I met Boyd Tinsley last night at a political rally. We talked for fifteen minutes until I realized he was the violinist in the Dave Mathews Band. What a great guy and so very articulate. He is in town to play with the Dave Matthews Band at Nissan Pavilion this weekend. Click here for info on Boyd Tinsley.
He, too, is a filmmaker and loves sports. He is also a very good tennis player. We talked for 45 minutes until our President arrived then we had to be serious and pay attention. Boyd is good friends with VA Governor Tim Kaine and Tim is going to the concert this weekend as Boyd’s guest. How cool is that?
I love the Dave Matthews Band. I have seen them six times in concert and even helped to produce the Dave Matthews in Central Park gig while I was Vice Chairman at AOL. Boyd promised to come to a Caps game and he will play the National Anthem for us. We will also try to work together on some film projects. He is a really nice guy and really committed to helping local charities.
We both got a chance to meet our President last night and when my picture was taken with President Obama, he had a red Caps hat with him. How cool is that? 
We talked. I thanked him for mentioning Alex Ovechkin during his trip to Russia. He is interested in attending both a Mystics game and a Capitals game. I am very happy now.
“Liberty & Tyranny” – you didn’t post my comment. However, I still hope this book makes it to the top of your reading list – and soon!!
Please, suffice to invite the president to a Wizards game!
Leave the Caps’ games to the capitalists.
Thanks Ted.
Go Caps!
If Obama came to a Caps game and sat down next to me, I would give him a great big smile and wish him a good time, just as any other Caps fan would deserve! Admittedly, I would also ask to have my picture taken with him…after all, I voted for him and I’m glad he is our President. Well, that’s just a nice little daydream…most likely, he’d watch from Ted’s suite or something
GO CAPS!
Mr. Leonsis, here’s my experience with Presidential security done right:
Four years ago, we took my dad to a Nats game at RFK for his July 8 birthday. The Marines were there with a Toys-For-Tots promotion – hand over a toy or a donation, get a Nationals lunch bag. I gave them ten bucks and still use the lunch bag today.
Anyway, near the end of the second inning a murmur went through the crowd, and we looked up at the scoreboard. Say, that looks like… Condoleezza Rice! And… Laura Bush! And… hey George, happy birthday sir. GWB’s birthday is July 6 and just like my dad, he wanted to go to a ball game to celebrate. Later on, when I went to get something to eat, I got a look at the back parking lot and it was stuffed to the gills with black Escalades and angular men in curly-wire earpieces and grey wool suits.
Upon reflection, I realized that Toys-For-Tots was an outstanding way to bring along a bunch of fully-armed Marines and making Presidential security hassle-free for the rest of us.
Go Caps! Go OV! Go Obama! (and to those complaining who voted him–give the guy a chance, he’s got 8 years of disasters to undo plus plenty of new ones…) Anyway, hope he shows up and gives our collective anthemic “O” some extra meaning beyond its inane origins (for the Orioles).
LOL @ the negative Obama posters
It’s okay if you don’t approve of what’s he doing but you should him some more time, and don’t be too quick to judge. Stay humble
Only in America would the greatest owner in sports be villainized for supporting the president.
And here I was thinking these colors didn’t run. Hm.
54 Days and counting… And if anyone wants to join us we’re having a T-Minus 50 Days happy hour at the Verizon Center’s Green Turtle this Thursday. We talked the folks there into giving us some beer specials and $5 burgers if you’re rockin the red. See you there!
Forget the political issues for a minute. The problem I see with President Obama at a Caps game is the massive security hell that the fans will be put through if he comes anywhere near the Verizon Center. I come from Baltimore, and it’s bad enough trying to make puck drop with the security that’s there now, and it’s pretty efficient. I hate to think of what the security lines would be like with the Secret Service there.
If that can be solved, and the politics can be kept out of my hockey, I don’t care one way or the other.
Ted,
Don’t let any of the negative comments discourage you from trying to get President Obama to a Caps game. For those who would boo the President’s presence, please try to look at the big picture; it would be great exposure for the franchise and the sport. If George W. Bush had gone to a Caps game and I was in attendance, I would not boo him even though I completely disagree with his politics and the decisions he made as President.
It is commendable of you, Ted, that you don’t shy away from your opinions, political or otherwise. Don’t water down who you are and what you believe just so you lower the risk of offending someone. You are not a politician; you are a human being with opinions and feelings, as well as a great leader for the Caps organization. Thanks for all you do.
I hope you realize that you are potentially alienating about half of your fan base by using your position to support the Democratic platform whenever you can. It’s fine to have those feelings but, as a public figure, you must realize that your political persuasions cause people to form opinions about you based on stereotypes. Just sayin’…
Ted,
Please do not bring Obama to a Caps game, he will be booed out of the arena and leave a negative aura for the start of the game. He is destroying this country, please do not let him rub off on the Caps.
Let’s go Caps in 2009-10!
What a great experience! Post some pics if you can
)
LOL @ Bucknell Dad… Given how bad Obama is doing? The damage Obama is doing to our country? Obama is unwinding 8 miserable years of abject failure!
Not to rain on your parade Ted, but Obama’s a politician. Just like some aide told him to mention AO when he was in Russia, another aide who knew you were going to meet him probably handed him that hat. It’s time to get over this boyhood fascination with Obama. He may be a nice guy, but he’s a basketball guy. And after that a baseball guy, then football, then college BB, then women’s basketball, then probably soccer. He’s not a hockey guy. If he comes to the game, cool but I don’t need him to validate what a great game hockey is.
…and I would cheer as loudly as I could, if the President came to a game.
I hope Obama and his union thugs and ACORN brownshirts stay away from the Verizon Center. GO CAPS
I’ll boo my lungs out if he shows up at a Caps game. And I VOTED for him. Big mistake.
That’s pretty cool. A president who might give hockey some recognition… never thought I’d see the day.
Good work Ted!
Let’s GO CAPS!!!
What are we down to…about 55 days till the regular season….hopefully it’s our year!
I hope you post that picture on Facebook soon!!
Be careful what you wish for. Given how bad he’s doing, and the damage he’s doing to our country, if he were to come to a Caps game this fall, I and MANY others would heartily boo. . . respectfully, of course.