Wednesday, July 31, 2013

MLB 2012 World Series Champion SF Giants Visit White House Today


The 2012 World Series champion San Francisco Giants paid a visit to President Barack Obama at the White House on Monday.

The 2012 World Series champion San Francisco Giants met with President Obama at the White House on Monday, their second visit in three years.

According to Alex Pavlovic of the San Jose Mercury News, the Giants went on a tour before being recognized as Major League Baseball’s best at the South Lawn. The president said, “They’re making this a habit.”

Pavlovic makes a key observation, writing the Giants were 59-43 and four games up in the National League West when they visited Washington in 2011. Now, they’re sitting dead last in their division, 10 games behind their rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

On this note, Chris Haft of MLB.com points out another visit to the White House could be timely for the Giants, who are hoping their fortunes change at the soonest possible time.

Catcher Buster Posey certainly thinks so.

“I think it’s good to remember that we are a good ballclub. Sometimes when you’re struggling, it’s easy to get down on yourself. Maybe a trip like this will remind everybody that we’re all good players.”

Haft adds Giants president and CEO Larry Baer said President Obama encouraged them shortly before they were about to be honored. Obama reminded them that they are a second-half team, per Baer.

“You guys are a second-half club. You did it in 2010; you did it in 2012.”

Once the ceremonies kicked off, President Obama congratulated the Giants and lauded their resilience.

“This team faced elimination a total of six times in the playoffs. It’s no wonder that your own fans still refer to Giants baseball as torture.”

The White House’s official website’s Courtney Corbisiero notes the Giant’s thrust on healthy eating was brought up by the president – an issue close to his wife and First Lady Michelle Obama’s heart.

“I’m proud to announce that next season they’re planning to turn the centerfield bleachers at AT&T Park into what’s believed to be the first-ever edible garden in a major American sports facility. With rows of kale and strawberries and eggplant, the Giants are going to help encourage local youth to eat healthy – even at the ballpark.”

In addition, Haft says Obama also praised the Giants’ community involvement in the San Francisco area, specifically the Junior Giants program and their support of their local LGBT community. The latter was documented via a “It Gets Better” public-service advertisement aired two years ago.

“So today, we are proud to honor the Giants not only for being champions on the diamond, but also for being champions in the entire San Francisco community as well. They represent their city proudly.”

The Giants then returned the favor by giving the president two World Series items – an autographed baseball and a commemorative bat.