Picture from the Chiefs web site. For those who don't recognize the guy in the jacket, that's Chiefs' coach Dick Vermeil.
Posted on 08/19/2004 5:27:20 AM PDT by bad company
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Posted on Thu, Aug. 19, 2004
Hail to the Chiefs President Bush takes a tour stop and greets team at camp By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star
Photos by JOHN SLEEZER/The Kansas City Star There were mostly smiles all around Wednesday when President Bush made a brief stop on his Wisconsin campaign tour and visited the Chiefs at their training camp.
Quarterback Trent Green shook hands with President Bush after the two played a game of catch Wednesday at the Chiefs' training camp. More photos
RIVER FALLS, Wis. — The first signs that this wouldn't be just another day at Chiefs training camp came at 2:20 p.m. with the arrival of a squad of Secret Service vehicles. Shortly afterward came the big tour buses with “Bush-Cheney '04'' on the sides.
Out of one hopped the man himself. Suddenly the Chiefs, in the presence of President Bush, were the star-struck tourists.
Wide-eyed players with mobile phones or digital cameras snapped pictures and lined up to shake hands with the president, who passed through River Falls on Wednesday on his way from one Wisconsin campaign tour stop to another.
Twenty-five minutes later, Bush was gone on the campaign road once again, carrying a couple of footballs signed by Carl Peterson, Dick Vermeil and some players. But he made some impressions on those he left behind, most notably Peterson, the Chiefs' president/general manager and a wear-it-on-his-sleeve supporter of the Bush-Cheney ticket.
“I certainly don't think he hurt his chances (to gain some votes) today,'' Peterson said. “If there were some people on the fence, I think they got off the fence.''
Not everyone in the Chiefs' party was thrilled. Some players, safety Greg Wesley in particular, seemed less than enthusiastic about the chance to meet a president not of their liking.
Indeed, mindful earlier in the day of possibly alienating some of his players in a politically charged atmosphere, Vermeil said he wouldn't make attendance mandatory at the president's visit.
“We probably have some Democrats on the team,'' Vermeil said.
Still, the prevailing feeling was that no matter a person's political leanings, it was simply cool to get to meet the president.
“It doesn't happen every day,'' Peterson said, “and it doesn't happen to most people in their lifetime.''
That was the idea behind the visit. The Bush campaign called the Chiefs on Tuesday afternoon to inquire about the possibility of a training-camp stop. It was confirmed Wednesday morning and came at a perfect time for the Chiefs.
They set their camp practice schedule months ago and, coincidentally, Wednesday called for an afternoon with no workout.
Bush briefly addressed the assembled Chiefs at their practice complex. In his introductory remarks, Peterson alluded to the White House visit the Super Bowl champions will make next winter.
“Let's hope that in early winter, like in February, you are where you're supposed to be and we're where we're supposed to be and we can come and do this again,'' Peterson told Bush.
Bush didn't talk football. He thanked those players who are involved in community service.
Then, spotting Priest Holmes in the crowd, he said he remembered the running back well from Holmes' days at the University of Texas in Bush's home state.
“It was an experience I caught on tape and on camera,'' Holmes said. “I was glad to be part of this day. It meant a lot to me just because of my father being over in Iraq and knowing the whole connection of him serving our country.''
When Bush was finished speaking to the group, it became a free-for-all of players clamoring for a handshake and a picture. Injured tight end Billy Baber was on crutches but still made a push for the front, wanting Bush's autograph on a copy of the 9/11 commission's report he was clutching.
“He took more time here than I thought he would,'' Peterson said. “Damon Huard said he took more time when Damon was with the Patriots and he entertained them after they won the Super Bowl.''
The festivities were interrupted briefly when Bush and quarterback Trent Green played a game of catch at about 8 yards. He showed perfect hands and made some decent throws for a guy who probably doesn't have much time to toss the pigskin in the back yard.
Then, more handshakes and pictures. A reporter asked Bush what he thought about the Chiefs, and the president initially waved off the question. After a pause, he said, “I know the coach. He's a great man.''
Vermeil met Bush at a stop in Pennsylvania during the 2000 presidential campaign. Vermeil, another staunch Bush supporter, was asked whether the Chiefs would invite John Kerry if Bush's opponent wanted to visit.
Vermeil smiled and just couldn't make himself give the political answer.
“Not necessarily,'' he said.
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© 2004 Kansas City Star and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.kansascity.com
Well, well this coming out of anything KC, MO., is great news.
Yep.One or two fence sitters just leaned a little more right.
Gunther Cunningham, defensive something for the Chiefs was talking about the visit on a local sports talk show yesterday evening. Said he is a BIG TIME Bush supporter and may do some campaiging for President Bush.
"Gunther Cunningham, defensive something for the Chiefs was talking about the visit on a local sports talk show yesterday evening. Said he is a BIG TIME Bush supporter and may do some campaiging for President Bush."
More good news, thanks.
Picture from the Chiefs web site. For those who don't recognize the guy in the jacket, that's Chiefs' coach Dick Vermeil.
bttt
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