Washington — Funny how things happen in America, President George W. Bush said in welcoming the new owner of the World Series champion Anaheim Angels on Tuesday.
"You buy the team, now you're at the White House," he told Arte Moreno, who became owner of the Angels last week.
Before becoming governor and then president, Bush was the managing partner of the Texas Rangers baseball team. Now, Moreno found himself sitting in the Rose Garden as the president praised his team.
The White House visit came before the first game of the Angels' four-city, 12-game road trip that starts in Baltimore.
Bush joked that Gene Autry, the original owner of the Angels who died in 1998, was in the Rose Garden too — in spirit.
"I know that he's smiling down now here on — looking at the Rose Garden and realizing his beloved Angels have finally won the world championship," Bush said.
The president poked fun at players and coaches, telling hitting coach Mickey Hatcher: "We didn't do a very good job about checking the security of every person" arriving at the White House.
Bush said he got to know Hatcher when he worked for the Rangers.
"He was a breath of fresh air," Bush said. "I suspect you're still a breath of fresh air — occasionally, bad breath of fresh air."
He announced that infielder David Eckstein actually "went out and purchased a suit" for the event, and that when Eckstein was at the White House once before for dinner he "didn't take any silverware."
The president said he remembers infielder Benji Gill when he was a "fresh-faced" rookie.
"Came up with the Rangers," Bush said. "It's amazing what facial hair does."
The fun was followed by Bush's standard speech about how sports champs need to set good examples for America's youth.
"There are a lot of kids who look at the world champs and wonder about the example you set," he said. "They look at you and say, 'Is it OK to curse or drink or carouse?' And I hope the answer you give them loud and clear is, in order to be a champ, you got to make right choices in life."
