Bush Leaguer

In this week's episode of "Love that Ari":

Fleischer. Ari Fleischer.

After their wedding in Indianapolis, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer and his bride, Rebecca Davis, honeymooned last week on the Caribbean island of Nevis and stayed at the plush Four Seasons Resort.

And just like movie stars and other privacy-conscious celebrities in search of peace and quiet, they registered under assumed names. In this case, Mr. and Mrs. Williams.

"Um, this is correct," a sheepish Fleischer acknowledged yesterday when we reached him in Prague, where President Bush has been attending a NATO conference. "We were just given security advice not to use our real names. Until you blew my cover, I've been traveling under the name of Bernie Williams. Now I will no longer be able to use that name."

Bernie Williams, of course, is a New York Yankees outfielder. Fleischer is a die-hard Yankees fan. And Nevis, if anyone cares, is "Heaven on Earth," Fleischer told us.

So now what fake identity can he assume to avoid potential trouble?

"Derek Jeter is too obvious and Alfonso Soriano is not credible," Fleischer explained, "which is why I went for Bernie Williams."

He scoffed at our suggestion: George Steinbrenner.

"The whole purpose," he said, "is not to become a target."

By Lloyd Grove
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 22, 2002; Page C03