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Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER Teddy crosses the finish line first, at long last. |
In a season of plenty of baseball firsts for the Nationals, perhaps the biggest first of them all just happened: Teddy won the Presidents Race.
OK, so maybe a victory by the giant-headed mascot resembling the old Rough Rider isn't quite as significant as the Nationals' first-ever NL East title and postseason appearance. But for plenty of fans who have cheered him on in vain since the live-action race began in the summer of 2006 at RFK Stadium, this was no small accomplishment.
Loser of 525 consecutive races prior to this afternoon, Teddy faced long odds to finally beat his three counterparts in the Nationals' regular-season finale against the Phillies. And when he burst out of the gate in center field well behind George, Tom and Abe in the middle of the fourth inning wearing gold Under Armor cleats, things didn't look good.
But then, one of those unfortunate calamities that befell Teddy so many times over the years finally did in the other presidents. A makeshift mascot supposedly resembling the Phillie Phanatic emerged in the right field corner and took out George, Tom and Abe in one fell swoop. He then escorted Teddy toward the finish line, with the triumphant, bespectacled, mustached Commander-in-Chief ultimately crossing the tape with arms extended.
The crowd roared with approval, though the cheers were even louder moments later when Ryan Zimmerman led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run to right to tie the game 1-1. Michael Morse then doubled and scored on Tyler Moore's two-bagger, giving the Nationals the lead and leaving everyone wondering what might have been for this franchise had Teddy simply won the race way back in 2006.
"I guess it marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in Nats baseball," said right fielder Jayson Werth, who last year made his opposition to the Teddy losing schtick well-known..
"I am so glad Teddy won so we can stop talking about Teddy," third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said with a strong hint of sarcasm. "People get more excited for a mascot race than a game. Yes, I'm excited Teddy won. I'm ecstatic."
26 comments:
Teddy spotted hanging out with Melky Cabrera shortly before the game. Urine test has been submitted. This victiry may not yet be official.
Its a joke. Lighten up and enjoy life. GEEESH
Great job Teddy!!
I like it. Its about time!
The curse is lifted.
Now on with more winning baseball. And possibly more creative plots for the presidents' race.
to do anything less would have invited a Billy-Goat like curse on the franchise.
I don't like it...unless it means the end of this sideshow. Shouldn't Teddy have been disqualified for cheating?
Shouldn't Teddy have been disqualified for cheating?
He had nothing to do with the Pathetic Phanatic. (I assume that is what they were shooting for). Even Screech has to give it to him. Werth should have run out, knocked down the pathetic Phanatic and escorted Teddy to the win.
Are you sure that faux-phanatic and Teddy weren't in collusion?
Looked fishy to me.....
Enough of this unseemly nonsenae....let's focus on baseball.
I think the new gimmick should be Teddy ALWAYS wins....
I was expecting a video review like Morse's Phatom Slam last week...but after further review, the result stands...
I think Teddy need to win ever third race from here on out. If he just stops winning all together, that what is the point.
I think Teddy need to win ever third race from here on out. If he just stops winning all together, that what is the point.
They have 2 republican presidents (probably the best 2 from that party) along with Jefferson who was a Democrat-Republican versus a Whig. And George was in his own party.
So, they need a democrat or two.
one democrat is too many.
thank.
#(@&*$@(.
god.
this schtick had gotten *so* tired.
Peric, Jefferson never ran against a Whig. The Whig Party wasn't founded until he was long dead.
And remember, the Racing Presidents were selected by Gutzon Borglum, and each had to get his mug up on Mr. Rushmore first. All that chiseling takes time, so it may be a while before any Democrat will qualify.
Now, if they can get rid of the annoying "cheerleaders" I can die happy.
Washington was a Federalist, just FYI.
I am so glad Teddy is being put in storage now
The Democratic-Republican Party became the Democratic Party. That's why they call their fundraising events Jefferson-Jackson Dinners.
Just got home, as we went out to dinner with some friends after the game. Was shocked to see Teddy actually pull it off, but, seriously, dude, it's about time. :-)
I loved how after the race, everyone was pulling out their twitterphones, telling all their friends the momentous news. Srsly, I looked around my section, and they were everywhere.
I came to enjoy the Teddy-losing schtick, because I liked watching people get so worked up about it. I'm glad now that he won, though. It got such a big cheer, and it's nice when people can cheer.
Help KEEP TEDDY from retiring! Please like & share: http://www.facebook.com/KeepTeddy
Uh, no. Can't get on board with that one. You had a good run, Teddy. Now it's time to move on. It's not you; it's me. :-)
Any chance they can swipe Teddy out for Taft?
I am also glad to see this "Let Teddy Win" stuff be put to rest. As if the race was fixed. Teddy was just that bad (if the Cubs can have a bad century, Teddy can have a bad 7 years).
Ya know, some people even think that pro wrestling is fixed.
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