Tag Archives: Barack Obama

by | January 9, 2012 · 6:24 PM

The Dallas Mavericks visit the White House

The NBA champion Dallas Mavericks finally had their opportunity to visit the White House and meet President Barack Obama. Initially, the league did not schedule a trip for the Mavericks to visit the White House as the team was not scheduled to play the Washington Wizards in D.C. due to the shortened season. Mark Cuban would have none of that and arranged the visit.

Honestly, I cannot be unbiased about this moment, nor can I write about it in an even-handed fashion. This moment simply made me happy and proud. I have been a Mavericks fan since I discovered what basketball is and seeing the team standing behind the President is wonderful.

President Obama makes plenty of cracks about the Mavericks’ age, Jason Terry‘s Larry O’Brien Trophy tattoo, and Dirk Nowitzki‘s talent for singing. One of the best moments is when the President displays a bit of homerism saying that it will be the Chicago Bulls who he meets next year. Everyone involved was clearly having a good time.

On a side note, Ian Mahinmi got swag. Check out his plaid print shirt, bow tie, Black rim glasses, and black cardigan. Baron Davis and James Harden have been put on notice. Mahinmi’s hipster status is untouchable.

Video via PBT

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by | November 23, 2011 · 9:42 PM

President Obama to hold Basketball Fundraiser

Ballin'

It is not every day that a President comes along that likes basketball. College football? Sure. Golf? Of course. Now we have Barack Obama. The Baller-in-Chief. President Obama is currently campaigning for reelection, while concurrently, with the rest of us, bewildered by the inaction of the Congress. (Really?! Pizza is a vegetable? Tomatoes are a fruit!)

In a fundraising event, the President will host a basketball game in Washington D.C. on December 12. On the slate to play in that game are Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Amare Stoudemire, Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, Derek Fisher, Ray Allen, Vince Cater, Baron Davis, Tyson Chandler, Jamal Crawford, Blake Griffin, Rudy Gay, Chris Bosh, Tyler Hansbrough (who the President has scrimmaged with while Hansbrough was attending UNC), Juwan Howard, Antawn Jamison, Dahntay Jones, Kevin Love, Reggie Miller, Cheryl Miller, Quentin Richardson, John Wall, Russell Westbrook, Tina Thompson, Alonzo Mourning, and Dikembe Mutombo.

The teams will be coached by Doc Rivers and Patrick Ewing. Even though the lockout currently would not let these two have contact with the many of the players, the league has bowed down before the authority of President Obama and allowed them to participate. It must be nice to have that kind of power.

Talks between the NBA and what was the NBPA have renewed this week. At present, both sides are looking for a date of December 25 to start the season which will consist of roughly 66 games. However, there is still a lot to be hashed out. Until the players and owners can see eye to eye we have President Obama’s game to look forward to. Oh, and the jerseys for the game? Dope.

Unfortunately, the President will probably not lace up for the game. We know he and Arne Duncan, the Secretary of Education, have mad handles so their street cred is not in jeopardy. Hopefully, this game will be streamed online.

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by | November 25, 2010 · 12:16 AM

Obama Talks About Miami Heat

Pundits and talking heads have declared that the recent elections were a “referendum” on Barack Obama’s presidency. Common sense states that at least one house of congress has changed hands during the midterm elections at least once during a president’s term in office since the first Bush (maybe even Reagan but it is late and I do not feel like researching that). Call it what you will as long as you understand that it means that the status quo is still the predominant factor driving Washington.

Where some say that Obama was “defeated” what is certain is that the expectations that surrounded him were never as high as those surrounding the Miami Heat this season. The Heat lost again, the third time in a row, on Wednesday night to the Orlando Magic. Obama has never faced such setbacks as the Heat have.

When asked about the Heat by Barbara Walters (God knows if she has ever watched a basketball game), Obama said that it takes time and more than just superstar talent to win. Only time will tell if  Obama’s wait and see policy towards the Miami Heat will pan out. “There’s no ‘I’ in team.” Ah, those words ring true to every person who has ever balled in any form of league.

Why the hell would Barbara Walters even ask him about the Heat anyway? Obama is from Chicago! He is a Bulls fan. Ask the man a Bulls question if you are going to ask him about basketball. Did she not see him put Magic Johnson in his place with a 1991 Michael Jordan switching-hands layup reminder when the Lakers visited the White House? The Chi and the Mia are in the same conference. Do not ask the man to talk about the Heat.

Obama should sit down with David Stern and Billy Hunter, stare each of them in the eye, and tell them that a lockout would be (hand on the red phone) unwise. Make Obama the commissioner after his eight years (yeah, I said it) are up. The NBA could use some change.

P.S.    Sorry about all the Heat articles this week. We will get back to normal coverage (i.e. Mavericks, Kevin Love) after Thanksgiving.

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by | August 8, 2010 · 8:53 PM

Baller-in-Chief

President Obama draws up treaty for a slam dunk

Pat Riley has been smugly smiling to himself after pulling off a Gordon Gekko take over of NBA talent. How could any one man assemble a better team this summer? One man did. On Sunday, President Barack Obama assembled basketball greats, both past and present at Fort McNair for a game put on in association with Wounded Warriors for injured veterans.

Unfortunately, the press was not allowed to attend the event (though it is completely understandable) so details about the game are few and sketchy. Did Obama dunk? Did he switch hands mid layup with Magic defending him? We, the people, want to know. Below is a list of players who participated in this remarkable and praiseworthy event for the troops.

  • Carmelo Anthony
  • Shane Battier
  • Chauncey Billups
  • Kobe Bryant (who did not play)
  • Derek Fisher
  • Pau Gasol
  • Grant Hill
  • LeBron James
  • Magic Johnson
  • Maya Moore (UConn)
  • Alonzo Mourning
  • Joakim Noah
  • Chris Paul
  • Derrick Rose
  • Bill Russell
  • Etan Thomas
  • Dwyane Wade
  • David West

Now that is a dream team…with Etan Thomas on it.

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