President Bush Shows Sporty Side at Beijing Olympics
EmailABC News’ Jennifer Duck reports from Beijing, China: Always up for the
competition, President Bush showed his sporty side in Beijing,
volleying with U.S. gold medalist and American professional beach volleyball player Misty May-Treanor after an
"unbelievably difficult" ride on the Olympic mountain bike course.
Bush also huddled up with the U.S. women’s softball team
giving the players a pep talk before their big game.
With a fresh four-inch scrape on his right elbow, the avid mountain
biker explained his ride on the steep, winding Olympic mountain biking course.
"Really really
difficult. That’s why I’m an amateur and they are Olympians,” Bush
said to reporters and volleyball stars with a smile.
May-Treanor challenged the president to a volley, showing him how to position his arms and bump the ball.
"Little high," Bush said as the ball soared in the air to May-Treanor.
The pro-volleyball player returned the pass with ease but the president refused to dive missing the return as the ball hit the sand with a
thud.
Bush posed for a picture with bikini-clad May-Treanor and her
shoulder-bandaged partner Keri Walsh saying, "I’m with the champs right
here."
After the photo, May-Treanor pushed her backside out for the
traditional pat-on-the-butt that is commonly exchanged after a good
play. Bush smiled politely using the back of his hand to tap the
middle of her back instead.
Watching the record-holding volleyball players practice, Bush joked,
“You can’t make every single play. Come on!” Walsh encouraged the
president to "practice with [his dog] Barney" on the South Lawn of the
White House.
Making his way to another Olympic venue, Bush greeted the
U.S. women’s softball team. The players excitedly chatted about the
games, shaking the president’s hand and patting him on the back. A
large handprint of chalk was imprinted on the president’s shirt as he
worked his way around field.
Bush huddled up with the team, putting his hands in the center, shouting, "Who do we play for?"
All smiles, the women shouted, "Team U.S.A."
Bush stuck around to watch batting practice after telling the team they were "gold medal champs."
“It’s good for the world for girls to play softball and these women are
going to show young girls how to win. Great athletes," Bush said
surrounded by the team.
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There’s got to be something negative I can say about this. After all, Bush is Bad right?
Posted by: Scratching My Head | August 9, 2008, 6:41 am 6:41 am
He’s only bad when it comes to politics and making life sustaining decisions. Goofing around like a jester is really one of his strengths.
Posted by: Michigan927 | August 9, 2008, 9:01 am 9:01 am
I am no great Bush fan. Say what you will about him but he does have that earthy, genuine quality. Especially in these settings. Go Bush, go team USA!
Posted by: fob | August 9, 2008, 9:07 am 9:07 am
michigan927,
It is easy to criticize bush but no other president would put themselves in these potentially uncomfortable situations and risk their so called “reputation”. It is to his credit that he’s willing to do this to encourage our athletes.
It is one thing to sit in the stands, wave, shake hands and leave. But for the athletes this will not only be a motivation during the games but also a lifelong memory for these hardweorking athletes. Go Bush, go Team USA!!
Posted by: fob | August 9, 2008, 9:22 am 9:22 am
I think it was really nice of Mr. Bush to be there. He was not a great president but he does have a warm personality, nobody can deny that. It does not take away that he sent his people to an illegal war, is leading a country which owns 3/4 of its debt to the chinese, and has really put america in the whole economically. But, hey, he’s a great guy to play ball with!
Posted by: viviane | August 9, 2008, 9:24 am 9:24 am
The world will miss having Bush as the president…he is a good man and the history will judge him well. Have you seen Iraqi TV commentary lately?
Posted by: Frieda | August 9, 2008, 11:03 am 11:03 am
its a good thing having bush play, for he did’t just remain in the white house, but also coming to beijing even playing with his team, that is good of him, i believe other president will pick that example and live after him
Posted by: ngene | August 9, 2008, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
I can’t believe this jerk got us into a unjust war, ripped off the poor, made the rich richer, tried to destroy public education in order to privatize it with vouchers-which again screws the poor and is now enjoying the Olympics after having a world tour (for what? it’s not like anyone cares or respects anything he has to say) all courtesy of the finanically suffering American taxpayer. We didn’t impeach him, but can we please lock him up anyway so that he doesn’t get these undeserved vacations?
Posted by: irma | August 9, 2008, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm
Oh yea lets blame the President, It’s so easy to blame one guy. What is going on is not just his fault. Do you even Vote?
Lets get rid of NAFTA to start with.
I am A bush supporter and I would have smacked her on the butt. (LOL)
Posted by: Md4443 | August 9, 2008, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm
“A large handprint of chalk was imprinted on the president’s shirt as he worked his way around field.”
I can’t imagine what the owner of that hand was thinking. It is a mean-spirited, childish act to dirty anyone’s clothes like that.
Posted by: Michael | August 10, 2008, 1:32 am 1:32 am
Some of you anti-Bush types need to take a strong laxative. It’ll be good for ya.
Michael, that handprint was from a prankster athlete who does that to everyone. There was a shot of her grinning that she’s managed to do it to the president. Friendly stuff.
GW will go down as one of America’s greatest presidents. He made some questionable calls, yes, but he’s been a leader to be proud of. He restored the integrity of the American presidency after the Clinton years. In getting down and having fun with these athletes, he’s given them an incredible boost. After watching lots of the pix of him with them, I’d say he’s let his daddy side roll out full steam.
Posted by: indga | August 10, 2008, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
Such hatred for Bush, everyone seems to blame everything on Bush, even the weather, thanks to the liberal media.
His presidency has provided “democracy” to many nations, provided “aids relief” to many countries, but hey “bash Bush” that is the American motto. You need to vent your outlet by watching Fox News, then maybe you will get the “real” story on Bush.
Besides, who could of gotten Osama a long time ago? Clinton. Who gave away our secrets for sale? Clinton. How the Story of Plame was wrong. Media. You need to check ALL the facts. Instead of hatred towards Bush, try feeding the hungry, go to church and get some sprititual enlightenment. Maybe that hate will dissipate. America has been the most giving country in all the world. Other presidents have started wars, but Oh Bush is the bad guy! We sure do have problems here, but Bush got the brunt of failed policies of the past Clinton era. No drilling in ANWAR, left-wing environmentalists. All those California fires, environmentalists fault. Hurricane Katrina, Ray Nagin, where were the buses to take those people out? Bush has to micro-manage New Orleans now? Now that Bush is leaving, who are you going to bash?
By the way, the Edwards story has been around for awhile, but the media didn’t report it, but a Republican senator who allegedley took money from special interests, its front page news. But Edwards was hush-hush until it could no longer be denied. Thank God for bloggers. Get real and get perspective, because you don’t have a “balanced” perspective. The Congress Democrats and REpublicans is what is wrong with America. They do not get anything done. At least Bush is using his office to do something, which everyone fights him at every turn. Enemy combatants with civil rights, where was the civil rights of the one American who got beheaded. Huh!
Send your hatred where it belongs, Congress and Muslim jihadists..
Posted by: barbara | August 11, 2008, 11:48 am 11:48 am
Can’t believe he is doing this when Russia is trying to start WW III!!
Posted by: ST | August 11, 2008, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm
In attending the Olympics, the self deluded Destroyer-In-Chief is simply staging yet another “mission accomplished” style contrived photo-op in a transparent attempt to establish some sort of international legacy. I’ll bet he is looking closely at old footage of Richard and Pat Nixon at the Great Wall of China, in a similar staged attempt at international diplomacy. The two criminal pResidents are indeed similar, except that Richard Nixon was a whole lot smarter. I am watching the Olympics, but as usual I change the station when Dubya appears on screen in his pathetic attempt to take credit for them.
His illegal invasion of Iraq was all based on lies. Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11, terroists, or WMDs. Shrub is the worst pResident in American History.
THE WORST!
Posted by: TN | August 12, 2008, 7:58 pm 7:58 pm
I am so thankful that we live in a free country unlike the Iraqi people that were tortured and killed by their own government leaders. I am glad we live in a country that cares about the freedom of others. I have heard some good stories about positive changes made in Iraq. One from a soldier’s family member, the story came from a soldier. The only time I am not glad we live in a free country is when I hear the people bashing our country’s leader in disrespect. We have paved roads, freedom of religion and speach and we still have it after Bush’s presidency. I am sure all of you people critcizing could do a better job of running the country. That’s what’s wrong with this country, a bunch of ingrateful disrespectful people that spend all their time criticizing. Go start a charity and help someone else or go visit Iraq and live the hell those people lived in. The Muslims are trying to bring it here too they don’t believe in any type of freedom, if you disagree with them they kill you. That’s why we’re fighting.
Posted by: Yvonne | August 14, 2008, 9:41 pm 9:41 pm
It is the right of all Americans to believe what they want to believe. As George Carlin might have said, “My lies are facts and your facts are lies.” Pass the blindfolds. Everyone get in a circle for Pin the Tail on the President.
God help us.
Jose
Posted by: Jose | August 19, 2008, 10:24 am 10:24 am
Just wanted to say that I agree with your statement TN.
People complain about how the Patriot Act takes away all our freedoms, and how Bush is as bad as Hitler (which is stupidity in my mind). However, when it comes down to it, we live it one of, if not THE most freedom loving countries in the world. Hell, just be glad that you live somewhere where you CAN complain about, and insult, the commander in chief without being thrown in jail.
Posted by: I agree | August 20, 2008, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm
Good point N After 8 years of having to listen to these vitriolic marksist bitter jerks acting like their rights are being violated, here we are, our constitution still in tact, and elections going on as always. Some Hitler yeah? Meanwhile, flash to the Democratic convention where an ABC reporter doing a story on Dem fat cats at one of their elitest dinners gets arrested for trespassing, although he was on public property. Guess freedom of the press only applies when its convienient for Liberals.
Posted by: Ray Davidson | August 28, 2008, 9:10 am 9:10 am