WASHINGTON -- For one afternoon, the weighty issues vexing the participants in Monday's White House ceremony -- the ongoing debt ceiling debate for one and a lackluster offense for the other -- were put aside as President Obama honored the San Francisco Giants for their 2010 World Series championship.
The entire Giants traveling party -- even closer Brian Wilson -- was dressed in a manner befitting an audience with a head of state.
Wilson's jet-black prospector's beard ("I do fear it," the president said) and fauxhawk and rooster-tail hairdo were in fine form. But while the president checked off some of the All-Star closer's ubiquitous looks, "the spandex tuxedo, and the sea captain costume and the cleats with his face on it," Wilson was in the back row decked out in a blue pinstriped suit with flag pin and light blue tie.
Obama also singled out Giants ace Tim Lincecum.
"When Tim entered the draft five years ago, nine teams passed him over before the Giants picked him up," Obama said. "Nobody thought somebody that skinny, with that violent a delivery could survive without just flying apart. But now, with two Cy Youngs under his belt, everybody understands why he's called 'The Freak.'
"America learned sometimes it's a good idea to bet on the skinny guy. So, you and me."
In addition to the well-traveled World Series trophy, on display in the front row, the event was attended by the usual array of dignitaries with Bay Area ties. Those included the current and three former mayors of San Francisco, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein (one of the former mayors), House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. But the dignitary that got the biggest response from the East Room gathering was Giants legend Willie Mays.
Obama noted that the 80-year-old Hall of Famer was just 23 the last time the Giants won the World Series, in 1954 as the New York Giants.
The 2010 Giants were dubbed as misfits by Giants manager Bruce Bochy, a team of characters with a mixed-bag lineup with one of the game's best pitching staffs.
"So even though this team is a little different, even though these players haven't always followed the traditional rules, one thing they know is how to win." Obama said.
The president was presented with a handful of gifts from the Giants: a team-signed from bat from pitcher Matt Cain, a custom glove with the president's favorite White Sox color scheme from Giants general manager Brian Sabean and a team-signed 44 Giants jersey by Bochy. Presumably Willie McCovey, another Giants Hall of Famer mentioned by Obama, is OK with having the 44th president borrow his retired number.
Obama also praised the Giants for their charitable works, supporting Wounded Warriors and their families and being the first professional sports team to join the "It Gets Better" campaign against bullying that targets gay teenagers.
Notable in their absence were injured players Buster Posey, Freddy Sanchez, Jonathan Sanchez and Pat Burrell, as well as two players no longer with the team, World Series MVP Edgar Renteria and playoff hero Juan Uribe. Despite those losses, the Giants are ahead of last season's wins pace and lead the NL West by four games, showing that perhaps the 2011 version of misfits just might be on to something again.
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