Just when you didn’t think it could get any better for Frank Deford, it does.

Yesterday, Deford received the National Humanities Medal from President Obama during a ceremony at the White House.

Judging by the picture, Deford shared a light moment with the President.

Here is the citation read by Obama:

Frank Deford, sports writer, for transforming how we think about sports. A dedicated writer and storyteller, Mr. Deford has offered a consistent, compelling voice in print and on radio, reaching beyond scores and statistics to reveal the humanity woven into the games we love.

But then you already knew that.

Prior to the ceremony, Deford, 74, told his hometown paper, the Westport (Conn.) News, that he was stunned by the news.

“Obviously I was astonished. This isn’t something you expect or that anybody expects. It came completely out of the blue. I was taken aback,” Deford said. “We were in the process of moving from Westport at that time and the house was a mess. The trauma of moving and everything, it was an extraordinary moment.”

Congratulations, Frank. Well deserved.