White House finally addressing issues of urgent concern

[Ian David]

July 22, 2005
White House Tee Ball

Interview with Steve Palermo
Former American League Umpire and White House Tee Ball Commissioner


Welcome to "Ask the White House" -- an online interactive forum where you can submit questions to Administration officials and friends of the White House. Visit the "Ask the White House" archives to read other discussions with White House officials.

Steve Palermo: It is an honor to be able to speak on behalf of the White House concerning the Tee Ball game that will take place on the South Lawn this Sunday. Anytime that Debbie and I can spend time with the President and Mrs. Bush, it is both a great pleasure and honor. I look forward to answering as many of your questions as possible, so let's get started!

Scott, from Memphis writes:
What are you most looking forward to at the White House Tee Ball game?

Steve Palermo
I think all of us, meaning the President, Mrs. Bush, Ozzie Smith, Paul Molitor and Andy Pettite are looking forward to our interaction with the players and to marvel at their competitive nature.

David, from Princeton, NJ writes:
I've heard this tee ball game is for kids with disabilities. I have spina bifida, so I appreciate the President's commitment to the disabilities community. Where does your interest in disabilities come from?

Steve Palermo
Having suffered a spinal cord injury and now walking with a cane, disability has affected my entire life. Prior to my injury, I was very much involved with Special Olympics in my former residence in Connecticut and now in Kansas City.

Tyler, from Tulsa, Oklahoma writes:
Mr. Palermo- How many games have you umpired? and do you have a game that stands out as being the most memorable? Your friend,

Tyler

Steve Palermo
Don't know the exact number of games offhand, but my career spanned the course of 16 years in the Major Leagues and five years in the Minors.

As far as my most memorable game, two come to mind immediately. The 1978 playoff game between the Red Sox and the Yankees where Bucky Dent, who is renowned in New England, hit the infamous homerun that continued Boston's playoff misery.

The second game also involved Yankees vs. Red Sox. I was umpiring behind homeplate when Dave Righetti threw a "no hitter" on July 4th, 1983.

Jim, from New Orleans writes:
What's the toughest thing about being an umpire? Seems to me that it'd be really tough to make a call when pitches edsge the plate at speeds over 90 mph

Steve Palermo
Regarding pitches thrown at that speed, it's coming head on right in front of you so there's not a great fear caused by the velocity. The tough trick is to get a good position to be able to view the ball from the pitchers hand and follow it all the way into the catcher's glove. With a lot of practice in the Minor Leagues, an umpire becomes skilled enough to be able to judge these pitches thrown by Major Leaguers.

More:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ask/20050722.html

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Of course, the question that really should be asked:

Mr. Palermo, do you believe that The Attorney General should investigate instances of sugar-doping and illegal do-overs in amateur tee-ball? Are softdrinks like Mountain Dew having a negative impact on the sport?