DUCKS IN A ROW

Andrew Cutraro

Amid the bedlam in the East Room of the White House—300 guests, packed tight—Lord Stanley's Cup sits in front of a portrait of George Washington. The father of our country seems to regard the chalice admiringly, as if he actually may have cared about Canada's game. But if he didn't, the current George W. does, at least for nine minutes on Feb. 6 as the NHL-champion Anaheim Ducks stand on risers behind him.

Unlike President Clinton, who once spent an entire day with the Super Bowl-winning Cowboys, President Bush spends only a brief time with these champs (although the visitors do get a tour of the place). He leads with a joke—vice president Dick Cheney has some history with shooting ducks—then welcomes a cast of notables, including Anaheim mayor Curt Pringle, California congressman Ed Royce, Ducks owner Henry Samueli and NHL commish Gary Bettman. "Mr. Commissioner, this isn't the first time we've been together like this," Dubya says to Bettman. "It will probably be the last." So much for legacies.

Then the prez notes that Ducks GM Brian Burke took the Cup to San Diego's Marine base, Camp Pendleton. "He knows what I know," Bush says. "America is lucky to have brave men and women volunteer to serve our country." During the applause, Bush nudges Scott Niedermayer, whispering something to the playoff MVP. Then the U.S. Army Band starts playing, and everyone files out. Later, as Teemu Selänne, Niedermayer, Burke and Chris Pronger amble along the driveway in front of the West Wing, Niedermayer leaks Bush's secret communiqué. "He's a cyclist, and I guess he heard I'm a big mountain biker, so he said if I'm ever in town … " The blueliner's voice trails off, and he shrugs. "But I have no idea what that means."

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