Sunday, January 27, 2013

A new addition to the Nationals Park Presidents Race


I'm sure you're all aware of the Washington Nationals Presidents Race, an event that takes place during the fourth inning of every Nats' home game. If you haven't ever heard of such a thing, let me offer a brief explanation: the Nationals have mascot versions of some famous American presidents, and they race around the stadium.

Until now, the presidents competing have been those featured on the famous national landmark, Mount Rushmore: Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Teddy Roosevelt. Yesterday, the Nationals threw a wrench into tradition, and introduced a fifth competitor  in the person of President William Howard Taft, whose biggest achievement was less that he was a president, or anything he managed to get done as president, but that he is the only president to also serve on the Supreme Court.

Taft also had an historic falling out with Teddy Roosevelt, and as Teddy is the traditional last-place finisher at the Presidents Race, I think we can safely assume that there will be a Roosevelt/Taft rivalry developing soon at Nationals Park.

As amusing and unique as the Presidents Race is, I've never really wanted the Red Sox to have a gimmick like this.  I think that one of the best things about Fenway Park is the typical LACK of these kinds of things; people know when to cheer without being prompted by the scoreboard, they stay engaged without random sound effects, and on-field entertainment is mostly left to the actual game.

That being said, I will make it a point to get down to DC and catch the new Presidents Race - it might be gimmicky, but it sounds extremely entertaining, especially with a new member in the mix!

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