SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Howard J. Lamade Stadium is arguably one of the best places to view a baseball game. Except when the President is in town.

	President Bush's appearance at the Little League World Series caused a lockdown of the complex.

President George W. Bush's love for the game is well documented. This year he organized the first tee ball game on the White House's South Lawn and attended the College World Series. He even joined ESPN's Mike Patrick, Harold Reynolds and Buck Showalter in the broadcast booth in Omaha.

As a kid he played in the Central Little League in Midland, Texas, where he apparently had "fast hands and could hit a little." Bush was active with the baseball team at Yale University and later owned the Texas Rangers from 1989-94.

President Bush was elected into the Little League Hall of Excellence on Sunday, and his presence was felt in Williamsport long before it was seen.

Basically, the Little League International Complex turned into a fortress.

The Secret Service had the entire area staked out and several walkways outside the stadium were blocked off. A horde of government-owned mini-vans were lined up next to Volunteer Stadium near the ABC production trailers, making a formerly busy pedestrian area look like the parking lot for a convention of soccer moms.

For the previous eight days, media members and spectators could take shortcuts to get from Point A to Point B, but Sunday the words, "out and around," were the norm. Many complained of consistently having to take the scenic route.

In addition, every time someone left the stadium and wanted to re-enter, he or she had to go through security again. Bags, cell phones and cameras were all checked. All people entering the stadium, media included, had to turn on their laptops and any other electronic devices for confirmation that no "subversive" activity was going on.

Who said there were perks to being a member of the media?

	The children are instilled with a closeness to their roots, as this boy, holding a Dominican flag, demonstrates.

On themes of protection...
Coaches Alberto González, Rolando Paulino and Rolando Torres protected the kids on their Bronx, N.Y., team about as much as they could for the duration of the Little League World Series.

For example, they guarded pitcher Danny Almonte, who only gave interviews in Spanish, though he can speak a little bit of English. They guarded themselves, not divulging too much information at any time to the press.

As a precautionary measure, the team also was not allowed to go in the swimming pool where they were staying.

"After what happened to that pitcher from Florida, I don't blame them for not letting them swim," said one Bronx parent.

Beau French, the No. 1 pitcher for Apopka, Fla., broke his leg diving off the diving board in the swimming pool at The Grove, the dormitory complex where all the teams stayed. French endured the Williamsport experience from the bench.

Mainly, the kids were protected from those who criticized the team's duality, balancing their U.S. citizenship while maintaining their Latino heritage.

"What people don't understand is that we represent two worlds," said Juan Ortíz, a native of Santiago, Dominican Republic, and father of Bronx reserve third baseman Johnelvis Ortíz. "It's true that some of the kids were born outside the United States, but eight members of the team were born here, and that should count for something.

"My son is shy and humble," Ortíz continued. "I've told him that life in this country is hard, and if you work hard, then you'll be OK."

Those ideals sound pretty American.

Record breakers
Sunday's attendance was 44,800, 200 behind the record of 45,000, set in 1989 when Chris Drury and Trumbull, Conn., defeated Kang-Tu, Chinese Taipei.

The 32-game attendance of 297,000 set a new record.

Flora Stansberry will be forever etched in Little League World Series lore. On Sunday the Seneca, Mo., native became the first woman to serve as home plate umpire for the world championship game.

Are you kidding?
There have been several examples of questionable behavior during the tournament, from anything related to the Bronx team and its fans to the Caribbean team from Curacao showing bunt in practically every at bat.

But perhaps the most noticeable blooper came from someone who usually goes completely unnoticed: the CD operator.

After 473 playings of John Fogerty's "Centerfield" and some skipping issues with other tunes, Wang Chung's "Everybody Have Fun Tonight" was played immediately after Japan was awarded the championship trophy.

Japan team wins title. Wang Chung on the stereo. What's worse, Wang and Chung are common Chinese surnames. As one spectator put it: "At least they didn't follow it with 'I'm Turning Japanese.'"

It all goes to show that things aren't always as they seem in Williamsport.

Quote of the day
A disturbing quote from an usher at Lamade Stadium during the consolation game, with Bronx, N.Y.'s Christopher Geronimo at bat: "Come on 13. If you hit a home run, we'll give you permanent citizenship."

Will Weiss is an assistant editor at ABC Sports Online.