See you on YouTube, Rice tells German minister

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had a little advice on Friday for her visiting German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier: it's best not to throw out the first pitch at an American baseball game.

Many fans booed President George W. Bush when he threw the ceremonial first pitch on opening night at Washington's new baseball stadium, Nationals Park -- even though his pitch was a decent one and he is a former owner of the Texas Rangers.

"I would tell him not to do that," Rice said, prompting laughter from reporters at a news conference after one asked about Steinmeier's plans to throw out the first pitch on Saturday at a game in Boston between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees.

"This is risky, Frank," said Rice, known as an avid sports enthusiast and Yankees fan. But there was no indication Steinmeier would take her advice. He just laughed.

"Good luck Frank, I will be looking for the YouTube version," Rice said, referring to the popular video-sharing Web site where videos of fan reaction to Bush's appearance were posted.

Bush, who has an approval rating of around 33 percent, has heard boos at a Nationals game before; it happened once at the team's old stadium. Vice President Cheney was also booed there as he threw out the first pitch at a baseball game.

(Editing by Eric Beech)