Obama, taking a break from his budget battle, met with the Giants yesterday afternoon in the East Room of the White House and wished the team well in it's quest to defend it's World Series Championship unless it was against his beloved Chicago White Sox. "Which right now isn't a sure thing," he joked about his struggling home team.
The President shook hands with the players and mingled with a gaggle of San Francisco politicians including former mayors and House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi.
Besides seeking out the free spirit Wilson, Obama sounded like he feels a kinship with Tim "The Freak" Lincecum and the rest of the team's collection of castoffs and misfits.
"The Giants may be a little different, but know how to win," said Obama, a knowledgeable baseball fan.
Obama congratulated the Giants for their miraculous season, where they won their first World Series Championship since moving to San Francisco from New York 53 years ago.
The President got to hang with one of his idols once again, Willie Mays-- who was once a guest on Air Force One during a trip to the 2009 All-Star Game. Mays presented the Leader of the Free World with a Giants jersey signed by the team. Obama joked about his flight with the baseball great, Mays.
"Very rarely, when I'm on Air Force One, am I the second most important guy on there," he said. "Everyone was passing me by-- 'Can I get you something Mr. Mays?'"
The President lauded the team for efforts to support injured U.S. troops and praised the players for being the first American sports team to make an "It Gets Better" video to help gay and lesbian youths who have been bullied.
Giants manager, Bruce Bochy, summed up the visit by saying," Certainly, we were all honored to be there. It's quite a privilege."
He was probably more thankful the outlandish Wilson didn't wear a skin-tight Lycra tuxedo.
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