Reporter Offers a Fat Pitch, but Bush Refuses to Swing

President Bush was tempted, but he didn’t swing today when asked his views on the impasse that has delayed the start of baseball’s spring training.

The question arose as reporters were ushered out of the Oval Office at the outset of a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti.

“Do you think anything should be done about the baseball strike?” the reporter asked.

Bush laughed and explained to his guest, “There’s a strike on, and our son owns one of the teams or is the managing owner or managing partner of one of the baseball teams.

“She’s asking me about the strike knowing that I won’t take questions at a photo opportunity. However, she got close to something I might answer. She got very close there. I was tempted,” said Bush, an avid sports fan.

Bush’s son, George Bush Jr., last year became a part owner of the Texas Rangers.

Although the reporter and the President called it a “strike,” Bush’s son and the rest of the baseball owners actually have locked the players out of spring training over a contract dispute.