Editor’s note: Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune wrote this article about a Monday, January 16, 2017, White House visit between the Chicago Cubs and President Barack Obama.
After being honored at the White House on Monday afternoon, the Cubs revealed the real reason why they desperately wanted to make the trip before President Barack Obama left office.
Touring the White House and being celebrated for their first Championship since 1908 was certainly fun for the team, but it wasn’t nearly as important as converting the die-hard White Sox fan into a Cubs fan….
Cubs President Theo Epstein said they offered Obama a “midnight pardon” to switch to the Cubs. When Obama stopped laughing, Epstein turned up the heat. The Cubs presented Obama with several gifts that Epstein said would “recognize this terrific conversion on this great day,” including a No. 44 panel from Wrigley Field’s manual center-field scoreboard, recognizing his status as the 44th President, a lifetime pass to Wrigley, a No. 44 jersey, and a “W” flag signed by Cubs players, that Epstein said should be flown at his Presidential library in Chicago, IL.
Obama said the gifts were the “best swag I’ve got since I’ve been President.”
The ceremony began with Obama poking fun at the Cubs’ storied drought, saying, “They said this day would never come,” and pointing out none of his predecessors “ever got a chance to say ‘Welcome to the White House,’ to the World Series Champion Cubs. I will say to the Cubs, It took you long enough! I’ve only got four days left.”
“I made a lot of promises in 2008,” he said. “But even I was not crazy enough to suggest that, during these eight years, we would see the Cubs win the World Series. But I did say that there’s never been anything false about hope. The audacity of hope. Yes, we can.”
“Which, Mr. President, brings us to you,” Epstein said. “We know you may have some allegiances to another team on another side of town, but we know you’re a very proud Chicagoan, and we know your better half, the First Lady, has been a lifetime and very loyal Cubs fan, which we appreciate very much. And, of course, we have great faith in your intelligence, your common sense, your pragmatism, and your ability to recognize a good thing when you see one. So, Mr. President, with only a few days remaining in your tremendous Presidency, we’ve taken the liberty here today of offering you a midnight pardon. And so we welcome you with open arms today.”
The Cubs-Sox byplay was one of manager Joe Maddon’s favorite parts of the afternoon. “The slings and arrows at the White Sox are always entertaining,” Maddon said.
Obama said Michelle had never attended any of the Championship celebrations before but decided to attend this one, to tell the team about her family’s love for the Cubs “and why it meant so much to her. I almost choked up listening to it,” Obama said. “And it spoke to how people feel about this organization, and it’s been passed on from generation to generation. And it’s more than just sports.”