History is repeating itself Monday when hockey’s Los Angeles Kings and soccer’s LA Galaxy return to the White House to celebrate their dual championships just two years after their first historic tag-team trip.
Never before had two national champions gone to the White House together until March 22, 2013, making Monday’s event special for the teams owned by AEG Sports’ Philip Anschutz, also the Washington Examiner’s owner.
During their last White House celebration party, members of both teams cut a video for Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” project talking about healthy eating on game days.
This year, the 2014 Stanley Cup winning Kings and Anschutz Trophy winning Galaxy, together dubbed the “Los Angeles Champions” by the White House, will meet with local youths at the White House to talk soccer and hockey.
Why both teams at the White House at once? AEG Sports Vice President Michael Altieri said “it’s kind of a prideful thing for our ownership group. Both of these teams have won championships in multiple seasons and now for the second time they have won championships in the same year, which allows us the opportunity to showcase that.”
He added, “To have the opportunity to be up close with the president of the United States is something I don’t think you can ever get used to. That’s always a thrill.”
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
