Obama Cheers the Giants

President admits he "fears the beard"
By: Evan Wagstaff

Updated 6:32 p.m., 7/25/11.

"The Giants are in the House."

With that, President Barack Obama welcomed the San Francisco Giants, the 2010 World Series Champions, to the White House.

“Even though this team is a little different and their players haven’t followed the traditional rules, they know how to win,” Obama said.

The president, a big sports fan, showed off his knowledge of the Giants. Referring to closer Brian Wilson's famous beard, Obama said, “I do fear it.”

“Underneath Brian's beard and his spandex tuxedo … is one of the most dominant closers in baseball,” he said.

The president, known for his trim build, got a laugh by telling the crowd that Tim Lincecum's success showed why people should "bet on the skinny guy."

Hall of Famer Willie Mays, the president's favorite Giant, was also at the event. He didn't speak, but received a big round of applause when he was introduced.

Obama said that when Mays traveled with him last year, it was was one of the few times that the president was "the second-most important guy on Air Force One."

The president also praised the Giants' community outreach. “This team has made a point of giving back,” he said, noting the Giants' “It Gets Better” video in support of LGBT youth — the first by a professional sports team. “That's what this team is all about. Characters with character.”

At times, the East Room of the White House, which is usually reserved for more solemn events, sounded a lot like AT&T Park, as members of the audience shouted "Go Giants!" and "Beat LA!"

The celebration had a decidedly partisan feel. Some of the team's fans, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, were among the many Democrats in attendance. And the event took place as House Republican leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) introduced his party's latest proposal to end the debt ceiling standoff.

The president seemed to enjoy talking about something other than defaults and deficits.

When the team gave him some autographed memorabilia, including a bat, glove and No. 44 jersey in honor of former Giant Willie McCovey, the president joked, "We should do something like this every day."

Before posing for pictures, Obama thanked the team and gave them a qualified “good luck” in the playoffs.

“I want to congratulate this team and wish them all the best of luck, unless the White Sox are in the World Series,” he said.

Despite his two years in the White House, the president, a Chicago native, remains a fan of the struggling Sox.