Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
The President: Hello, everybody!
Everybody, have a seat.
Have a seat.
I got a few things to say here.
First of all, it's great to see you as we kick
off the 2014 baseball season.
Now, I thought I invited the Red Sox here today,
but there must be a mistake because
I don't recognize all these clean-shaven guys.
(laughter)
There's one guy -- a couple guys
who decided they thought the beard
was working for them.
But beards or no beards, it is an honor
to welcome the 2013 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox
to the White House.
(applause)
I have to say, you all
have some fanatical fans.
(laughter)
And many of them occupy my
administration and the White House.
Look at my White House photographer --
he's been thinking about this day all week.
I got my press secretary there.
I am surrounded by Red Sox fans.
And I know that there -- all the members of
Congress from the New England delegation, who
are equally fanatic.
Back in 2004, watching the Red Sox
win the World Series was a novelty.
But over the past 10 years,
this clubhouse has the winningest championship record
in baseball --
(applause)
-- three World Series titles
in a decade, under the leadership of John Henry,
Tom Werner, Larry Lucchino,
and their partners.
And since they won this one at Fenway, the
die-hards can finally declare that the Curse
has definitively been broken.
(applause)
Obviously, all the wins were sweet
for Red Sox fans, but I think for the nation
as a whole there was something about this particular squad
that was special and will go down in history --
not just not just because they went from worst to first,
but because they symbolized the grit
and the resilience of America's --
one of America's iconic cities during one
of its most difficult moments.
Nearly one year ago, hundreds of thousands
gathered on a beautiful spring day to run and
cheer the historic Boston Marathon.
But a senseless act of terror
turned celebration into chaos, and joy into anguish.
Four young people lost their lives.
Hundreds were injured.
The city was rocked.
But under the guiding hand of somebody who
I consider one of the finest public servants that America
has known, Mayor Tom Menino of Boston, who
is here today, and his lovely wife.
(applause)
Boston stood resolute
and unbowed and unbroken.
And as the smoke cleared, we gained inspiration from
the injured who gamely tackled their recovery --
those who are running and walking again,
including the young woman who has returned
to professional dancing with a prosthetic leg.
And we took heart from the first responders who put
their lives at risk and bravely ran toward danger
-- people like Officer Richard Donahue
of the MBTA Transit Police, who was shot
and nearly killed that night.
After months of rehab, Richard is walking again
and keeping up with his 18-month-old son,
and we're so proud to have Richard here today.
Give him a big round of applause.
(applause)
Today, our hearts are in Boston again.
We've got the families of firefighters
Michael Kennedy and Lieutenant Edward Walsh, who gave
their lives protecting others from a massive
blaze last week.
And their sacrifice, like the sacrifice of those
made last year, remind us of the selfless courage
of everyday heroes who put their lives
on the line to help others.
The first responders, the brave citizens,
the resolute victims of these tragedies --
they're all Boston Strong.
And ultimately, that's what this team played
for last season, and every man behind me did his part
to keep the team rolling.
There was Xander Boegarts, the upstart rookie
who took over at third base and didn't let up.
The tested veterans like my fellow Hawaiian
Shane Victorino, and Mike Napoli,
who came in during the offseason and shook off the rust
and the injuries to secure win after win.
Lackey and Lester -- the heart of a rotation
that upped their game and started begging their
manager, John Farrell, to stay in for six
and seven and eight innings.
And of course, the legend -- the only man to play
for all three championship teams, the biggest bat
in the dugout: Big Papi.
(applause)
Love this guy.
Even a White Sox fan can appreciate these guys.
(laughter) But for all the big names,
this was never a single super-star's team.
If you look at the numbers, no pitcher won
more than 15 games; no batter hit more
than 30 home runs.
And yet, they led the majors in runs scored,
won the most games in the American League,
had the second-best ERA in their hard-hitting division.
So this team never lost more than three games
in a row all season, they just had a lot of heart.
And it was that consistency that brought
the Red Sox into the postseason.
But it was a drive to do more for the city that had
their backs that took them on to win
in the World Series.
With the rallying symbol of Boston Strong mowed
into the outfield and sewed into their uniforms,
the Red Sox took the field against Tampa
and Detroit with the full weight of their city behind them.
When they found themselves in Game Four
of the World Series, down two games to one against St. Louis,
the faithful cheered as Jonny Gomes knocked
in a three-run homer out of the park, breaking open a tie
and giving Red Sox Nation the signal
they weren't done yet.
(applause)
Big Papi let it rip,
earned the World Series MVP.
(applause)
Koji Uehara, the third-choice closer
who had been signed as an afterthought, capped one
of the best postseasons in major league history
with his signature splitter that sank straight into
David Ross's mitt to win the World Series,
four games to two.
And then Koji just looked so happy after every game,
didn't he, jumping up on people.
(laughter)
So they all stormed the field, readied
the duck boats.
But this was more than just a trophy and parade.
With every game they played,
the Sons of Fenway never forgot what it meant
to wear the Boston uniform.
When they visited bombing victims in the hospital;
when they played ball with kids getting cancer
treatment; when they started a program
to help wounded warriors get treatment at Mass General
-- these guys were saying, we're
all on the same team.
And I think Big Papi put it better and more
colorfully than any of us could.
(laughter)
I won't repeat his quote.
(laughter)
But the point is, Boston and the Red Sox
were one this season.
And we knew last year, even as we mourned the
lost and cared for the wounded and resolved
to carry on, that the moment would come when
the Sox would be champions again and the crowds would
gather for a parade down Boylston once more.
And that's exactly what happened.
That's how this team helped Boston to heal.
And true to that spirit, in just a few weeks,
something else we resolved last year will come
to pass: On the third Monday in April, the world will
return to Boston and run harder than ever
and cheer louder than ever for the 118th Boston Marathon.
That will happen.
(applause)
The bottom line is I'm proud
of these guys.
As a baseball fan, I appreciate
their comeback season.
But more importantly, as President, I'm grateful
for their character and their embrace
of the essential role they played in the spirit
of that city.
Sometimes, sports seems like it's trivial,
it's just an entertainment.
And then, every once in a while,
you're reminded that sports represents something else
and it has the power to bring people together
like almost nothing can.
And all of you should be very proud
of what you accomplished.
I know your fans are.
And I'm grateful to you as well.
So congratulations to the Boston Red Sox
and Red Sox Nation.
(applause)
Good luck this season.
May the best Sox win.
(laughter and applause)
You guys got something for me?
Big Papi's got something for me.
David Ortiz: Yes, sir.
(applause)
The President: That looks pretty good
David Ortiz: 44 President.
The President: It looks like
it might fit him better than me though.
(laughter)
Alright, lets take a group picture.
David Ortiz: Do you mind if I take my own?
The President: Oh, he wants to take a selfie.
David Ortiz: Yes, sir.
The President: It's the Big Papi selfie.
Alright, lets pull this down.