First Fan, President Barack Obama, who just gets cooler and cooler, even when he’s dorky. Before the game, he was shown joking around with Pujols and Prince Fielder. “Hey Albert what happened with the derby?” he teased. “In your home park, huh?”

Even though he’s the President, it’s awesome that he has the stones to tease the hulking Pujols and do it in a way that makes Pujols like him even more. In fact, Pujols bailed out Obama once it was time for the first pitch. Obama had said he was trying not to bounce it, and that’s exactly what would have happened if Pujols had not reached way in and scooped it up centimeters before it hit the dirt. (Here’s why you didn’t see the pitch live.)

Obama’s take on how he did: “I did not play organized baseball when I was a kid and so, you know, I think some of these natural moves aren’t so natural to me,” he said.

Here is the video of President Obama throwing out the first pitch at last night’s All Star game in St. Louis:

– Now to Pujols….After checking out in Round Two of the Derby on Monday, the King Cardinal looked to do a bit more in the “real” game. And once Obama left the stage, it was Pujols’ for the taking. I guess he didn’t get the memo.

His fielding error in the first inning allowed the A.L. to score a run. He made some nice plays in the field after that, but he did go 0-3 and his team did lose by that one run. He said he wasn’t affected by all the attention he was receiving

“I won’t use the word ’stress,’” Pujols said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I wish it could be like this for the rest of my career. I enjoy it. I was so happy for (Ryan Franklin) and Yadi (Molina). And having it here, in our city, I knew our fans were going to receive us with open arms.”

Pujols is still the man, don’t get me wrong. He’s the best hitter in baseball and his career All-Star numbers are still great: 6 for 17 (.353) with three RBIs in eight All-Star Games (seven appearances and six starts).

Still, the experience of serving as centerpiece for the two-day festival left a lasting impression on the two-time NL MVP, who received the loudest and longest applause during pre-game introductions.

“It was almost getting to the point where I got a little bit emotional yesterday and today the way the fans received me, Franklin and Yadi,” Pujols said. “It was pretty special.”

It would have been even more special had he done more to help the NL win its first ASG in 13 tries! So home field advantage in the World Series will be with the AL once again. So as we start the second half, which team will represent the Junior Circuit in October? New York? Boston? How about Seattle?

Zuh?

Okay, the M’s won’t win it all, but they may be in the postseason conversation, which is amazing.

The Ms are being called this year’s Rays. After a 100 loss-season, new skipper Don Wakamatsu has them 4 games over .500, just 4 games behind the Angels in a weak AL West division. They have gotten good pitching surprises from closer David Aardsma (22 saves) and starter Jarrod Washburn (2.96 ERA). Eric Bedard has been good and is finally healthy. Russ Branyan (who?) is having a bounce-back year and should have been an All-Star with his 22 HRs, 49 RBI, and .280 BA.

The M’s that were All-Stars are Wakamatsu, who was in St. Louis as a bench coach, pitcher “King” Felix Hernandez, and 9-time All-Star Ichiro in the outfield. Ichiro went 1-3, Hernandez pitched a perfect sixth inning, and Wakamatsu’s team won.

Not a bad night, even if it belonged to a guy on the losing team.

* – Barack Obama / Albert Pujols photo credit: Chris Lee / St. Louis Post-Dispatch

* – Don Wakamatsu photo credit: AP via SeattlePI.com

———-

Scott Reister is a featured contributor to Midwest Sports Fans, as well as Dallas Sports Fans.

He is a Sports Anchor for the NBC affiliate in the Tri-Cities and Spokane, WA. To learn more about Scott, visit the Scott Reister bio page on Midwest Sports Fans or check out the Local Sports page on KNDU.com.

To contact Scott: sreister@hotmail.com

It made me think about just how much pressure is on people of President Obama’s stature when they step onto the mound to throw the first pitch.  I know, I know…what he deals with in the White House and as The Most Powerful Man in the World is far more important and pressure-packed over the long haul.  Still, this ‘aint reading off a teleprompter.  This is a physical action, one that is relatively difficult, which is being done in front of millions.  And as the President, you have an image of greatness to uphold.

Bouncing a ceremonial pitch certainly does not project an image of greatness.

I expect President Obama to do well tonight, mainly because this isn’t his first rodeo (as “we” say down here in Texas). Obama threw out a first pitch during the 2005 playoffs, and seems to have the right mindset about the whole process:

Obama is no stranger to the pitching mound.  In 2005, his first year as a senator from Illinois, Obama threw out a first pitch at a White Sox playoff.  The devout Sox fan admitted afterwards that he was feeling the pressure.

“Had I thrown a one-hop, I think, whatever aspirations I had, they would have shown that clip over and over again,” he said in an interview with the Springfield State Journal-Register that year.

“I was more nervous than I was before the Democratic National Convention” the year before, he said.

So he understands the importance of not bouncing the ball, which is his first step to success.  Now he just needs to warm himself up properly and do his best Mark Buehrle impression and exhibit pinpoint control.  (Actually, he doesn’t even need to be pinpoint…just somewhere in the area of Albert Pujols’ mit. He could settle for John Danks’ control.)

Update: Well, he didn’t bounce it…but he came close. It was a nice save by Albert Pujols. Follow the link to watch the video of Barack Obama throwing out the first pitch at the 2009 MLB All Star Game.

But any president throwing out a first pitch will always, for me, harken back to the greatest single presidential first pitch of all time.  And I’d imagine that nearly everyone reading this knows exactly which first pitch I’m talking about, even if the headline and pitcture didn’t give it away at a glance.

Back in 2001, not long after the horrors of 9/11, George Bush threw a perfect strike in Yankee Stadium before Gam3 of the World Series.  This was, almost undoubtedly, one of the high points of his 8-year term in office.  

I’m not trying to get political here, just stating facts: as a nation, we all were behind President Bush then, and his steely resolve in the face of the terrorist attacks inspired a nation. His ability to throw a perfect strike before Game 3, with the world watching and with admitted nerves, was a symbol of his ability to be a steadying and rallying force in the months after 9/11.

What happened in the ensuing years is for everyone to have their own opinions on, but what happened that night proved that George Bush was capable of Rivera-like clutchness at a time when our nation needed it, even if only symbolically.  And it’s fitting that such a moment would come for Bush on the baseball field.  He used his tenure with the Texas Rangers to propel himself into the Texas Governer’s mansion, and we have never had a more unabashed baseball fanatic in the White House.  

So forget politics for a moment and just watch the video below.  It’s a great behind-the-scenes look at the build-up to Bush’s first pitch at the 2001 World Series, and the strike he fired with the lights shining bright.  

Now hopefully President Obama can do White Sox fans and America proud tonight by piping one similarly…right down the middle.

And now some other links from around the web to carry you through the rest of this beautiful Tuesday afternoon. Then it’s back to work for me, then to the airport to pick up KVB, who will be spending a week down here in Dallas.  Get ready for a podcast…

Who Will Shoot the Three? — (by The Zoner at Pippen Ain’t Easy)

Senator Hatch Wants BCS Investigated — (The World According to MoonDog)

15 Horrible Places to Be High — (Hail Mary Jane)

Top Ten Reasons Tony Romo Split from Jessica Simpson — (Gunaxin)

Tribute to Cinema’s Best Slugging — (Screen Junkies)

MLB All Star Game: Making Memories — (Josh Q. Public)

Browns, Maiava Agree to Deal — (Orange & Brown Report)

Former UT Kicker James Wilhoit is now Coach Wilhoit — (SEC Rivals)

A.I.: Memphis or Miami? — (My Sports Rumors)

How moods trigger the panties your GF wears — (Regretful Morning)

The Future for Ric Bucher — (Zoner Sports)

Really Interesting Bob Gibson Take — (Sharapova’s Thigh)

Why the AL West is better than people think — (Dallas Sports Fans)

ESPN’s New Ombudsman: Don Ohlmeyer – (Real Clear Sports)

Bob Costas Didn’t Think Judge Sotomayor Was an All Star — (Hugging Harold Reynolds)

‘Cause it’s root, root, root for that guy’s girlfriend — (Great Moments in Christory)

Thoughts and Observations on Cubs’ 1st Half — (The Friendly Blogfines)

* – George Bush photo credit: ESPN.com

Anyway, we’ve been providing updates on the conference tournaments, the men’s bracket and the women’s bracket, and providing useful tournament picks and upset predictions to help you fill out your bracket.

Of course, why would you listen to a hack like me when the admitted basketball loving POTUS is filling out his own bracket?

If you watched SportsCenter yesterday, you saw the report on Barack Obama filling out his 2009 NCAA Tournament bracket with Andy Katz of ESPN. President Obama did not really go out on any limbs, with #3 seed Syracuse being the only non-#1 or non-#2 seed making his Elite 8. Obama did show the Big Ten a little bit of love, sending Michigan State to the Elite 8, Purdue to the Sweet 16, and picking his home state Illini to overcome Chester Frazier’s injury and win their first round game before bowing out in round two.

Check out the bracket of President Barack Obama for yourself. First, a link to the actual bracket on ESPN.com’s Tournament Challenge, and then an image of the President’s actual hand-written bracket:

LOTD: 2009 NCAA Tournament Bracket of President Barack Obama — (ESPN.com)

• Andy Katz Story: President Barack Obama Picks 2009 NCAA Tournament — (ESPN.com)

It would have been interesting to see how Barack Obama’s bracket would have played out had his brother-in-law Craig Robinson been able to lead Oregon State to a Cinderella victory in the Pac-10 Tournament. Surely he would have picked them for a first round upset, but how far after that?

With a lot of criticism being directed at his administration right now, and obviously a lot of challenges facing he and the country, I’m sure that March Madness will provide a few cherished moments of relaxation for President Obama over the coming weeks.


And how about Andy Katz? He scores the scoop of March Madness so far by getting to report the President’s bracket picks, and also talks to all 65 tournament coaches yesterday. Impressive. I think Andy Katz can officially lay claim to the title of “Hardest Working Man in March Madness.” Well, other than the trainer at North Carolina, who I’m sure is leaving no stone unturned trying to get Ty Lawson back and ready to play as soon as possible.

And by the way, if you have not filled out your bracket yet, or have no home for bracket competition, join in the fun with Midwest Sports Fans. ESPN.com is hosting our 1st Annual Midwest Sports Fans Bracket Challenge, and we’d love to have you join. Prizes are not promised, nor they have been announced, but you’ll definitely get some pub on the site if you win. Follow the link below for directions on how to join the fun:

• Midwest Sports Fans 2009 NCAA Tournament Bracket Challenge

And now, some more links for you on this gorgeous Wednesday afternoon, the eve of the first full day of NCAA Tournament action:

Aaron F’n Boone to have heart surgery — (Josh Q. Public)

Best Sports Blog Name Tourney — (Zoner Sports)

Bob Kraft’s Israeli Football League — (Hugging Harold Reynolds)

NBA Contraction Isn’t the Answer — (NBA FanHouse)

Astros Close to Signing Pedro — (Baseball Prospectus)

Bengals to Consider Beanie Wells with #6 Pick — (Dayton Daily News)

If you came to this page looking for picks and predictions for the 2009 NCAA Tournament, we’ve got you covered.

Follow the link to our 2009 NCAA Tournament Game-by-Game Picks all the way through the Final Four.

Or, you can view them by region:

• Midwest Region Breakdown and Predictions
• East Region Breakdown and Predictions
• South Region Breakdown and Predictions
• West Region Breakdown and Predictions

And if you actually came to this page to review our 2009 Pac 10 Tournament predictions, pardon the interruption and continue reading below.

Okay, I lied.

I said I was done with the college basketball conference tournament previews, but after doing five out of the six BCS conferences I had to add the last one.

So here we are, discussing the Pac-10 Tournament.

Before we get too far into this, a quick preview of the 2009 Pac-10 Mens Basketball Tournament:

• What: 12th Pac 10 Mens Basketball Tournament
• Dates: March 11 – March 14
• Tournament Site: Staples Center — Los Angeles, California
• Official Website: 2009 Pac-10 Tournament
• StubHub Tickets: 2009 Pac 10 Basketball Tournament Tickets
• StubHub Tickets: 2009 NCAA Tournament Tickets

Is it just me or does the Pac-10 seem especially irrelevant this year? I am a die-hard Big Ten fan, and obviously the Big Ten has taken its fair share of flack in recent years — and deservedly so. But I can tell you right now that unless the matchups are just ridiculous, I doubt I will have an Pac-10 teams advancing past Round 2 in the NCAA Tournament.

And while that may have more to do with my lack of knowledge and exposure to the Pac-10 than it does with any in-depth analysis, it goes to prove my point that the Pac-10 has seemed especially under-exposed and irrelevant this season.

Take a look at the most recent college basketball rankings. Washington is the highest rated Pac-10 team at #16. Then UCLA and Arizona State check in at #’s 19 and 20. By way of contrast, the Big Ten has Michigan State, Purdue, and Illinois in the Top 25, at #8, #19, and #23 respectively. And while the differences are not huge, the Big Ten does at least have one team in the top 10.

But, the Big Ten does not have a team like UCLA that has been to three straight Final Fours. The Big Ten also does not have President Obama’s brother-in-law coaching one of its teams.

So maybe I am just biased and Midwest-centric and the Pac-10 isn’t that down this year. But what did you expect? This site isn’t called Pacific Coast Sports Fans. At least I’m trying to expand my horizons and learn more about the other conference tournaments going on this week.

For those interested, the schedule and bracket for the 2009 Pac 10 Tournament is below. If you are thinking about attending any of the games, here is a useful link to the StubHub page for Pac 10 Tournament tickets. You should be able to find as good a price there as anywhere:

2009 Pac 10 Basketball Tournament Tickets

(Note: Follow the link for a printable 2009 Pac 10 Mens Basketball Tournament Bracket.)

The Pac-10 Tournament is a lot like the Big 10 and Big 12 Tournaments in that there is not a lot of history. The Pac-10 actually started their conference tournament before the Big 10 and Big 12, back in 1987, but the first iteration only lasted four years because of poor attendance and coach opposition. It came back in 2002 and will be in place until at least 2012, with all future Pac-10 Tournaments scheduled at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Here is your breakdown of the past champions, tournament MVPs, and tourney sites:

(Note: Follow the link for more background on the Pac-10 Tournament)

And with that, our week-long look at the major conference postseason mens basketball tournaments is complete. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this impromptu series of posts and have learned a little something about these March Madness appetizers that we will treated to this week.

The conference tournaments always play a huge hand in shaking up the final Field of 64 brackets, and always seems to provide ample drama and excitement. I how I can’t wait for them to kick off and build the momentum for Selection Sunday.

Just watched the best Super Bowl I can remember. So did 98.7 million other viewers across the country, making it the highest-viewed Super Bowl ever. XLIII’s ratings haul was second to only (you guessed it) that unbeatable 1983 MASH finale I always hear about and have never seen.

Pittsburgh’s amazing win was the culmination of a thrilling 12-team playoff, with surprises and high-ratings at every turn.
Don’t you think the college football power brokers would see the eye-popping profitability of that format and at least consider switching to a playoff system?

Not a chance.

College bowl game ratings for a single game will never approach that of a Super Sunday, but when there are 34 bowl games, including five Bowl Championship Series games, it’s okay if none of them are “super.”

Collectively, everyone in the system is getting their piece of the pie, and that pie is getting larger and larger. As ridiculous as the current system is, it has made the decision-makers and participating schools stinking rich.

As much as it pains me to do it, I’ll play devil’s advocate and tell you why the common arguments are not enough to change college football for the better. The response to each argument for a playoff? Money. (For more detailed ratings and revenue info click here.)

POINT: Without a playoff, there’s not a true national champion.

COUNTERPOINT: Most fans don’t believe that. More and more are watching, validating the system’s authority and perverse logic. The five BCS bowl games averaged 17.6 million viewers each, up 14 percent from last year. That’s a total of 88 million viewers, more than a lot of Super Bowl games. And that’s just the BCS games. If the TV says a team won the national title game, we believe it. Who do you remember more from 2004? LSU or USC? LSU, because they won the BCS title game. USC won the AP vote.

POINT: It’s not fair to the smaller schools. Boise State went undefeated and played in the Poinsettia Bowl!

COUNTERPOINT: The smaller schools are the ones that profit the MOST from this wacky system. For every small school that gets denied a BCS title shot, there are 30 more getting a big payoff and a national TV audience. 34 bowl games. 68 teams. It’s a very profitable pity party and everyone over six wins is invited. Bowl payouts ran an estimated $240 million last season and have totaled 1.84 billion over the last 10 seasons. Over the next 10 years, bowls are projected to pay $2.5 billion to the teams and conferences in the Football Bowl Subdivision who participate. Any change in postseason format would jeopardize the appeal of the lesser bowls. School presidents won’t rock that boat, especially when it’s a boatload of money.

POINT: Even President Obama wants to change the system!

COUNTERPOINT: In this case, it’s change we can’t believe in.

College football, which makes its partners tons of money, has broadcast commitments from every major media sports outlet: ESPN on ABC, CBS Sports, Fox Sports, NBC Sports, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Classic, ESPN360.com, the Big Ten Network, CBS College Sports Network, NFL Network, Fox Sports Net. Fox’s current BCS TV contract runs through 2010. ESPN has acquired rights from 2011-2014.

That’s a lot of standing contracts with a lot of people. Try changing that.

Furthermore, each bowl game has dozens, if not hundreds, of employees working year-round to maximize attendance and profits. An entire industry has been born from the lack of a college football playoff. A system that frustrates Joe Q. Fan has the decision-makers laughing all the way to the bank. Bowl game attendance was an all-time high last year at 85 percent combined stadium capacity.

College football fans would love to see a playoff, but we don’t matter. Money matters. So enjoy the bowl games next year, it is football after all. But the most competitive, meaningful bowl on my viewing list will always be the Super Bowl.

Scott Reister is a featured contributor to Midwest Sports Fans, as well as Dallas Sports Fans.

He is a Sports Anchor for the NBC affiliate in the Tri-Cities and Spokane, WA. To learn more about Scott, visit the Scott Reister bio page on Midwest Sports Fans or check out the Scott Reister bio page on Midwest Sports Fans or check out the Local Sports page on KNDU.com.

To contact Scott: sreister@hotmail.com

This highlight of the night for this White Sox fan, however, was President Obama asking U.S. troops from Illinois Army National Guard 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Unit where their true allegiances lie: White Sox or Cubs?

President Obama’s questioning occured during his stop at the Commander-in-Chief Ball. The troops went one-by-one introducing themselves and President Obama asked them “White Sox or Cubs?” And one-by-one, to no Chicago sports fans’ surprise and to the dismay of our new President and official First White Sox fan, “Cubs” was the answer.

Not until the fifth or sixth person, a young lady, did we hear “White Sox” answered.

For White Sox fans, the moment was a great reminder that we share an affinity for the South Siders with our new President. It was also a reminder that absolutely nothing can defeat the ridiculous love affair that Chicago, and foolish baseball fans nationwide, have with the lovable losers. For goodness sakes, what more do you need to give up on being a Cubs fandom? You have no chance at a World Series crown, your team is renowned for being one of the losingest franchises in American sports, and even your own President is a White Sox fan.

Come on people. Seriously.

As we usher in this new era of change, maybe one of the changes can be an end to the ridiculous nationwide love affair with the Cubs. As I have always maintained, sucking — and being annually either terrible or choke artisits — should not be a criteria for idolatry. As we move into a new era of accountability and pragmatism, ushered in by Barack Obama, maybe baseball fans will begin to hold the Cubs accountable for 100 years of ineptitude.

Okay, so maybe not. But guess what Cubs fans? The White Sox have the better team right now, we have a World Series title this century, and now we have the most powerful man in the world as our biggest fan.

As Matt Damon famously said in Good Will Hunting: “How ya like them apples?”

(Update: Just found video over at The Huffington Post)

Barack Obama’s love for the Chicago White Sox has been well documented, but so has his propensity for pragmatism. Not surprisingly, many people have been left scratching their heads at Obama’s decision.

“F*ck them,” said an ecstatic Ozzie Guillen. “F*ck all of them. I’m the Vice President now so you can kiss my ass from here to Afpakistan.”

According to a spokesman from the Obama transition team, who requested anonymity, both the President-Elect and certain advisers had grown increasingly wary of Joe Biden’s habit of putting his foot in his mouth. Cited as evidence was every time Joe Biden has opened his mouth in the last two years. Specifically, the Obama camp pointed to one instance in particular:

(Editor’s note: I know that video shouldn’t be that funny…but God love ya, it is!)

Barack Obama declined to speak with the media, but did issue the following statement regarding his new choice for Vice President:

Joe Biden is a great American and has served his country and my campaign with honor and integrity. I am eternally grateful to Joe Biden for not saying anything so egregious that it prevented me from getting elected. He tried, but luckily he was unsuccessful.

After speaking with my transition team, and watching old highlights of the 2005 World Series, I have determined that if we are going to have a loose cannon in the White Sox, we may as well have a champion. Ozzie Guillen is profane, he is homophobic, he has anger management issues, and he gets ten pounds heavier every year; so he actually has a lot in common with current Vice President Dick Cheney. What separates Ozzie Guillen from Dick Cheney, however, is that he is always honest and straightforward, his players love him, they play hard for him, and he gets the most out of what he’s got.

America needs someone she will play hard for, and who will push her to become the greatest nation she can be. Plus, when both Ozzie and Rahm Emmanuel need to talk with me about something, we will place them in a caged octogon and make them battle like rabid dogs until one of them is unconscious. Change truly has come to America.

Jay Mariotti was specifically not contacted for this story, but he sent repeated emails and left several voicemails begging for his voice to be heard on the subject. When asked why he was contacting Midwest Sports Fans, Mariotti flippantly retorted, “Because that’s how far I have fallen.” We have decided not to publish any more of Jay Mariotti’s remarks, all of which were disparaging about Ozzie Guillen and merely a manifestation of Mariotti’s suppressed man crush on the former White Sox manager.

According to the Obama campaign, the change is effective immediately.

[tags]barack obama, ozzie guillen, joe biden[/tags]

Just read a story that made me feel warm and fuzzy all over. Ken Williams, GM for the Chicago White Sox, as officially extended an invitation to President-Elect Barack Obama to throw out the first pitch of 2009. No word on yet on whether or not Barack Obama has accepted, as he does have a few more pressing thoughts and duties right now.

I also learned something I did not realize. Barack Obama threw out the first pitch of Game 2 of the 2005 World Series. At the time, the White Sox trailed the Angels 1-0. We all remember what happened in Game 2. AJ Pierzynski reached first base on the crazy/controversial/correctly rules play, and the White Sox never looked back from there.

They reeled off 8 straight victories to capture the World Series crown and snatch eternal bragging rights away from the Chicago Cubs, who we all know will never win another World Series of their own.

In 2005, Obama told the Chicago Tribune:

“They were 0-1 at the time, but they won eight straight. I’m not saying there is a correlation, but I e-mailed [White Sox chairman Jerry] Reinsdorf and said if they start getting in a jam, my arm was rested. I was ready to go.

Ken Williams also made an interesting point regarding the fact that the most powerful man in the world is a South Side die-hard. Not only does Williams not have to answer to owner Jerry Reinsdorf and the entire White Sox fan base; but he now must do his best to keep the President of the United States satisfied with the progress the team is making.

According to the Chicago-Tribune, Williams said:

“Now I not only have to answer to Jerry Reinsdorf about pitching, I have to answer to the president. It’s one thing when he would ask me about pitching as a senator, but now he’s going to ask the question as president, and I have to say, ‘Mr. President.’

I think this will be the last Barack Obama-related post for a while. I just think it’s exciting that a team that has been so overshadowed for so long will now actually get a little more national pub; and not only from a man who loves the White Sox, but who rightfully hates the Chicago Cubs as well. Obama could go on and on about his policy views, beliefs, yada yada yada. The fact that he is a White Sox fan and hates the Cubs told me everything I needed to know about his judgment and character.

So now White Sox nation just has to sit back, relax, and strap it down as we watch Obama make his first few moves as President-Elect and ultimately as President, and hope that he can make it to opening day. Who knows, maybe it’ll propel us to another 8-game winning streak and get the 2009 season off on the right foot.

[tags]barack obama, chicago white sox[/tags]

Barack Obama’s Midwest roots are well known. He lives in Chicago, was a senator in the Illinois state legislature, currently serves as one of Illinois’ two state senators, and he is an unabashed Chicago White Sox fan. (This fact alone, of course, proves his wisdom, integrity, and character.)

Barack Obama is also a huge basketball fan, and his brother-in-law is the head coach at Oregon State. In fact, President-Elect Obama spent much of yesterday playing hoops while America decided his fate.

We caught up with President-Elect Obama in our dreams immediately after he left the stage at Grant Park. The following is a completely fabricated pile of nonsense verbatim transcript of our interview with the next President of the United States, Barack Obama.

(Editor’s note: Coincidentally, about a half hour after publishing this mock interview, Lester Munson actually posted a serious article on ESPN.com regarding what an Obama White House could mean for the sports world. Follow the link for serious discourse. Follow along here for something a little more absurd.)

Midwest Sports Fans: Congratulations on your victory Sena–, I mean President-Elect Obama. What is your official title now? Senator or President-Elect?

Barack Obama: [big smile, with an encouraging tap on my knee] You can call me anything you want. You’re the one making this up and procrastinating from work.

Midwest Sports Fans: Good point. Let’s get right down to your sports agenda, because we know that sports are very important to you. What will be your first objective upon taking office?

Barack Obama: Look, our country faces some real challenges. We need to get our economy going. We have international issues that must be dealt with. And Americans everywhere are concerned about healthcare. But the first thing we need to do is establish a new mentality in America. I can sense it everywhere I go across this great country of ours. People want change, and it begins with a change in mindset. We cannot accept losing and we cannot accept mediocrity. We are a nation of winners, and to overcome the serious challenges we face, we must maintain the winning mentality that has defined America for over 200 years and accept nothing less.

Midwest Sports Fans: So the glorious rumor is true? You are dissolving the Chicago Cubs as a franchise?

Barack Obama: Before I even choose my cabinet, the first thing I am going to do is rid America of the hypocrisy and the needless acceptance of mediocrity inherent in our nation’s inexplicable fascination with a franchise defined more by its history of losing than anything else. The winds of change are blowing in America, and we can no longer allow uncontrollable sucking and fan suffering to be reasons for admiration.

Midwest Sports Fans: But President-Elect Obama, to play devil’s advocate here because I hate the Cubs and love your idea, isn’t your victory in this election proof that anything is possible in America? Even a Cubs World Series victory?

Barack Obama: My victory in this election is proof that America is truly a land of opportunity, a place where men and women are created equal, and where worthy causes can be lifted to overcome the odds of history by the resolve of a nation. I will be the next President of the United States because of a hard-working and brilliant campaign staff, a nation yearning for change, and the incredible support of millions upon millions of frustrated but hopeful Americans. However, my victory is not a confirmation of the potential for miracles. Waiting for miracles leads to false hope and apathy, which is what we saw at Wrigley Field during this year’s playoffs. The new America about to take shape will be founded upon a hope defined by the realistic potential of its reality. There is no such realistic potential for a reality in which the Chicago Cubs are anything but pathetic losers.

Midwest Sports Fans: Can I hug you?

Barack Obama: [turning to the Secret Servicemen flanking him on either side] Do me a favor and keep a close eye on this clown please. He scares me.

Midwest Sports Fans: My apologies sir. Moving on, what will your administration do to provide equal opportunity for the long-suffering Browns and their supporters?

Barack Obama: As I’ve said many times, the goal of this administration will be to bridge the divides that have defined our nation’s history and that have become more pronounced over the last 8 years. White, black, brown, yellow; democrat, republican; man, woman; disabled, not disabled – we will bring people together through a common belief that anything is possible through the power of individual liberty and the support of community.

Midwest Sports Fans: Actually, I was talking about the Cleveland Browns.

Barack Obama: Oh. Look – government can’t do everything. And I just got done explaining that we’re going to offer hope, not promise miracles.

Midwest Sports Fans: Can Brady Quinn starting be the first step towards hope and change for the Browns?

Barack Obama: Maybe. If Braylon Edwards can catch the ball.

Midwest Sports Fans: Good point. You certainly know your football. Moving on, you recently said during your interview on Monday Night Football that you are in favor of a college football playoff. Would you care to expound on your reasons why?

Barack Obama: Absolutely. I have always leaned towards the side of a college football playoff. And naturally, I am often impressed by and feel a special kinship with good-looking, young, charismatic men who rise through the ranks quickly to command attention and respect. One such man is Kirk Herbstreit, who will be my choice for a newly created cabinet position, Secretary of Greatness. In fact, during one of the few moments of downtime I had during this election process I stumbled upon a website called Flash Sports Tonight, and it solidified my view that college football needs a playoff.

Midwest Sports Fans: What is Flash Sports Tonight?

Barack Obama: Some ridiculous animated sports program created by some hippie sports fans in Indiana. But somehow they got live footage of Archie Griffin and Kirk Herbstreit professing the importance of a college football playoff. It is very convincing.

(Editor’s note: We found the videos to which Barack Obama was referring. They are linked here and here.)

Midwest Sports Fans: But, it’s just a silly cartoon.

Barack Obama: It’s the most brilliant piece of genius created in this country since the Constitution. I’m buying airtime on the major networks again when parts 3 and 4 come out.

Midwest Sports Fans: Are you okay sir?

Barack Obama: Honestly, I’m a little tired and delirious. I just finished the most grueling two years you can imagine and became the President, with more weight on my shoulders than you could possibly imagine.

Midwest Sports Fans: That leads me into my next question. Who has more weight on his shoulders and faces a greater burden of expectation: you or Tom Crean, the new basketball coach at Indiana University?

Barack Obama: That’s easy. Tom Crean. George W. Bush left a pretty big mess, but Kelvin Sampson popped a squat over the entire city of Bloomington and left a heaping pile of disarray that doesn’t even compare to what our nation as a whole faces. Myself, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, and Steve Perry could probably beat IU’s basketball team this year.

Midwest Sports Fans: Steve Perry? From Journey?

Barack Obama: Yes. Look, just wait. The Republican pundits thought I was radical before, but wait until they see that I plan to change the National Anthem to Don’t Stop Believing.

Midwest Sports Fans: For a lot of White Sox fans, it already is.

Barack Obama: Exactly.

(Editor’s Note: At this point in our unnecessary, fabricated, and completely fake interview with Barack Obama, once of his aides came running over and whispered something into his ear. Immediately, President-Elect Obama stood up and extended his hand.)

Barack Obama: I apologize, but I will have to cut our interview short. I was just informed that Joe Biden is out giving speeches and making more ridiculous claims.

Midwest Sports Fans: Did he tell another person who can’t walk to stand up?

Barack Obama: No. He just promised the state of Michigan that Rich Rodriguez and the Wolverines football team will be better than Ohio State as long as we are in office. We just had a meeting last week about being honest with the American people and not offering false hope. I have to run. I hope to you understand.

Midwest Sports Fans: Absolutely sir. Thank you very much for your time and candor. Are there any final words or thoughts that you would like to leave with our loyal readers at Midwest Sports Fans?

Barack Obama: You mean all twelve of them? Absolutely. Thank them all for their support, and for believing in the message of change and hope that will lead America into a new era of optimism and prosperity. And tell all the Big Ten football fans not to send me letters or get upset when we federally mandate the removal of every Big Ten football team but Ohio State and Penn State and then pass a bill merging the Big Two with the MAC. If the Big Ten wants to be more competitive in football, they shouldn’t complain when we take measures to make it a reality.

Midwest Sports Fans: Thank you for your time President-Elect Obama.

Barack Obama: No, thank you. God bless America, and God bless Midwest sports.

[tags]Barack Obama, Midwest sports[/tags]

Yes, this is a sports blog, so you might wonder I am posting something political. Well, some moments in history just transcend everything. And tonight…well it transcended everything.

(And if you need some sort of sports tie-in, here you go: Barack Obama support a college football playoff.)

I’m not posting support or condemn the policies of Barack Obama. Or to claim that I voted one way or the other. I am posting only to say a few very specific things:

– John McCain: You gave a great conciliatory speech and are an incredible American. I hope that you continue to be a positive influence as a leader in American.

– Democratic football fans in Ohio: Barack Obama won, he carried Ohio, and Brady Quinn is now starting for the Browns (although Brady probably isn’t happy with the election result). Has there been a better week for a specific group of Ohioans…ever?

– President-Elect Barack Obama: Your policies and beliefs have been framed by some to be polarizing; but no one can listen to your words and hear anything but optimism, hope, and an inspiring vision for an America that overcome its divides and truly become a united nation. Congratulations on being elected. It took great audacity to even run, and your victory is a confirmation of your ability and potential to be one of the truly transformative leaders in the history of our country and the world.

What a night.

And I have to think that no matter what side of the political aisle on which you position yourself, when this night is viewed through the prism of the totality of our nation’s history, good and bad, you have to think: what a great night.

[tags]barack obama, presidential election, college football playoff[/tags]