Dandy-in-Chief Won’t Throw First Pitch on Opening Day
And who can blame him? — You can tell from his previous fopperies that he never learned America’s pastime when he grew up in Pakistan or Indonesia or wherever else the undocumented poser may have been preened.
(POLITICO) — Stephen Strasburg isn’t the only pitcher who will be missing from the mound when the Washington Nationals host the Atlanta Braves this afternoon to open the 2011 Major League Baseball season. President Barack Obama won’t be on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch either.
Like Strasburg, the 22-year-old phenom who underwent Tommy John surgery in September to repair ligament damage in his right elbow, Obama may be letting his wounds heal. The president got a PR pummeling earlier this month for taking time away from world affairs to appear on ESPN to reveal his March Madness basketball picks.
Or perhaps the president is still sensitive after the national chortling he set off when he appeared in his high-waisted “dad jeans” at an earlier All-Star Game — although he seemed to make up for that fashion flub at last year’s home opener when he sported khaki trousers, a red Nats jacket and a Chicago White Sox cap as he launched a high toss in the direction of Ryan Zimmerman.
Another possibility is that Obama’s absence could be calculated to avoid a possible boo beatdown from fans unhappy with . . . well, pick your gripe. It wouldn’t be the first time a baseball crowd heckled a president: As the Great Depression and Prohibition dragged on in the early ’30s, Herbert Hoover was verbally roughed up at a World Series game in Philadelphia by a crowd that chanted “We want beer!”
Whatever the reason for Obama’s absence, he is departing from a largely unbroken, century-old tradition that began with William Howard Taft on opening day 1910 when the hometown Senators took on the Philadelphia Athletics. (The Senators won, 3-0, as Walter Johnson fired a one-hitter.) For you trivia fans, the first president to take the show on the road was Richard Nixon, who launched the 1973 season from Anaheim Stadium, home of the California Angels. (They won, too, 3-2.)
This isn’t Obama’s first whiff. He skipped out on the 2009 opener as well, sending Joe Biden to Baltimore in his place. In characteristic fashion, Biden trotted to and from the mound like a JV player getting his big break.
In Obama’s (and Biden’s) place this year, the Nationals will have five flag officers — one from each branch of the U.S. military — throw the ceremonial first pitches. It’s safe to say no one will boo them.
Posted by WM on Thursday, March 31, 2011, at 10:37 am | 
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He got his feelings hurt when everybody made fun of his mom jeans and his girlish throwing motion.
i’m sure he throws like a girl
Hey, he could be in the Yankee’s starting rotation with an arm like that! LOL
It’s his misfortune to follow Pres. Bush, who had a good arm and in general was a real man.
On espn’s commercials for Opening Day, they show a picture of Obama on the mound (obnoxiously putting on his White Sox hat at a Nationals game) but cut before he goes into his girlish throwing motion. And who do they cut to? None other than George Bush delivering a first pitch. Even espn was too embarrassed to show their “cool” president look like the milquetoast he is.
A national embarrassment in every respect. He pitches the same way he governs–ready,fire, aim. And to say he tosses a baseball like a girl is an insult to women.
His arm still hurts from last year.
Obama will secretly throw out the first pitch .. but in a transparent way.
bwahahahaha…he is a lefty…
However he will visit the players locker rooms after the game to indulge in some serious jockstrap sniffing.
Really? They are blaming his no-show on the criticism he received for wasting time on bracket picks while Libya burned? You must be kidding!
Of course, his last trip to the mound was pretty pathetic. Perhaps he could instead, kick out the first soccer ball in some national soccer thing or something? If only we had cricket…I’m sure he could handle that.
@Boomerette: very nicely said!
Another possibility is that Obama’s absence could be calculated to avoid possible BASEBALLS being thrown at him from the fans . . .
Thank GOD for small favors.
He will be playing catcher somewhere.
I smell doodoo
I just crack up at this buffoon every time he tries something athletic.
This sissified rag-arm demonstration? LMAO
As much as he plays golf, you think he might develop a little skill (and learn how to dress)??? ROFL
Pictures of him riding a bike in his mom jeans and Urkel helmet? Priceless.
Has anyone actually seen video of him playing hoops? I have my doubts.
Pansified “Present” Poseur of the 57 United States
Let them get a real man to throw the first pitch! Is GW available?
I used to wear the same Sox cap as this loser, I let my dog have it to chew and piss on.
Stephen Hawkings has a better pitch than that
He might be able to reach home plate if he threw the opening pitch at a Little League game … from in front of the mound … with a cut-off man.
Or if he put some starch in his mom’s jeans.