I don’t necessarily fancy myself as an eventual White House reporter – that said, I’m not ruling it out – so I try not to ever pass up the chance to make a visit 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to cover an event, whether it’s a simply ceremony for the MLS Cup winner or Thursday’s soccer clinic on the South Lawn hosted by D.C. United.
Yes, I’ve change my Twitter picture…
Yesterday’s event was more than just part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Initiative – even if she couldn’t attend – it was the perfect respite for D.C. United to get away from its awful season and do what the club has always done well, even if its often overshadowed by the struggles on the field and in the endless pursuit of its own stadium.
United interim head coach Ben Olsen, and players Troy Perkins, Jaime Moreno, Clyde Simms, Devon McTavish and Andy Najar all helped out yesterday, as did recently retired Washington Freedom goalkeeper Briana Scurry, not to mention U.S. men’s under-20 head coach Thomas Rongen.
Hmm, a soccer event at the White House – what event could possibly be promoted? Yes, the kids all wore USA World Cup bid t-shirts.
“There’ve been some ups and downs – we’ve had a lot of downs – so it’s nice to come out here and kind of be with these kids and see the smiles on their faces,” said Olsen. “They’re having a blast. D.C. United has done a great job with this stuff, and I don’t think they get enough credit.”
A couple random items from the visit, too. First, there’s a massive beehive – population 30,000, according to the security fella – that served as the boundary to the afternoon’s event. Apparently, those bees can get very defensive about their territory. Also, the White House chefs use the honey to make awesome granola bars, among other things. Second, actress Geena Davis showed up to watch the clinic. She wasn’t part of the proceedings, just happened to be at the White House. Sorry, Yeas and Nays I’m not…
“This is my first time at the house of the President, and I’m so excited for it. To be here is an honor, and I’m really happy,” said Najar. “It’s a lot of fun, working with the kids here, teaching some technical skills, movement. I’ve had a lot fun with them.”
It’s a wonder that U.S. Soccer didn’t find a way to fast-track his international eligibility or make him commit to the U.S. before he left the grounds.
That’s a joke. Well, sorta.
