Presidential honor for LA Galaxy

President Obama and the LA Galaxy

WASHINGTON, DC   ●   The White House, The Galaxy.

A strange marker, but when the LA Galaxy visits the presidential home of Barack Obama, you could say for a short time The  Galaxy and the White House are one.

The reigning champions of the MLS found the President of the United States in a excellent mood when he opened the doors to honor them with their title.

Galaxy members Robbie Keane of Ireland, Britain’s David Beckham and American Landon Donovan, as well as Coach Bruce Arena, were singled out by Obama for their contributions to their 2011 MLS Cup win.

“The truth is, in America, most professional soccer players have the luxury of being able to walk around without being recognized. But not these guys. This is the Miami Heat of soccer,” Obama said.

“And together, they represent one of the most talented lineups that MLS has ever seen.”

Arena’s squad racked up the second-most points total in league history last year en route to their third MLS Cup victory, 1-0 over the Houston Dynamo, in which Donovan scored the game-winner on assists from Beckham and Keane in the 74th minute.

“You lived up to the hype,” Obama said. “You combined star power and hard work — it paid off.”

Obama congratulated the 37-year-old Beckham for defying age and injury to have one of his most successful seasons in MLS.

“A rare man that can do all that and have his own line of underwear,” the president quipped.

Donovan and Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena presented Obama with a soccer ball and a Galaxy jersey with the president’s name emblazoned on the back.

The team then joined First Lady Michelle Obama and young students from around the country attending a ‘Let’s Move’ anti-obesity event to take part in a soccer clinic on the South Lawn following the ceremony.