Exploring a Presidential Passion for Sports

President Bush said a highlight of his presidency was attending the Army-Navy game as commander-in-chief. (By Jonathan Newton -- The Washington Post)
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Weekends are for mountain biking, his favorite exercise, which he took up after his knees started aching from so much running on the track on the White House South Lawn. Each time he leaves the White House it requires an 11-car motorcade that ferries him and his bike to trails at Fort Belvoir or the Secret Service training center.

These are serious workouts, but social events as well, which include a range of guests from one weekend to the next. The guests have included Washington Redskins Coach Jim Zorn and Gen. David Petraeus, head of the U.S. Central Command, as well as State Department employees, Cabinet secretaries and other members of the military.

Bush said he calls his gang "Peloton One."

"They help me become a better rider," he said. "But it also sends a signal throughout the White House and throughout parts of our government that here's a fellow who reached out to people at all levels of government and enjoys being with them."

Peloton One doesn't talk politics, either. "No, man!" Bush said. "We ride!"

As the days of his presidency wind down, with them disappear what Bush said were some of the greatest joys of his presidency.

At the top of his list: attending the Army-Navy game as commander-in-chief, which he has done three times.

He has also attended his last Olympics as head of state and said he treasured the opportunity to meet members of the U.S. women's softball team, the U.S. men's basketball team and the gold medal-winning women's beach volleyball team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.

But there are privileges that come with being a private citizen. Back at his ranch in Crawford, Tex., is his collection of signed baseballs -- reportedly as many as 250 (including one with both Joe DiMaggio's and Ted Williams's autographs) -- that Bush said didn't seem appropriate as White House decor. And even though he could have attended any sporting event he wanted as president, Bush said he was careful about keeping it to a minimum, mindful of the inconvenience the extra layers of security caused fans.

The next time he sits in the stands, his presence won't cause such a stir. And for now, Bush said, he won't miss the spotlight.