Jeremy Bloom, Philadelphia Eagle

[Tomahawk]

What's a Paralympian?

[Rome]

Bloom Meets, Greets President Bush


May 17, 2006
By DAVE SPADARO

The whirlwind sports career of Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Bloom made another historic stop on Wedneday when he and his fellow members of the United States Winter Olympic team visited the White House and spent time with President George W. Bush.

The trip made an impression on Bloom, who has cultivated quite a relationship with the President.

"This morning, we went over to the White House and toured around, saw a bunch of the rooms and hung out, and then we funneled down to what you would call the back porch of the White House and the President came out, and the First Lady (Barbara Bush) came out and spoke. After they spoke they mingled and we got a chance to say hello," said Bloom.

Actually, Bloom and Mr. Bush spent time together recently at a "Republican gala," as Bloom termed it, and Bloom promised Mr. Bush a signed jersey from whichever team drafted him.

President Bush autographed a poster on Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Bloom's back
So on Wednesday, he presented Mr. Bush with a signed Donovan McNabb Eagles jersey.

"He was pretty thrilled with the McNabb jersey," said Bloom.

The visit was more than seeing the White House and spending time with Mr. Bush. It was an opportunity for Bloom to officially end his Olympic and skiing career.

It's all Eagles football from this point forward.

"That was very cool. It's the culmination of the whole honor of representing the country at the Olympics," said Bloom. "You know, you go to Torino (Italy) and you compete as an individual, but with your teammates you represent your country and you get to see all these people.

"Then you leave, and two or three months later it kind of wraps everything up with this trip to D.C. Everybody comes in, everybody gets to see each other one last time. Most of these people typically don't see each other for another four years. I probably won't see most of these people ever again.

"So, for me it was more than just a wrap-up of the Olympics in Torino. It was a wrap-up of that whole career for me. It was special."

What was it like, then? What does the White House have, and what kind of charisma does Mr. Bush have?

"I'll start with the charisma that President Bush has," said Bloom, "all politics aside, the guy is hysterical. He's got an incredibly personality. He's a jokester, he loves athletics, he loves football, he loves baseball. He's very knowledgeable about sports and he's a very down-to-earth guy. He likes to act like a normal guy in front of us.

"The White House itself has a ton of history in it. When you walk around the building and you go inside you see the paintings of all the former presidents, historical photographs all throughout the lover level rooms. Each room has its own theme in history and in colors. There is a lot of history there.

"It was an incredible thrill and honor for me."

Burn him.

[ice grillin you]

He's got an incredibly personality

college boy ay?

[mussa]

i wonder who bush likes? cowboys? im sure his all-time fav was the OILERS 

[MURP]

my interest in an article about Jeremy Blooms trip to the White House manages to rank just below the story about Gaffney wanting Koys number.   I heart post draft offseason.

[SunMo]

go back to philly.com and read the article comments.  funny shtein

[PhillyPhanInDC]

go back to philly.com and read the article comments.  funny shtein

Anybody who seriously comments on this story should examine their life for any meaning whatsoever. 

Posted by: SunMo 

[SunMo]

i ur famis

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

You should probably all throw yourselves into the sun for commenting on this at all. Especially SunMo. Yes, I will throw myself into the sun right after I click "Submit". Have a nice life, dolts.

Posted by: rjs246

[SunMo]

CF is making a strong showing in commenting on that article

[MURP]

where is the article comment section on philly.com

[SunMo]

http://pod01.prospero.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&tsn=21&tid=339&webtag=kr-phillytm

[MURP]

 

[Sgt PSN]

Are you guys serious? How can you badmouth a member of the Eagles? You have to stand behind this team no matter what. :rolleyes: 

Posted by: PhillyGirl

Even when there are no eye rolling smilies available she still has to add it in there some how.  Classic.   

I like how that whole section turned into an extension of CF.  Well done losers. 

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Quality stuff over there.

http://pod01.prospero.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&tsn=41&tid=339&webtag=kr-phillytm