That’s how we roll
By B.J. Reyes
Is it our imagination, or does it seem as if the president meets with different athletes on an almost daily basis? (Among the most recent: Tiger Woods and members of the Chicago White Sox.)
Today it was the Navy football team, as he awarded the Midshipmen the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, presented each year to the winner of the season series among the three U.S. service academies: Air Force, Army and Navy.
In his Politico.com blog, Ben Smith notes how talk of Hawaii surfaced as President Obama met with coach Ken Niumatalolo and quarterback Kaipo Noa Kaheaku-Enhada. The coach is a former Radford and UH quarterback, while Kaheaku-Enhada graduated from Kapolei.
Smith writes:
Obama’s Hawaiian identity doesn’t get much attention (except when he runs into Steve Case) but here’s a moment from the pool report on his presentation of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to the Navy football team.
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.
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.”
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Complete text of Obama’s remarks here.
At least the pool reporter correctly (sort of) interpreted the shaka. (The misspelling of the QB’s name, however, is less forgivable.)
The Chicago Tribune’s blog, The Swamp, went a bit further and posted video from the Inaugural Parade featuring the Punahou Marching Band and Obama flashing the shaka.
And for what it’s worth, the Middies earned the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy with a 33-27 victory over the Falcons in October and a 34-0 shutout of the Cadets in the year-ending Army-Navy game. Navy has won 13 consecutive games over its service academy rivals.
