President Barack Obama has decided against throwing the ceremonial first pitch at the Washington Nationals' home opener. The Washington Times reports that Obama will not appear, forgoing a tradition of presidents opening Washington pro baseball games that had existed for decades before the Senators franchise #1 left town.
No official reason is yet known for Obama's declining of the offer. Then-president George W. Bush had thrown the first pitch twice since the Nationals franchise moved into town from its former existence as the Montreal Expos.
The identity of the first pitch thrower is now unclear. Vice President Joe Biden might have seemed an appropriate substitute for Obama but Biden has already thrown an opening first pitch this season for the Baltimore Orioles. It's very doubtful the small but energized Nationals fanbase would want a Baltimore hand me down.
______________________Labels: barack obama, joe biden, pro baseball, sports, washington nationals
