Obama Shouts out Metro East, Reluctantly Mentions Cardinals at Ball

By Nick Lucchesi on Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 10:00 am

[
      {
        "name": "Ad - NativeInline - Injected",
        "component": "37365813",
        "insertPoint": "3",
        "requiredCountToDisplay": "5"
      },{
        "name": "Real 1 Player (r2) - Inline",
        "component": "37365812",
        "insertPoint": "2/3",
        "requiredCountToDisplay": "9"
      }
    ]

Perhaps the new president is still a little peeved about losing Missouri in the general election (though unlikely), but it's probably his allegiance to the Chicago White Sox that caused him to reluctantly mention the Cardinals and give a shout-out to Scott Air Force Base during Tuesday night's Commander-in-Chief's Inaugural Ball.

Obama spoke with seven soldiers from the Illinois National Guard's 33rd Infantry Brigade stationed in Afghanistan via technology akin to a video phone (with the delay between D.C. and Western Asia causing some comedic moments).

The new commander-in-chief asked each soldier -- all of them hail from Chicago -- whether they were a Cubs or White Sox fan.

Someone at the ball must've shouted "Cardinals" after Obama's initial question, because the president later name-checked the Cardinals, Scott Air Force Base (near Belleville) and the Metro East as he called upon all Americans -- Cubs fans, White Sox fans and yes, even Cardinals fans -- to unite as one, etc. etc.

Thanks, Mr. President.