Obama extends kudos, good wishes to U.S. squad
By Liz Clarke
The day after being cheered on by former President Bill Clinton, who attended the 1-0 overtime thriller against Algeria in Pretoria that clinched a spot among the 2010 World Cup's final 16, the U.S. soccer team fielded a congratulatory phone call Thursday from President Barack Obama.
As summarized by the White House Office of the Press Secretary, here's how the conversation went:
"Earlier today President Obama called the U.S. Men's World Cup Soccer team. The President congratulated them on their extraordinary victory and told them that while he was meeting with General Petraeus in the Oval Office, he could hear the rest of the West Wing erupt when Landon Donovan scored the game winner.
"The President then congratulated Donovan on the game-winning goal, asked Tim Howard how his ribs were feeling and asked Clint Dempsey how his lip was doing. The President wished the team good luck on Saturday and made sure they knew that the entire country was cheering them on."
By
Liz Clarke
|
June 24, 2010; 3:57 PM ET
Categories:
2010 World Cup
,
U.S. men's national team
| Tags: 2010 World Cup, President Barack Obama, U.S. soccer team
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Posted by: benonthehill | June 24, 2010 4:22 PM | Report abuse
somebody get that man a donovan jersey!
Posted by: dfunkt | June 24, 2010 4:30 PM | Report abuse
Meh.
I'm self-censoring.
Posted by: Rand-al-Thor | June 24, 2010 4:33 PM | Report abuse
c'mon Liz. Learn the right soccer lingo already. Or get an editor who has.
Posted by: fedssocr | June 24, 2010 4:43 PM | Report abuse
@fedssocr:
the right lingo would "football lingo", or "idioma futbol".
Posted by: benhere | June 24, 2010 5:50 PM | Report abuse
Interview with Ian Darke on his call of Donovan's goal.
Posted by: JacobfromAtlanta-ish | June 24, 2010 6:09 PM | Report abuse
I see it now...
Liz, if you're reading, "overtime" in the first graf should be "added time."
You're welcome. :)
Posted by: SportzNut21 | June 24, 2010 6:28 PM | Report abuse
Here is a very cool compilation of fan reactions to 'The Goal'. I hope that Bob and the boys get to see this at some point.
Posted by: tcbannon | June 24, 2010 9:57 PM | Report abuse
obama lies. we all know he was having his "security meeting" w/ Petraeus right smack in front of the TV with everyone else. I also know the general is prone to cry when discussin his "american boys", so i'm guessing he too got choked up when seeing the heroics of these other american boys on the international stage.
Posted by: alespar415 | June 25, 2010 5:22 PM | Report abuse
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Tim Howard's reply: "The ribs are great. And I would have stopped that leak."