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  6. article_body => "<p>WASHINGTON \u2013 Albert Almora Jr. didn\u2019t use Wednesday\u2019s Oval Office photo op as a subtle form of political protest, but it did sort of look like the Cubs outfielder gave President Donald Trump the middle finger, at least from that angle in an image <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SimulacruMusial\/status\/880138310785609728\" target=\"_blank\">that went viral on Twitter<\/a>. &nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere was two fingers! Look closely, there was two fingers!\u201d a veteran player yelled across the room as reporters gathered around Almora\u2019s locker inside the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGuys were giving me a hard time about it,\u201d Almora said, \u201cbut I pointed out the second finger. We\u2019re all good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In another White House visit that didn\u2019t look nearly as unofficial or informal as the Cubs said it would be, one snapshot became Almora with part of his left hand in his pocket. Almora stood near Kris Bryant \u2013 who held a 45 Wrigley Field scoreboard panel \u2013 and Trump at his desk with the World Series trophy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>[CUBS TICKETS:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.vividseats.com\/mlb-baseball\/chicago-cubs-tickets.html?wsUser=719&amp;wsVar=CubsArticle\" target=\"_blank\">Get your seats right here<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cObviously, it\u2019s unfortunate,\u201d Almora said with a laugh. \u201cI\u2019m getting ready to take a picture and I\u2019m posing there. But you guys know that I would never do that to the president of the United States.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI respect everybody. It is what it is. We laugh about it now, but there\u2019s definitely two fingers out there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Almora is 23 years old, confident and focused, rarely straying off message during his interactions with reporters. He grew up in a Cuban-American family in South Florida and traveled with the team in January for the final official event in the Obama White House. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHey, man, it\u2019s not every day you get to meet the president of the United States,\u201d Almora said. \u201cTo meet two in one calendar year, for me, is a special feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n"
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Cubs

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Cubs

WASHINGTON – Albert Almora Jr. didn’t use Wednesday’s Oval Office photo op as a subtle form of political protest, but it did sort of look like the Cubs outfielder gave President Donald Trump the middle finger, at least from that angle in an image that went viral on Twitter.    

“There was two fingers! Look closely, there was two fingers!” a veteran player yelled across the room as reporters gathered around Almora’s locker inside the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park. 

“Guys were giving me a hard time about it,” Almora said, “but I pointed out the second finger. We’re all good.”

In another White House visit that didn’t look nearly as unofficial or informal as the Cubs said it would be, one snapshot became Almora with part of his left hand in his pocket. Almora stood near Kris Bryant – who held a 45 Wrigley Field scoreboard panel – and Trump at his desk with the World Series trophy.

[CUBS TICKETS: Get your seats right here]

“Obviously, it’s unfortunate,” Almora said with a laugh. “I’m getting ready to take a picture and I’m posing there. But you guys know that I would never do that to the president of the United States. 

“I respect everybody. It is what it is. We laugh about it now, but there’s definitely two fingers out there.”

 

Almora is 23 years old, confident and focused, rarely straying off message during his interactions with reporters. He grew up in a Cuban-American family in South Florida and traveled with the team in January for the final official event in the Obama White House.   

“Hey, man, it’s not every day you get to meet the president of the United States,” Almora said. “To meet two in one calendar year, for me, is a special feeling.”