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Cardinals Rule

By Ken Herman | Tuesday, January 16, 2007, 03:06 PM

cards.jpg

The World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals were at the White House today, inspiring President Bush to talk about losing streaks and being underestimated.

“They say in baseball, you know, in order to become the World Series champ you can’t have losing streaks of over two or three games. This club had losing streaks of one eight-game streak, another eight-game losing streak and a seven-game losing streak,” Bush said, “which really speaks to the character of the baseball team, doesn’t it?”

“When you’re on one of those losing streaks, it’s easy to get down and to forget, you know, the goal,” said Bush, who periodically reminds the nation of his goals in Iraq.

Bush also mentioned David Eckstein, the Cards’ diminutive shortstop who was named World Serves MVP. (That’s Eckstein with Bush, above).

“They said he can’t hit. They said he can’t throw,” Bush said. “Listen, David, I’ve made a career out of people underestimating me. Or, as I sometimes say to keep them on their toes, misunderestimating me.”

During the ceremony, to keep them on their toes, Bush made up this word: Embetterment, as in the work Cardinal Manager Tony LaRussa does “for the embetterment of the community.”

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