Red Sox Features On wbztv.com
Feb 27, 2008 5:19 pm US/Eastern
Red Sox Visit White House And Walter Reed
WASHINGTON (WBZ) ―
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Red Sox captain Jason Varitek gave President Bush a white Red Sox jersey with the name "Bush" and the number "07" on the back. It was signed by the entire team.
WBZ
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President Bush and Vice President Cheney pose with David Ortiz and the World Series trophy.
WBZ
President Bush cracked jokes about Manny Ramirez and Daisuke Matsuzaka as he welcomed the Red Sox to the White House Wednesday afternoon to celebrate their 2007 World Series championship.
Captain Jason Varitek gave the president a white Red Sox jersey with the name "Bush" and the number "07" on the back. It was also signed by the entire team.
In a line that even surprised the players, Bush sent a zinger toward Ramirez, who wasn't at the ceremony.
"I guess his grandmother died again," Bush said to prolonged laughter. "Just kidding."
Ramirez also missed the Red Sox 2005 World Series ceremony at the White House. Visiting a sick grandmother, he said.
Bush said he did not mean to poke fun at Ramirez, then did so again.
"I do want to quote him," Bush said. "He said, `When you don't feel good, and you still get hits, that's when you know you're a bad man.' I don't know what that means. But if bad man means good hitter, he's a really bad man, because he was clutch in the World Series."
The president also poked some fun at Matsuzaka. His presence drew a huge number of Japanese reporters.
"His press corps is bigger than mine," Bush said. "And we both have trouble answering questions in English."
Then there was Jonathan Papelbon, who danced in his underwear when the Red Sox won the pennant.
"Thanks for wearing pants," Bush told him.
More than a thousand people came out to see the champs, from the White House chief of staff to the policy wonks to the press aides.
On a more serious note, the president referred to pitcher Jon Lester's successful battle against cancer as an inspiration to many people.
After the ceremony, the team went to visit patients at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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