Video: Obama’s 1st pitch Controversy - Why Did Fox Decide to Use a Different Camera Angle?
Baseball, Politics, Video July 15th. 2009, 10:00amQ: Uh, Mr. President … we’ve been watching baseball for over a dozen years and as far as first pitches go, we’ve never seen a camera angle like the one that Fox chose last night (vid below). The internet (and TV announcers) are wondering - was your commitment to throw the 1st pitch contingent upon the use of that specific angle? Was it strategy in the event you Baba Booey’d it? We all saw the replay about 25 minutes later, but had your pitch been just a bit outside, would FOX have replayed it?
[We interrupt this post to bring you breaking news on the Erin Andrews injury! TMZ caught up with her the airport.]
NYT on Obama’s first pitch: “He eased into his left-handed motion and softly floated a pitch to Albert Pujols. Pujols, the Cardinals’ first baseman, reached in front of the plate to snag Obama’s wobbly pitch.”
Democratic Underground message board on Obama’s first pitch: They all seem to think this came from Rupert Murdoch. Newsbusters certainly thinks so.
And for the far right wingers, there’s this dreck.
SI compiled this gallery of behind-the-scenes photos of Obama’s trip to the clubhouses.
79 Responses to “Video: Obama’s 1st pitch Controversy - Why Did Fox Decide to Use a Different Camera Angle?”
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July 15th, 2009 at 10:03 am
It had to be at the request of the Administration. No way Fox would use that ridiculous angle if they weren’t told to do so.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:04 am
I read somewhere this morning that Fox production basically effed it up. Didn’t get a camera in place quick enough.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:04 am
I’m in no way political, but Obama probably should have gone to the ‘pen and called in Dubya.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:05 am
THE GOVERNEMNT!11!11!!!!1!1
CONSPIRACY!1!!1!!1!11
WHY DIDN’T THEY HAVE THAT CAMERA ANGLE ON THE GRASSY KNOLL????????
July 15th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Sportscenter had a video of it from the normal angle. It was short (landed on homeplate) but Albert got it before it landed. I really don’t understand what his pitch being short or perfect means anything.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Maybe they wanted to make one part of the game not about Albert Pujols.
/alternate theory’d
July 15th, 2009 at 10:07 am
And punched him in the face.
/I’d pay to see that.
//Enter Mike NYC
July 15th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Didn’t get a camera in place quick enough? I hope SI/USA Today/Whomever grills them about this.
no excuse at all.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:08 am
Yeah they showed that replay during the game, I think when he was in the booth. I just don’t think the Fox production crew was on its horse when it came time for the pitch. Though, it did happen pretty quickly.
I can’t find that damn story that wrote about Fox’s goof up.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Obama definetely knew that passing his health care legislation relies on him throwing a perfect pitch
July 15th, 2009 at 10:09 am
yeah i heard albert scooped it before it hit the ground
July 15th, 2009 at 10:09 am
I believe that. Fox Sports has missed the action before.
/while they have stationary cameras on Jessica Simpson, Jerry Jones, Derek Jeter, and the bands during BCS games
July 15th, 2009 at 10:10 am
I thought he SI picture link was pretty cool.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Pujols was checking out his ass.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Haven’t heard from that dude in a while.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Or MAYBE…it was just a dumb sissy looking throw to home. I heard that Obama was trash talking to Pujols before, which sounds pretty funny haha.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Obviously it means he was born in Kenya and shouldn’t be our president.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:12 am
bingo Obama walked up and got right into it, maybe fox thought he would wave to the crowd a little take some time before actually throwing it out
July 15th, 2009 at 10:12 am
I don’t see what’s wrong with the best player of the last decade finally getting a little attention. It’s over now, so you can all breathe easy. The Yankees and Red Sox will resume their place on the lead of Sportscenter.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:13 am
A first pitch “controversy?” You gotta be kidding me.
Someone should grill Fox on why Tim McCarver still has a job.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:14 am
It’s hard to imagine that they could have missed the shot. Since it was the Prez, they would have needed to have so much scripted out, at least for security purposes. Maybe Rupert Murdoch is just f*ing with him.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:14 am
impressed 2 days by pujols: best player in baseball gets the spotlight on him and what happens? loses HR derby, goes hitless with an error in the game. well done, clutch
July 15th, 2009 at 10:16 am
It’s a Scott Boras client going for a Triple Crown and jonesing for a new contract.
This is not over.
Not by a longshot.
/Manny’d
//Strassburg’d
///ARod’d
July 15th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Obama should be happy for the camera angle - it made his throw look slightly less akward and girly than it actually was.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:17 am
is it just me or does it look like pujols has a 40 waist? Hes a big guy
July 15th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Yes, he obviously sucks. Let’s just forget the best eight seasons to begin a MLB career, the MVP’s, the out-of-this-world OPS, the World Series title, etc. all because he didn’t rule two meaningless events. Do you also write columns for the Daily News under a nom de plume in your spare time?
July 15th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Pujols doesn’t make that error, double play. NL wins 3-2.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:20 am
is it just me or does it look like pujols has a 40 waist? Hes a big guy
Saw an article about him in a fitness magazine a couple of years back and his legs were HUGE. Not sure what that has to do with his waist though
July 15th, 2009 at 10:20 am
i don’t care for obama’s politics but i think he is a cool dude. i also don’t care if he can hit home plate or goes on a date in nyc. he is the pres. he is under paid and he should go where he wants to when he wants to.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:22 am
but baseball needed him! he was ‘batting cleanup’ for the SPORT! the LAST CLEAN SUPERSTAR had homefield adv and sharted.
/sanders, send me your address so i can mail you a sarcasm detector
July 15th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Most dudes who are that big below the waist have a pretty large waist supporting it. Not everyone can be Jim Brown with gigantic shoulders and thighs with a 32-inch waist.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:22 am
+1 bsanders
Why do people care about the all-star game? I care about the HR Derby because I like homeruns, but there’s nothing fun about watching an Oriole vs. a Pirate in St. Louis.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Hey, you’re often prone to ridiculous hyperbole (Viva Sanchez!), it’s hard to sift through what’s serious and what isn’t.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Newsbusters = “right wingers”
Where’s Fetch? I guess I should apologize to the kid for snapping at him last night. Wound a little too tight. My bad.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:26 am
you should paypal him a dollar.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:26 am
I know that you were joking, TBL, but some people are talking about the game like Pujols let st. Louis down.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:27 am
hyperbole is permitted when it comes to one’s teams.
see: yourself, cleveland fans on here, grungedave on here, sparty on here, irish, etc
July 15th, 2009 at 10:28 am
What’s so unpatriotic about asking questions????
/ 9/11 truthers’d
July 15th, 2009 at 10:28 am
ok guys, that’ll be all for me today - im off to go wait in line for the next harry potter movie.
laterz!
July 15th, 2009 at 10:29 am
so you are saying the secret service unplugged the centerfield camera?
this was murdoch’s ploy to gain favor with obama in case pelosi/reid push through the fairness doctrine.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:30 am
i wouldn’t say most…
it’s pretty common to see athletes with the classic x-frame with bulky appendages and super thin waists. pretty much every DB/RB/WR and a bunch of LB’s and the smaller DE/3-4 OLB’s fit this description.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:31 am
That better be sarcasm.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Yeah. Pujols didn’t walk out there and say “This is about me.” That’s like saying Ryan Howard let Philly down last night. “Whaddaya mean you weren’t the hero last night? The media said you were playing in your hometown!”
The only true hero last night: Mark Buehrle
July 15th, 2009 at 10:33 am
No, but maybe it had the best angle of the flag.
This is Fox we’re talking about here.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Even Richard Jefferson thinks this is flaming.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:33 am
True, but football players are a different breed. Probably less than 1 percent of the male population have the genetics necessary to have a build like an NFL player. Baseball players always look a little, for lack of a better word, lumpier.
Oh for sure, I freely admit I’m the biggest homer on this site, after Irish and all the Steelers fans who think Big Ben’s an awesome QB.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I’ll second that
July 15th, 2009 at 10:35 am
He’s still trying to figure out what an i-beam is.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:38 am
nice usage of the ‘fairness doctrine’
+ 1 jimbo
July 15th, 2009 at 10:42 am
You know, it has something to do with a house being built. But I’m no architect…
July 15th, 2009 at 10:43 am
richard jefferson is 9th circle of hell flaming, im sure anatomy is just 1st circle flaming.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:44 am
I’m waiting for IMAX in two weeks
July 15th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Someone should grill Fox on why one of the game’s all-time greats was brought out in a golf cart, and only Joe Torre thought to walk over and acknowledge him. Way to go.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Just noticed this. So you didn’t watch baseball at all until you were, like, 20? Damn, you missed most of the best shit.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:49 am
the Fox director blew it, it happened fast, he should have been ready. maybe he couldn’t snap his fingers fast enough.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:51 am
How did Fox or whoever mess this up? You mean to tell me they didn’t have a camera in place to get the wide angle for live broadcast when they’ve known he would be throwing out the first pitch for how long? Wouldn’t you put a camera person in place, just for that reason? That’s what I don’t understand. Unless they just didn’t switch to the right camera, then that’s the only way I understand this. Someone screwed up regardless.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:52 am
That means he started following the Yankees just as they started winning (1996ish)…Do we have a front runner on our hands?
July 15th, 2009 at 10:53 am
I beg to differ
/Duke’s going to a bowl game this year
//really
July 15th, 2009 at 10:55 am
/jmorris’d
July 15th, 2009 at 10:55 am
You must be new here. TBL started liking the Lakers in the 80’s, then dropped them, apparently adopted the Yankees once Torre started winning titles, and the Jets…well, fuck me, I can’t explain that one. I guess he just likes rooting for a horrible organization once in a while.
July 15th, 2009 at 10:58 am
why should anybody be surprised that Fox screwed this up? they also were showing replays while live action was taking place. this is consistent with the rest of the broadcast.
July 15th, 2009 at 11:02 am
I dont see what the gods honest truth has to do with hyperbole.
July 15th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Let me say I haven’t voted for President since Ross Perot and could give a rats ass about politics, but can we make a bigger mountain out of a smaller molehill? I mean really, who the fuck cares if it was a strike or not?
July 15th, 2009 at 11:13 am
At least a camera caught some of it, imagine if LeBron was throwing out the first pitch.
July 15th, 2009 at 11:17 am
The administration should some of that “stimulus” money to design a baseball compatible with Obama’s limp wristed throwing style.
/Revenge of the Nerds’d
July 15th, 2009 at 11:19 am
they would have to confiscate every cell phone and camera from all 40,000+ fans in attendence.
July 15th, 2009 at 11:20 am
They didn’t have a camera for the president.
But they sure had the camera ready for this guy.
/this is why I fucking hate the television suits who control sporting events
July 15th, 2009 at 11:20 am
The administration should USE some of that “stimulus” money to design a baseball compatible with Obama’s limp wristed throwing style.
/Revenge of the Nerds’d
//curse these fat fingers!
July 15th, 2009 at 11:33 am
I noticed that too. Just a horrible job by EVERYONE. Stan Musial>>>>>>>>any president in past century. Dead serious.
July 15th, 2009 at 11:37 am
This will be the stupidest thing that’s said about this topic. And I’ve been waiting til now to say it. But this is a stupid topic, so whatever. Maybe Obama was scared to have a guy with a camera (re: weapon) with an angle on him from the cleanest shot possible. Just a thought.
July 15th, 2009 at 11:46 am
You must be from Jersey.
Agreed.
/joking, but in a truth in jest way
July 15th, 2009 at 11:47 am
They had a wide angle one, at least from behind the president in the typical pitcher-to-batter angle. That’s the one they showed on replay when Obama was in the booth and in some highlights. But the live feed, it seemed the camera man walked out with Obama, who got to the mound and threw right away as the camera man was trying to get behind him, hence the crooked angle.
July 15th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Here here. Fuck him for not hitting in an exhibition.
July 15th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
what conspiracy? he throws like a left wing pussy
July 15th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
I honestly didn’t think there could be a new low in common sense after the McNair posts, but I guess there have been breakthroughs in the shovel industry I wasn’t privy to.
July 15th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Anybody think he could have been wearing a massive bulletproof vest that made it tough to throw and made him look bulky.
July 15th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
I would hope he had a bullet proof vest on. It’s no excuse though since Bush also wore a vest when he threw out the first pitch at Yankee stadium after 9/11. Didn’t seem to affect him.
July 15th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
couple things: i thought obama acknowledged musial–he had to to get the ball
Jay, nice on the mark buehrle comment. I predicted crawford would get mvp for his catch, mainly because i didn;t see any obvious choices. but i told a friend, the only other guy would be buehrle, because of his 1-minute inning. man he works fast.
nice to see common sense voting for an MVP. thank god Jeter didn;t have 2 hits and smile one more time
July 15th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I knew you’d go there TBL. Sanctimony fits you like a glove, you know that? Consider that Pujols was pulled in about 15 different ways over the last two days(after playing a double-header on Sunday), and got about 6 hours of sleep(total) since Sunday night; it’s no wonder he crapped out. Even you, the Super-human, would be exhausted, too.