Robert Gibbs Doesn't Wear Canada Hockey Jersey -- Yet
The reason? White House spokesman Nick Shapiro had informed reporters that Gibbs had agreed as part of a wager with his Canadian counterpart to wear the Team Canada jersey for the first 15 minutes of an on camera briefing if Canada won the USA/Canada men's gold medal hockey game.
Canada won that game in overtime Sunday.
The wager actually represented a double or nothing situation, as Gibbs had previously lost a bet to Dimitri Soudas, Press Secretary to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, over the USA/Canada women's hockey final. Because of that loss, Gibbs had to wear a Team Canada jersey during a press gaggle. (A gaggle is an off-camera meeting with reporters.)
Gibbs assured disappointed reporters Monday that his debut in a Team Canada jersey is coming.
"We're in the process of getting the hockey sweater…it's on its way, trust me, the Canadians have kept in very close contact for this," he said. Gibbs promised to don the jersey before the week is over and called Sunday's contest a "fabulous game."
President Obama and Harper also had a wager on the game. A Canada win meant Mr. Obama had to purchase a case of Molson Canadian for Harper, while a U.S. win would have meant Harper had to buy a case of Yuengling for Mr. Obama.
No word on whether Mr. Obama has yet headed out to pick up the case of Molson.