Bush honors Olympians — even dudesses — at White House reception

Bush honors Olympians — even dudesses — at White House reception{mosimage}WASHINGTON — President Bush welcomed "dudes and dudesses" from the U.S. Winter Olympic team on Wednesday in a White House ceremony that included a most unusual prop — a signed football jersey from Donovan McNabb.

About 190 Olympians and Paralympians from the Torino Games gathered on the sunny South Lawn for the traditional post-Olympic visit, where the president offered praise for athletes representing sports both traditional and hip.

"We want to thank all the dudes and dudesses of the snowboarders who are here," Bush said.

After speeches by Bush and speedskater Chris Witty, the president was presented with an Olympic torch and was quickly surrounded by athletes who treated him like a celebrity gold medalist. Bush signed a bobblehead doll, posters, jackets and posed for photos — but somehow seemed not to notice when skier-turned-football-player Jeremy Bloom offered the Philadelphia Eagles jersey signed by McNabb.

So Bloom, who was drafted last month by the Eagles, did the next best thing: He gave the jersey to first lady Laura Bush.

"I was here a week before the draft at the Republican gala, and the president and I were talking about where I was going to go in the draft," Bloom said. "He's a big football fan, so I told him I'd bring him a signed jersey."

Bloom, trying to catch on with the Eagles as a receiver, got the jersey during last week's minicamp. McNabb had no idea what the jersey was for, but Bloom hopes the quarterback likes the gesture.

"I'm trying to get some extra points," Bloom said with a laugh. "I'm trying to be a politician."

The ceremony wrapped up a three-day visit to the nation's capital for the athletes, who thought they had seen and heard everything possible about their Olympic adventure until Bush came up with "dudesses."

"That's a little different," snowboarder Kelly Clark said. "We don't really use that one too much."

Alpine skier Resi Stiegler had the president autograph her Olympic jacket from Roots while moguls skier Michelle Roark brought some of her designer perfume (Phinomenal) for Laura Bush. Snowboarder Jason Smith was one of the first athletes to greet the president as he arrived.

"It was really cool," said alpine skier Libby Ludlow, a first-time Olympian. Nordic combined Olympic rookie Brett Camerota added, "This is my first time in Washington, my first time at the White House — it's been awesome."

Snowboarder Danny Kass, 2002 and '06 Olympic halfpipe silver medalist, got the president to sign a bobblehead doll. "I've been collecting them for a while and I said, 'I'm going to the White House so I want the president to sign his.' This was pretty cool," he explained.

Two-time Olympian Lindsey Kildow got a special verbal salute from the president for her courage, competing in the Games after a traumatic training crash, which hospitalized her overnight. She also was honored Tuesday night with the DHL Olympic Spirit Award during a sold-out U.S. Olympic Committee dinner at the Washington Hilton.

Kildow enjoyed the opportunity to see some of her U.S. Ski Team teammates as well as athletes from other sports. "It's fun. It's good to see everyone and get to interact with the other sports' athletes," she said.

During the USOC dinner, she had to say a few words before the gathering of some 1,300 persons. That was harder than any racing start house she's stepped into, she said. "Oh, that was much harder. My heart was definitely in my throat," Kildow said with a grin. "And, yeah, it was nice to get that shout-out from the president. That's always good." She flew to Europe later in the day for some conditioning work and meetings with Red Bull, one of her major sponsors.

One-legged alpine skier Monte Meier has been to the White House after each of his four Paralympics. A four-time Paralympic medalist, including 1998 slalom gold — who's also won World Championships medals — said, "It's an honor to be congratulated by the president and it's pretty awesome when you get to meet all the other athletes. It's totally casual with them, there's no pressure on anyone, the season's over and it's a good time," he said.

Meier, who works for The Home Depot as part of its longtime Olympic Job Opportunities Program, smiled when asked about wearing a tuxedo for the black-tie dinner the night before. "Well, it's not my favorite thing to do, but you do have to clean yourself up once in a while, so I can deal with it."

He plans to be married next month and after a honeymoon in Jamaica with new wife Tracy, Meier will start preparing for his 14th season with the U.S. Disabled Ski Team, including the 2006 World Championships. "I'm a lifer," he said.

– The Associated Press/USSA