So. Many. Diamonds.
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- Start date
It's also here, in 720p.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/president-obama-honors-super-bowl-champion-new-england-patriots
https://www.whitehouse.gov/live/president-obama-honors-super-bowl-champion-new-england-patriots
After the flat balls joke Obama pauses and says 'where were we?' At that point Kraft remarks in Obama's direction 'the Jets gave it to you' inferring that the Jets gave him that joke.
What could the secret service to do Gronk? Party with him in, then drunk drive him into a WH gate.
They should have timed Chewie's growl with a picture of Gronk. Otherwise, pretty great.nattysez said:
Obama wanted to know when Boston is going to start sharing some titles with Chicago. Had your Blackhawks dude.
Gronk says they wouldn't let him play music, so no dancing. This is usually the stakeout position where Boehner does his best ha-rumphing after meeting with POTUS.
Gronk says to the press that he was surprised about the deflate joke. Then looks back to Kraft and BB and says 'we don't even know what's up with that whole thing!' and Edelman just smiles and looks down shaking his head like 'I can't believe Gronk's even going there.'
Gronk, BB, Chandler Jones and Edelman all spoke saying the soldiers they met at Walter Reed are the real heroes.
Here's a transcript of the event, spoilered for your protection.
[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Thursday, April 23, 2015[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]President Obama honors the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots at the White House South Lawn[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]DC Slug: 1315 WH PATRIOTS STIX RS39 77 & 1315 WH PATRIOTS CUTS RS33 78[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Discs: 502/504[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]NYRS: WASH-8 & WASH-12[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]14:23:38 Obama walks out[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]14:23:59 THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. Welcome to the White House. Please have a seat. And, well, maybe before you have a seat, give it up for the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots! (Applause.) All right, now you can have a seat.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]14:24:18 A couple of points I’d make at the outset. First of all, it’s usually warmer on the South Lawn this time of year but given the kind of winter that Boston and New England had, I guess this feels pretty balmy to you. (Laughter.) Second of all, for some reason that I don’t fully understand, there is a disproportionate number of Patriots fans in the White House. (Laughter and applause.) I obviously did not screen properly when I was hiring, but there are a lot of Patriot fans in the White House and there are also a lot of Patriot fans in Congress. I just also want to point out that, despite the fact that he travels probably more than any human on Earth, somehow my Secretary of State, John Kerry, found a front row seat to be here today. (Laughter and applause.) So give it up for John Kerry. (Applause.)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]I want to offer my congratulations, first of all, to Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and I also want to acknowledge Coach Bill Belichick. I said to the team, and I think even those of us who have other teams we root for, the Patriots organization is as good an organization as there has ever been in professional sports. (Applause.) And to be able to maintain that kind of consistent excellence is a rare thing in any field, including on the football field. And that’s a testament to outstanding ownership. It’s a testament to a Hall-of-Fame coach. And I’m particularly grateful that Coach decided to dress up today. (Laughter.) We had some scissors if he wanted to cut the sleeves off. (Laughter.) Formal hoodies are allowed. (Laughter.)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]14:26:31 I usually tell a bunch of jokes at these events, but with the Patriots in town, I was worried that 11 out of 12 of them would fall flat. (Laughter.) All right, all right, all right. That whole story got blown a little out of proportion. (Laughter.) All right. Where were we? Right, right, right. Here’s what makes the Patriots, the Patriots. Even in the midst of huge distraction during the biggest media circus of the sports year, they stayed focused. As Coach Belichick would say, it was simply “on to Seattle.” [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Against the Seahawks, they gave us one of the greatest finishes in Super Bowl history. The Patriots became the first team ever to win the Super Bowl after trailing by 10 points going into the fourth quarter. All game long, you saw what made this team so special. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]14:27:37 There was, of course, Tom Brady, an all-time great who couldn’t be with us here today, but who engineered a pair of surgical fourth-quarter touchdown drives. You had Julian Edelman playing an unbelievable game after an unbelievable playoffs, clawing for extra yards. Darrelle Revis shutting down receivers like nobody else can. Gronkowski, just being Gronkowski. (Laughter and applause.) He’s not making rabbit ears back there, is he? (Laughter.) I told him to keep his shirt on. (Laughter.) He asked me what would happen if he took it off. I said Secret Service probably wouldn’t like it. He said, what could they do to me? (Laughter.) [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]14:28:39 But this team came out on top not just because of big stars, but because of guys who aren’t necessarily household names. Jamie Collins. Shane Vereen. Rob Ninkovich. And, of course, we all became acquainted with a man named Malcolm Butler on the biggest play of the Super Bowl. (Applause.) Where’s Malcolm? How are you doing? He’s so small you can’t even see him. (Laughter and applause.) But made an unbelievable play, and showed heart and guts on that goal-line slant pass. Of course, as we also know, and he acknowledged, he had practiced for it. So you’ve got a combination of somebody with toughness and heart, and you’ve got a great coach and a great organization that anticipates. And so I think it’s fair to say that Malcolm has earned a lifetime of free drinks in every “bah” in Boston. (Laughter.) [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]14:29:49 But that’s the story of the Patriots over this past 15 years. There’s Belichick and Brady -– the most successful player-coach tandem perhaps in NFL history. There’s “the Patriot Way” –- a group that values teamwork and hard work above all else, which is why these guys are able to shine even if the spotlight is not on them. And it works. Since the 2001 season, they have four championships -- more than any other franchise in that span. Six Super Bowl appearances -– more than any other franchise. Twelve division titles -– you get the picture. In a league that’s known for its parity, they have set a standard for excellence that we may not see again for a very long time. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]And the good news is they’re leading the way off the field as well. During the season, Patriots players spend their Tuesdays volunteering in the community, visiting schools, hospitals, getting kids active through the NFL’s Play 60 initiative. Earlier today, a group of Pats stopped by Walter Reed to visit with our wounded warriors. (Applause.) We are very grateful to them for that. In fact, in a conversation, one of the docs on the team here served in the Navy for 20 years, and we were talking about the incredible service that our men and women in uniform are rendering every single day. And I think Coach and Bob both acknowledged that they’re the kind of heroes that are at a whole other level. And so for our football teams to be able to acknowledge them -- because they’re all big sports fans -- that means a lot.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]14:31:32 On Monday, the Patriots Marathon Team ran the Boston Marathon and raised over $230,000 –- helping to show that two years after a terrible tragedy, Boston is stronger than ever. (Applause.)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]So I want to congratulate the Patriots for their leadership on and off the field. I just wish the city of Boston would share some of those titles you keep winning with Chicago. I’m hoping that I get to see the Bears before I leave here. (Laughter.) But in the meantime, I wish the Patriots organization all the best for what is well-deserved success. Congratulations, everybody. (Applause.)
[SIZE=11pt]President Obama honors the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots at the White House South Lawn[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]DC Slug: 1315 WH PATRIOTS STIX RS39 77 & 1315 WH PATRIOTS CUTS RS33 78[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Discs: 502/504[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]NYRS: WASH-8 & WASH-12[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]14:23:38 Obama walks out[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]14:23:59 THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. Welcome to the White House. Please have a seat. And, well, maybe before you have a seat, give it up for the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots! (Applause.) All right, now you can have a seat.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]14:24:18 A couple of points I’d make at the outset. First of all, it’s usually warmer on the South Lawn this time of year but given the kind of winter that Boston and New England had, I guess this feels pretty balmy to you. (Laughter.) Second of all, for some reason that I don’t fully understand, there is a disproportionate number of Patriots fans in the White House. (Laughter and applause.) I obviously did not screen properly when I was hiring, but there are a lot of Patriot fans in the White House and there are also a lot of Patriot fans in Congress. I just also want to point out that, despite the fact that he travels probably more than any human on Earth, somehow my Secretary of State, John Kerry, found a front row seat to be here today. (Laughter and applause.) So give it up for John Kerry. (Applause.)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]I want to offer my congratulations, first of all, to Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and I also want to acknowledge Coach Bill Belichick. I said to the team, and I think even those of us who have other teams we root for, the Patriots organization is as good an organization as there has ever been in professional sports. (Applause.) And to be able to maintain that kind of consistent excellence is a rare thing in any field, including on the football field. And that’s a testament to outstanding ownership. It’s a testament to a Hall-of-Fame coach. And I’m particularly grateful that Coach decided to dress up today. (Laughter.) We had some scissors if he wanted to cut the sleeves off. (Laughter.) Formal hoodies are allowed. (Laughter.)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]14:26:31 I usually tell a bunch of jokes at these events, but with the Patriots in town, I was worried that 11 out of 12 of them would fall flat. (Laughter.) All right, all right, all right. That whole story got blown a little out of proportion. (Laughter.) All right. Where were we? Right, right, right. Here’s what makes the Patriots, the Patriots. Even in the midst of huge distraction during the biggest media circus of the sports year, they stayed focused. As Coach Belichick would say, it was simply “on to Seattle.” [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]Against the Seahawks, they gave us one of the greatest finishes in Super Bowl history. The Patriots became the first team ever to win the Super Bowl after trailing by 10 points going into the fourth quarter. All game long, you saw what made this team so special. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]14:27:37 There was, of course, Tom Brady, an all-time great who couldn’t be with us here today, but who engineered a pair of surgical fourth-quarter touchdown drives. You had Julian Edelman playing an unbelievable game after an unbelievable playoffs, clawing for extra yards. Darrelle Revis shutting down receivers like nobody else can. Gronkowski, just being Gronkowski. (Laughter and applause.) He’s not making rabbit ears back there, is he? (Laughter.) I told him to keep his shirt on. (Laughter.) He asked me what would happen if he took it off. I said Secret Service probably wouldn’t like it. He said, what could they do to me? (Laughter.) [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]14:28:39 But this team came out on top not just because of big stars, but because of guys who aren’t necessarily household names. Jamie Collins. Shane Vereen. Rob Ninkovich. And, of course, we all became acquainted with a man named Malcolm Butler on the biggest play of the Super Bowl. (Applause.) Where’s Malcolm? How are you doing? He’s so small you can’t even see him. (Laughter and applause.) But made an unbelievable play, and showed heart and guts on that goal-line slant pass. Of course, as we also know, and he acknowledged, he had practiced for it. So you’ve got a combination of somebody with toughness and heart, and you’ve got a great coach and a great organization that anticipates. And so I think it’s fair to say that Malcolm has earned a lifetime of free drinks in every “bah” in Boston. (Laughter.) [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]14:29:49 But that’s the story of the Patriots over this past 15 years. There’s Belichick and Brady -– the most successful player-coach tandem perhaps in NFL history. There’s “the Patriot Way” –- a group that values teamwork and hard work above all else, which is why these guys are able to shine even if the spotlight is not on them. And it works. Since the 2001 season, they have four championships -- more than any other franchise in that span. Six Super Bowl appearances -– more than any other franchise. Twelve division titles -– you get the picture. In a league that’s known for its parity, they have set a standard for excellence that we may not see again for a very long time. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]And the good news is they’re leading the way off the field as well. During the season, Patriots players spend their Tuesdays volunteering in the community, visiting schools, hospitals, getting kids active through the NFL’s Play 60 initiative. Earlier today, a group of Pats stopped by Walter Reed to visit with our wounded warriors. (Applause.) We are very grateful to them for that. In fact, in a conversation, one of the docs on the team here served in the Navy for 20 years, and we were talking about the incredible service that our men and women in uniform are rendering every single day. And I think Coach and Bob both acknowledged that they’re the kind of heroes that are at a whole other level. And so for our football teams to be able to acknowledge them -- because they’re all big sports fans -- that means a lot.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]14:31:32 On Monday, the Patriots Marathon Team ran the Boston Marathon and raised over $230,000 –- helping to show that two years after a terrible tragedy, Boston is stronger than ever. (Applause.)[/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]So I want to congratulate the Patriots for their leadership on and off the field. I just wish the city of Boston would share some of those titles you keep winning with Chicago. I’m hoping that I get to see the Bears before I leave here. (Laughter.) But in the meantime, I wish the Patriots organization all the best for what is well-deserved success. Congratulations, everybody. (Applause.)
Heard a rumor that BB wore an Armenian pin to the White House today. Seems to be a thought that it's a shot at Obama for his stance on the Armenian Genocide (the anniversary of which was last week). Anyone able to find confirmation?
There is a picture of BB in the podium up thread and the only pin I can see is the American flag.
Edit: from another angle actually it could be Armenian flag. Will post...ifmanis5 said:Looks like Old Glory to me.
ifmanis5 said:Upon further review, it is the Armenian flag, which is red, blue and orange striped.
That's fucking awesome. I think Reiss was one of the first to pick up on it, and it's making it's way through the Armenian community like lightning. A lot of folks seem pretty bewildered as to why BB would do something like this. I'm guessing it was a gesture done at the behest of Berj Najarian, who is probably closer to BB than any other person on Earth. I've heard it on good authority that everywhere BB has gone since he left the Giants, his single biggest requirement during his negotiations is that Berj come with him. I'll have to find out if it was Berj that asked him to do it or if it's something BB chose to do on his own. Like I said, the timing of it is very interesting. Good on BB.
Thought that was the case. I didn't know if Berj was Armenian or not but knowing Bill if he was it was for him.Deathofthebambino said:
So, BB wears that pin to acknowledge a horrific event in the Armenian community, and Obama has taken some criticism for insufficiently forceful rhetoric. This means that it was connected - but not just connected, it was a subtle fuck you to 44? Take a breath.
Edit: typos
Edit: typos
Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt said:
Not exactly sure what you're talking about, but I never said it was a subtle fuck you. I'd think of it more as a reminder of the lies he spewed to the Armenian community, of which Berj and his family are very, very active members. Tomorrow marks the 100 year anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide. That's why they chose to wear them to this visit, and not the three previous trips. Make of that what you will, but I can tell you that if you think "Obama has taken some criticism for insufficiently forceful rhetoric," you have literally no idea how the Armenian community views him and his stance on the Genocide (and many other politicians besides Obama, both Republican and Democrat). To us, he's no different than a Holocaust Denier. He's a coward, like so many before him, and when it comes to this issue,. he's a proven liar.
Obama in 2008: “As president, I will recognize the Armenian genocide.”
He's been given plenty of chances, and to this day, has still not fulfilled that promise.
I believe someone up thread - didn't intend for you to assume I was referring to you - indicated that BB was not merely wearing the pin to recognize the issue and the date, but that he was trying to score some political points. I seriously doubt that. And that assertion has nothing to do with whether or not Obama or W. or any other president should or shouldn't acknowledge it. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe Belichick isn't just honoring and respecting the horrible events that occurred nearly 100 years ago. Maybe he is, in a subtle way - by wearing a small Armenian flag pin, but not speaking to its significance - is trying to jab at the president of the United States during his team's Super Bowl visit. That seems wildly out of character to me, but I've been wrong about lots of stuff in my life, and I probably will be again.
As for 44 and "lies" and "spewed" and "coward" and "proven liar," I would respectfully reiterate that taking a breath may be in order. I hope he will live up to what sounds like a pretty solemn and important promise. It is indeed disappointing that he not yet done so.
As for 44 and "lies" and "spewed" and "coward" and "proven liar," I would respectfully reiterate that taking a breath may be in order. I hope he will live up to what sounds like a pretty solemn and important promise. It is indeed disappointing that he not yet done so.
Ehh, I said the timing was interesting and it could be construed as "a shot" at Obama. I can see where he'd get the idea that I think BB is trying to play politics, but I really think it was more of BB doing something a friend (Berj) asked him to do. I think Berj knew exactly what he was doing and it wasn't just to commemorate the event. I'd prefer not to go to much further, as I know these folks and some of them are very private, and probably prefer to let their actions speak for themselves.
Please feel free to get back to the Patriots ballwashing. I didn't mean to derail the thread. My first post was really a quick one to get information as a result of a text I received. I've gotten that information now, and we can move on. Just happy that BB and Berj did manage to get this anniversary into the public eye, regardless of whether or not it was a poke at the President at the same time.
Please feel free to get back to the Patriots ballwashing. I didn't mean to derail the thread. My first post was really a quick one to get information as a result of a text I received. I've gotten that information now, and we can move on. Just happy that BB and Berj did manage to get this anniversary into the public eye, regardless of whether or not it was a poke at the President at the same time.
My apologies for my contribution to derailing it, too. Didn't mean to offend or misconstrue on my end, either. This sort of discussion is the last thing that should be on what is otherwise a terrific, fun and energizing reflection of the Patriots' phenomenal accomplishment. Sorry to all.