FW: pool report

POOL REPORT TWO

EAST ROOM, PRESENTATION OF COMMANDER IN CHIEF'S TROPHY

4/21/09

No news, some fun color, as the president delivered remarks with the winning Navy football team standing behind him. Transcript to come.

Mr. Obama singled out Wesley Brown, who served in the Navy for 25 years and was class of 49 --- hte first black graduate of the academy. A new fieldhouse has been named at the academy for Mr. Brown

The president harked back to his Hawaiian roots at the ceremony honoring Navy's midshipmen for winning this year's trophy. The team's coach, Ken Niumatalolo, is from Hawaii, as is the starting quarterback , Kaipo Noa Keahaku Enhada. (note to colleagues: these spellings provided by the team doctor, who happened to be standing next to your pooler. You might double-check)

The president gave the "shaka" hang loose sign in the middle of the ceremony, provoking a laugh as talked about how the coach seemed relaxed and easy going, calm under pressure. (Like someone else from Hawaii).  "That's the Hawaiian spirit,'' Mr. Obama said. "That's how we roll.''

When the ceremony was over the president ended by saying God Bless America, and hten said, "give me a helmet,'' a reference to the big silver helmet that was waiting for him. He took it and wondered aloud whether it would fit. Then, he said, "There's a rule for presidents that you never put anything on your head.''

(Can anyone say, Mike Dukakis?)

He also shook hands, and with the mikes off, said he wanted to share something htat he would not say while the tape was rolling. he brought up Reggie Love, and told the midshipmen that Reggie had played football at Duke -- and that while Duke won that year, Reggie had told him ''nobody was tougher than the midshipmen,'' and that ''pound for pound" Navy is the toughest team around. Unclear if this will be on your transcript.

Sheryl Stolberg

NYT