Barack Obama hosted some sporting heroes on his birthday, writes MICHAEL SHEARin Washington
EVERY HOOPS fan dreams of that one special birthday when his pro-ball heroes gather on a court to see if he’s got game.
President Barack Obama had that chance on Sunday, assembling a virtual dream team of college and pro basketball players for a presidential pick-up game in front of wounded veterans and participants in a White House mentoring programme.
Obama, who turned 49 on Wednesday, took to the court for a game with a stunning list of all-stars, including Grant Hill, Shane Battier, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Derek Fisher, LeBron James, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Maya Moore, Alonzo Mourning, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Bill Russell, Etan Thomas, Dwyane Wade and David West. The game was closed to the media.
Kobe Bryant was there but didn’t play, according to the White House, and aides provided no details about the game, which took place at Fort McNair in Washington, where Obama often plays basketball with friends.
The presidential motorcade of black SUVs returned to the White House after about two hours for an evening barbecue on the south lawn. Reporters could see grills being set up on the grass.
The White House provided few details about the festivities, but confirmed that the president and his guests would be dining on shrimp harvested from the Gulf of Mexico.
Obama is known for throwing a few elbows on the court and for having a fierce determination to win. But the 6ft 2in commander in chief had his work cut out for him. A number of the players were 6ft 8in or taller.
Obama was the nation’s bachelor-in-chief this weekend; his wife and younger daughter were returning from a brief vacation in Spain, and his elder daughter was at camp. With his family away, Obama was making it an all-sports-all-the-time weekend. He spent four hours at the Andrews Air Force Base golf course on Saturday with longtime friends from Chicago and Hawaii, including Wahid Hamid, Laurent Delanney, Marvin Nicholson, Greg Orme, Bobby Titcomb, Michael Ramos, Marty Nesbitt and Eric Whitaker. That crew was said to be attending the barbecue on Sunday at the White House as well, but there was no word on how many of them joined in the hoops competition.
Basketball is undergoing something of a renaissance at the White House under Obama, who had a new court built on what had been the presidential tennis courts.
Obama plays with staff members and friends, including aide Reggie Love, who was on the NCAA-champion Duke team in 2001.
But in June 2009, when the basketball court was being built, the president said he was itching for some professional competition.
“As soon as we get the basketball nets up, we’re going to have some of these guys over for a game,” he said of pros such as James.
Asked whether he would be playing, Obama said: "Of course. It's my court." – (Washington Post-Bloomberg)