Welcome to the White House Mr. Padula

[QPR Report]

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
HONORING THE 2008 MLS CHAMPION COLUMBUS CREW SOCCER TEAM

Rose Garden

2:31 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. Please have a seat. Well, welcome to the White House, and congratulations to the Columbus Crew on winning your first MLS Cup. Give them a big round of applause. (Applause.)

There are a couple people who are big fans, and so -- they also happen to be members of Congress. I want to acknowledge them: Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Representative Steve Driehaus, and Representative Mary Jo Kilroy. Please give them a big round of applause. (Applause.) And the Olives soccer team is here -- is that this crew right here? I suspected as much. They've been working with the Crew -- they're all from the Columbus area. So welcome to the Rose Garden.

And congratulations to all of the rowdy fans who were with you guys every step of the way. I hear that the Crew stadium was one of the toughest places to play for visiting teams, although I think you saw, playing the Chicago Fire, that we've got a little -- (laughter) -- you know, we've got some pretty good fans in Chicago, as well.

I want to thank Clark Hunt and all the members of the Hunt family for being here today. The Hunt family's legacy and dedication to American professional sports -- and to soccer in particular -- has been critical to the success of this team but also to the success of the league.

I want to congratulate Coach Warzychi -- Warzycha -- and -- you know, it's like Barack Obama, you know, you screw it up occasionally. And I also want to congratulate Coach Schmid. Under your leadership, this team made an incredible turnaround from a losing season in 2007 to the best record in MLS in 2008. And congratulations, Sigi, on being chosen MLS Coach of the Year.

Now, I should admit up front that I don't get a chance to see a lot of professional sports teams these days. Most of the soccer I've seen recently has been at my daughters' games. And I've learned that there are two important rules at that age -- I'm sure some of you may remember this. The first is, no matter what position you play, just run straight to the ball and congregate around it. (Laughter.) And the second rule is, don't forget the snacks at half-time. (Laughter.)

But I see that my daughters love playing this game of soccer, and we know that this is an exciting time for soccer in America. We just watched Team USA shock the world at the Confederation Cup, and we're in the middle of another impressive run in the Gold Cup.

As some of you may know, I just got back from the G8 meeting in Italy, and one of the leaders there was President Lula da Silva of Brazil. He gave me a hard time about Team USA dropping a 2-0 lead in the Confederations Cup final, but I reminded him that we held our own against the best teams in the world, we shocked a lot of people, and we might just see that team in the World Cup next year.

So it's clear that soccer in America is on the rise -- and MLS is a big part of that.

I want to congratulate Chad Marshall on being named Defender of the Year; Guillermo Barros Schelotto for winning the MVP Award and assisting in all three goals in the championship game.

And finally, I want to salute these guys for donating so much time and energy to the Columbus community, and we thank them for participating in our United We Serve summer of service. Just last week, the Crew spent time with young people in Columbus cleaning up some of the low-income neighborhoods near Crew Stadium, which strengthens their community and reaches out to folks who need it most.

That kind of spirit of service is what this White House wants to encourage in all citizens, but seeing it from professional athletes is especially gratifying. And so we appreciate also the clinic that the Crew is going to put on for young people here in D.C. today, which teaches them not just skills but also how to live healthy and active lives.

And thanks to that example -- an example set by the Crew and by players across MLS and women's professional soccer, as well -- I'm confident that American soccer will remain something to be excited about for years to come.

So congratulations again for the incredible championship season, and good luck next year. And I have to say that that's a big trophy -- so give them a big round of applause, everybody. Thank you. (Applause.)

END
2:36 P.M. EDT

[QPR Report]

[QPR Report]

The Columbus Dispatch/Jonathan Riskind
Obama welcomes Crew to White House

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is known for loving basketball, but in a Rose Garden ceremony this afternoon to honor the MLS champion Columbus Crew he enthusiastically accepted a personalized Crew jersey and even showed he knows what to do with a soccer ball.

"Nice. That's what I like," Obama said as Crew owner Clark Hunt presented the president with an autographed soccer ball and a bright yellow Crew jersey complete with "Obama" and the number "44" on the back, as in the 44th president of United States.

Obama acknowledged that most of the soccer he has seen recently has been on the sidelines of his daughters' recreational games, where, he joked, the most important rules are every kid running for the ball and not forgetting halftime snacks. But he congratulated the Crew for winning the championship of Major League Soccer last season, and congratulated "rowdy" Crew fans who Obama said he has been told have made Columbus Crew Stadium one of the toughest places to play in the league.

But while he might not follow professional soccer as ardently as some sports, "I see my daughters love playing this game of soccer and we know that this is an exciting time for soccer in America," Obama said, citing the recent run by the U.S. national team to the finals of the Confederations Cup in South Africa. "It is clear that soccer in America is on the rise and that MLS is a big part of that."

Obama also lauded the Crew for the team's public-service commitment, recounting that Crew players recently helped clean up neighborhoods near Crew Stadium. Obama noted that after the White House ceremony the team - along with eight Columbus students who belong to the Near East Inner City Youth Soccer Program - will meet with Washington school children at a local school here to participate in a clinic stressing education, reading and the importance of staying in school.

Crew captain Frankie Hejduk, who put on a soccer ball juggling demonstration on the White House lawn after the ceremony even though he was dressed in a coat and tie, said it was an extraordinary honor to be able to visit the White House and meet the president.

"A lot of us are in awe a bit," Hejduk said.

Obama didn't juggle the ball with his feet, but he did show on his way back into the Oval Office that he knows what to do with a soccer ball, casually tossing his new ball autographed by Crew players up and heading it forward.

One of the students and youth soccer players who traveled with the team to Washington, 16-year-old Abdiaziz Amin of Columbus, said it was more than cool to find himself at the White House. Asked if he would like to come back again, but this time as a professional soccer player on a championship team, Amin responded with a grin, "I really hope that will happen."

In addition to current coach Robert Warzycha, former Crew coach Sigi Schmid also was on hand, as were several players no longer with the Crew.

Warzycha said he hopes to return to the White House with his team next year.

"We plan to see (Obama) here next year and after that and after that," Warzycha said.

Also at the ceremony were several Ohio lawmakers, Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat, and Reps. Mary Jo Kilroy, D-Columbus, and Steve Driehaus, D-Cincinnati.

www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2009/07/13/crew_obama.html?sid=101

[QPR Report]

[Lonegunmen]

Good to see Ginooooooooooooooooo having some success. Remember him scoring directly from a corner so he kept on trying it.

[QPR Report]

[QPR Report]

MLS/Craig Merz

Crew reunite at White House ceremony
Schmid, Evans, Hendrickson, Noonan all make trip to Washington, DC
07/13/2009 9:08 PMBy Craig Merz / MLSnet.com Staff

Crew visit Obama at White House Watch: President Obama greets Crew

-- Separation can't break the bond forged during the Columbus Crew's 2008 championship season.
That was never more evident than when all the key figures from the MLS Cup winners gathered for a White House ceremony hosted by President Barack Obama on Monday afternoon.

It was harder to tell if the current Crew players were more excited to see the President or their former coach Sigi Schmid and ex-players Ezra Hendrickson, Brad Evans and Pat Noonan when they met at the Baltimore airport for the bus ride to D.C.

"It's very meaningful to have them here," forward Alejandro Moreno said. "They had a very important role in what we did last year. It's nice to see the old group together again."

Schmid and the three former players were presented their championship rings by Crew president/general manager Mark McCullers before entering the White House grounds.

The entourage then split into two groups for a 45-minute tour. At the end, the team -- including those no longer with the Crew -- posed for a group photo outside of the Blue Room.

"They're all friends. This team hasn't really changed much from last year," Schmid said.

Schmid, Crew coach Robert Warzycha and the assistant coaches and staff also had their pictures taken together.

For Crew midfielder Brian Carroll, his first visit to the White House was well worth the wait. He grew up in suburban D.C. and won an MLS Cup with D.C. United in 2004 but the team did not go to the White House.

"It's pretty special to get a tour of the White House and meet the President," he said. "I was the last person to shake his hand before he spoke."

The Crew, including owner Clark Hunt, son of late Crew founder Lamar Hunt, assembled in the Rose Garden prior to the President's arrival. Also in attendance were several politicians with Columbus and Ohio ties; MLS Commissioner Don Garber; members of the Hunt family and seven players from Columbus' East Side Inner City Youth Soccer League who had participated in a community clean-up with the Crew last week.

Obama talked for about five minutes and acknowledged the Crew's rise from a non-playoff team in 2007 to winning its first title.

He singled out Schmid for being coach of the year, Guillermo Barros Schelotto's league MVP award and three assists in the MLS Cup win against New York and praised 2008 MLS defender of the Year Chad Marshall, who along with midfielder Robbie Rogers and Evans took a day off from the U.S. national team's preparation for the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

"It was pretty cool to hear him say my name," Marshall said. "I wasn't expecting that. It's an honor to play for my country and meet the person who's running it."

Obama said he mainly follows soccer through his daughters' games but said he was proud of the U.S. showing in the recent FIFA Confederations Cup and the Gold Cup and is hoping for a good showing in next year's World Cup.

"It's clear soccer is on the rise and MLS is a big part of it," Obama said.

He said the Hunt family is a big reason why. "Their legacy and dedication to American professional sports, to soccer in particular has been critical to the success of this team but also to the success of this league," he said.

Hunt presented the 44th President a signed ball, a banner and a gold jersey with "Obama 44" on the back.

"That's what I wanted," Obama said as he held up the shirt.

As he was leaving, the President looked at the MLS Cup and commented, "That's a big trophy" before dribbling the ball with his hand as he returned to the Oval Office.

Moreno went to the White House after Houston won the 2006 title but said it was just as exciting and rewarding this time.

"It's a reflection of the kind of season we had last year and our accomplishments," he said. "Not everybody gets a chance to do it. It's a treat for us and it's part of what we earned during the 2008 season."

Schmid would echo those sentiments. He won three NCAA titles coaching UCLA and an MLS Cup with the Galaxy in 2001 but had never been invited to the White House.

"It's a once in a lifetime experience," he said. "It's a big step for soccer. It's great for MLS."

It was a dream come true for the German-born Schmid as he strolled from room-to-room with Warzycha, a native of Poland.

"As I told Robert, for a couple of naturalized citizens we've done OK," he said.

After leaving the White House and taking a few final pictures and videos, the group -- minus the former coach and players -- headed to Truesdell Elementary School in D.C. for a clinic where they demonstrated soccer skills and gave life lessons about education and the importance of community service.

Obama mentioned the Crew's outreach work in Columbus and D.C. as part of the administration's "United We Serve" initiative.

It was a tiring trip on a hot afternoon that normally would have been a day off following a 0-0 tie at Chicago on Saturday but midfielder Duncan Oughton said it was worth the effort.

"A little New Zealand kid never thought he's get to the White House," he said. "It was a long day but that stuff is fun. The kids enjoyed it and the guys had a good time. There will be a lot of tired bodies tomorrow."

Now, the attention turns to Saturday's match against Real Salt Lake that could enable the Crew to tie the league record 18-game home unbeaten streak.

"It's important to keep the home streak going. It would be nice to keep it going with a win," Oughton said.

Craig Merz is a contributor to MLSnet.com.


web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20090713&content_id=5865714&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp

[QPR Report]

And Youtube of Obama Greeting

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIJLP5a16KM

[londonranger]

I skipped class in Luddite school that day. How do you get those great pics on? Just cut and paste?

[QPR Report]

You have to find the url...and then post the url...and then click the photo icon.

[londonranger]

thanks Mike.

[froggyranger]

gino could have least have done the top button of his shirt up!
;D ;D

[FloridaR]

thanks for sharing Mike... well done Gino.