Associated Press
Athletes and other sports figures took time Tuesday to stop, watch and reflect on the inauguration of Barack Obama, the first black president of the United States.
THEIR VOICES:
“The whole thing was held with such eloquence and grace, and I just thank God on how far we’ve come in my short lifetime, how it seemed to bring everybody together for the first time in a long time that I can remember. It seems like there was genuine happiness and hope. I felt a tremendous amount of happiness and hope for our future.”
ó Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker, who attended the inauguration with his wife and 9-year-old son.-
“I watched Obama take the oath and I watched most of his remarks. And I thought they were fine. I think he’s starting out pretty good. He’s got a pretty rough task in front of him and I hope he can stick with it. … Those of us in the golf business are feeling a pretty radical effect on our business in the game. It doesn’t matter whether it’s selling equipment or whether it’s building golf courses, or whether it’s sponsoring golf tournaments.”
ó Golf great Arnold Palmer
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“I was looking out over the crowd, all these people who came from all over the world to get a glimpse of him. He’s still as genuine as when I first met him. He’s a White Sox fan, that doesn’t make him a bad guy at all.”
ó Phillies broadcaster Gary Matthews, who also played and coached for the Chicago Cubs during his long career. He was on the stage at the Capitol, sitting behind Obama’s brother-in-law.-
“For me, voting for the first time, I feel like I’m a part of this.”
ó Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden, who turns 21 on Thursday.-
“I felt proud, emotional and just about every other emotion you can think of. I found myself thinking about my parents and all the sacrifices and struggles they had to go through for a day like this to happen.”
ó Basketball Hall of Famer and Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars, who watched the inauguration in his office in Auburn Hills, Mich., with Scott Perry, his top front-office assistant.
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“It wasn’t just the black people who made sacrifices. There were a lot of white people who died to help the cause. We seem to forget them. And I thought about where are we going now. The most interesting scene for me was when we stood back and watched, back to the Lincoln Memorial. I could not believe the sea of people. It looked like it was for miles.”
ó Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, sitting in the audience, who said he thought about Jackie Robinson, Martin Luther King Jr. and others who fought for civil rights.-
“The whole world saw someone of color in this country (become president), and seeing black and white and others, Asians, Hispanics, all together in D.C. ó it sends out a picture. To see it is to be it. I think that’s why it’s so important for these accomplishments to keep moving along the pathway, that both men and women feel empowered. I’m still waiting for a woman.”
ó Tennis great Billie Jean King.-
“I just keep flashing back to this bright-eyed, love-of-basketball kid who did everything with such passion, and now he’s going to turn that passion into leading the free world.”
ó Chris McLachlin, Obama’s high school basketball coach in Hawaii. Obama was a member of a state championship team, though he did not start.