'No Excuses, Nobody Cares': That's Michelle's Motto for Me, says Obama

In amongst all the serious news today, the President carried out one of the more fun tasks of his Presidency - presenting the Commander in Chief's trophy to the winner of a football competition between the nation's military academies. For the sixth year in a row, the Navy team took out the honors. Obama was clearly enjoying himself in the East Room ceremony. After lauding the Navy team's many victories, he joked "I understand your unofficial motto is "No Excuses, Nobody Cares". That is my wife Michelle's motto for me also." He later made a light-hearted reference to his own performance in the stoplight. "Your starting quarterback is also Hawaiian -- where is he?" the President asked, referring to star player Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada."I hear Kaipo is a pretty easygoing guy.  He doesn't get rattled easily, performs under pressure.  That's the Hawaiian spirit.  That's how we roll."

According the the pool report, at the end of the ceremony, Obama was presented with a silver helmet. After pondering whether the helmet would fit, he said he wouldn't be trying it on. "There's a rule for Presidents that you never put anything on your head," Obama said (which may explain why he didn't appear to be wearing a yarmulke at the White House Seder a few weeks back, but does not explain George W. Bush's various hats.) Off-mike, the President also told the players that his body man Reggie Love, who was a star football and basketball player at Duke, had said that the Navy team was "pound for pound" the toughest team around.