TAFT?!? Really? TAFT?

So I saw a headline on the Washington Post's site today: "Nats' New Mascot Taft..."

What?!?!

The Washington Nationals chose TAFT as their mascot? What a weird choice! He's the portliest of all our presidents, weighing in at somewhere close to 350 pounds. And I couldn't make any mental connection between him and baseball. So WHY? (Oh! Just discovered that Taft was the first president to throw out a ceremonial first pitch on opening day! See pic below...)

This required further reading .... and apparently everyone but me knows that, during the fourth inning at Nationals' home games, there is a Presidents Race where giant Washington, Lincoln, TR, and Jefferson race around the outfield. Who knew?

THEN I discovered that, after six years of racing, TR was only finally allowed to win in the final game of the 2012 season. Really? He's probably the fittest president until Obama. But whatever. I was happy to learn that TR finally won.

Then I started thinking more about poor Taft. The mascot version of himself is noticeably slimmer than he was in life. But he was a big, big man. Will he end up playing the role of buffoon? I mean, really, I'm a geek and all *I* know about Taft is the possibly apocryphal story that he got stuck in his massive bathtub.

Look, of course I would like to see TR win a few more races. Not to take anything away from Lincoln, Jefferson, and Washington, of course. But let poor Taft win a couple, too.

I always like to think about which five presidents I would like to have dinner with... Lincoln, Kennedy, and TR are always invited... and Jefferson is usually on the list, too. I still also would include Carter, because he's lovely. Washington... well... maybe. But maybe I'd invite Taft so I could learn more about him. Or just admire his lovely 'stache.