INTERVIEW OF THE PRESIDENT

Oval Office, 11:43 A.M. EST

Q I thought I would start by asking you about sports as kind of a healing thing for the nation in hard times.

THE PRESIDENT: Sure.

Q I mean, obviously in the Depression everybody turned to boxing and horse racing --

THE PRESIDENT: Right.

Q -- and, you know, most recently 9/11 and --

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. I saw firsthand how a baseball game could be part of a healing process, and that was the first game of the World Series in New York after September the 11th. And I was -- I have been in front of a lot of crowds before, and my adrenaline was pumping so hard I could barely lift my arm. So, in other words, standing out on the mound was -- it was as close to an adrenaline meltdown as I've every had. I suspect that when people get up and say -- you know, use "uh" every other word -- a lot of it has to do with their adrenaline pumping through --

Q Right.

THE PRESIDENT: Anyway, that was my equivalency -- when I was trying to throw the ball, it felt like a shot-put. Anyway, the emotion of the crowd and the unity of the moment reminded me upon reflection that sports can cause people to momentarily forget their problem and face -- and join together to cheer for their favorite team, and it helps face difficulties. It kind of projects you out of the moment, in a way. And that's what I saw there.

And, you know, we'll see -- it's like -- people will cheer for their favorite pro team whether the economy is good or whether the economy is bad. And they may -- the question is, do they cheer a little louder when the economy is bad? They may. They may. It gives them something to be cheery about, particularly when their team wins.

Q Right. And that's exactly kind of where I wanted to, because we are entering a new --

THE PRESIDENT: A very difficult economic period.