WriterDom
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Bush To Build 'Field of Dreams'
.c The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - At his own private fantasy camp in the East Room, President Bush ordered a junior-size baseball field installed at the White House.
``We've got a pretty good-sized backyard here,'' Bush told more than 40 Hall of Fame baseball legends he had invited to lunch.
``Baseball isn't just in the stats. It isn't just the money. It really isn't who makes the Hall of Fame,'' Bush said.
``As much as anything else, baseball is the style of a Willie Mays, or the determination of a Hank Aaron, or the endurance of a Mickey Mantle. ... In a small way, maybe we can help to preserve the best of baseball right here in the house that Washington built.''
Bush said that for the next four seasons, the length of his term as president, he will invite kids from all over the country to play tee-ball on the White House field. First lady Laura Bush approved the plan, he said, ``so long as I wasn't one of the players.''
The president, an unabashed fan and former co-owner of the Texas Ranger, was starry-eyed at the assembly of players standing on risers behind him in a pre-luncheon ceremony.
``One of the great things about living here is you don't have to sign up for a baseball fantasy camp to meet your heroes. It turns out they come here,'' Bush said.
He paid special tribute to Yogi Berra, who is known, like Bush, to mangle a sentence every now and then.
``Yogi's been an inspiration to me - not only because of his baseball skills but of course for the enduring mark he left on the English language,'' Bush said to extended laughter.
``Some of the press corps even think he might be my speechwriter.''
.c The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - At his own private fantasy camp in the East Room, President Bush ordered a junior-size baseball field installed at the White House.
``We've got a pretty good-sized backyard here,'' Bush told more than 40 Hall of Fame baseball legends he had invited to lunch.
``Baseball isn't just in the stats. It isn't just the money. It really isn't who makes the Hall of Fame,'' Bush said.
``As much as anything else, baseball is the style of a Willie Mays, or the determination of a Hank Aaron, or the endurance of a Mickey Mantle. ... In a small way, maybe we can help to preserve the best of baseball right here in the house that Washington built.''
Bush said that for the next four seasons, the length of his term as president, he will invite kids from all over the country to play tee-ball on the White House field. First lady Laura Bush approved the plan, he said, ``so long as I wasn't one of the players.''
The president, an unabashed fan and former co-owner of the Texas Ranger, was starry-eyed at the assembly of players standing on risers behind him in a pre-luncheon ceremony.
``One of the great things about living here is you don't have to sign up for a baseball fantasy camp to meet your heroes. It turns out they come here,'' Bush said.
He paid special tribute to Yogi Berra, who is known, like Bush, to mangle a sentence every now and then.
``Yogi's been an inspiration to me - not only because of his baseball skills but of course for the enduring mark he left on the English language,'' Bush said to extended laughter.
``Some of the press corps even think he might be my speechwriter.''
