In his last words, in his last fancy White House ceremony, in his last week as the commander-in-chief, President Obama chose to spend three minutes articulating why sports matter. [Hosting world champion Cubs was a fitting final official act for Obama](Erin Patrick O'Connor/The Washington Post)“It is worth remembering — because sometimes people wonder, ‘Well, why are you spending time on sports? [Obama greets Katie Ledecky, U.S. Olympians in White House ceremony]Celebrities are fascinated with celebrities, and Obama has long been a rock star in addition to a leader. Former NFL coach Mike Holmgren first went to the White House after the San Francisco 49ers won in 1989. Even when Theo Epstein, the Cubs’ president of baseball operations, joked about giving Obama a “midnight pardon” and allowing him to join the first lady on the Cubs’ side, Obama knew exactly what to say.

Source: Washington Post January 16, 2017 23:50 UTC