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Obama hangs loose, but won't don helmet
By: Jeff Dufour and Kiki Ryan
Washington Examiner
04/21/09 5:26 PM EDT
President Obama had a little taste of home Tuesday afternoon, as the Navy football team brought a little aloha to the White House.
Both Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo and quarterback Kaipo Noa Keahaku Enhada are native Hawaiians.
"I hear Kaipo is a pretty easygoing guy," said the president, as he presented Navy with the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. "He doesn't get rattled easily, performs under pressure. That's the Hawaiian spirit. That's how we roll."
Just for good measure, the president flashed the "shaka" sign with his thumb and pinky finger.
In fact, just like President George W. Bush did when he welcomed sports teams to the White House, Obama was full of one-liners. "I understand your unofficial motto is 'No Excuses, Nobody Cares,'" he said. "That is my wife Michelle's motto for me also."
And at the end of the ceremony, when Navy gave him a silver football helmet, he wondered aloud whether it would fit. Then, obviously remembering Michael Dukakis, he said, "There's a rule for presidents that you never put anything on your head.''
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