President Obama called US Men’s National Team captain Clint Dempsey and goalkeeper Tim Howard on Wednesday to commend them for making their country proud and being great role models during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The President told them, “Well you guys all did us proud, not just by hard you played and how well you did, but you guys just carry yourselves with a lot a class, and it makes people really respect the sport and you guys are really great models for a lot of sports.”
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Speaking to Dempsey and Howard the day after the US team lost to Belgium 2-1 extra-time in the round of 16, the President commended them for capturing the country’s imagination, “You guys did great, and as somebody whose first sport was soccer, although I was never that good, to see the way you guys captured the hearts and imagination of the whole country was unbelievable. And obviously, the sport has been growing steadily just because so many kids are playing it at a young age, but this is the first time where I think you really ended up having a whole country focused.”
“Clint, you were fantastic and Tim, I think uh, I don’t know how you’re going to survive the mobs when you come back home, man,” the President deadpanned. We got a peek of Obama’s half smile that ushers in the full Obama grin before he finished, “You’re going to have to shave your beard.”
They expressed a hope that they had made the President proud, so the President assured them, “Well you guys all did us proud, not just by hard you played and how well you did, but you guys just carry yourselves with a lot a class, and it makes people really respect the sport and you guys are really great models for a lot of sports.”
Obama seemed to understand their disappointment, but he buoyed them by saying, “But what you guys accomplished is really really significant and it will make a difference in the country.” He asked them to relay his congratulations to Coach Klinsmann and the entire team on their hard work.
In closing the call, the President said he hoped he would see them at the White House soon, and he still has the jacket they gave him.
Image: Pete Souza, White House photographer
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