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  1. #1

    Obama, pros to face off in pick-up basketball game

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...l?hpid=topnews

    President Obama will test his hoops skills before an important audience and against some big names in professional basketball Sunday afternoon, to coincide with a birthday-weekend barbecue at the White House.

    The Phoenix Suns' Grant Hill says he's in town for a presidential pick-up game with the First Basketballer, along with a handful of other pros, including the Houston Rockets' Shane Battier.
    Not sure if this is the right forum, and I don't want to start any kind of political arguments, but I didn't see this posted and I thought a few of you might be interested.

    Looks like Battier is starting his journey... Battier/Hill 2016?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    Asheville

    Duke vs ?

    Well, I see that at least 3 of our guys are playing----all from some of our championship teams----but who else?

    ricks

  3. #3
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    raleigh
    i bet battier checks out some of the furniture in the white house...maybe a couple of desks....gets the lay of the land and what not...






  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by ricks68 View Post
    Well, I see that at least 3 of our guys are playing----all from some of our championship teams----but who else?

    ricks
    dukeblueplanet
    .--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    " Blue Devils Grant Hill & Shane Battier hooped with President Obama, LeBron, D. Wade, Magic, other stars for wounded warriors in DC today"

  5. #5
    http://www.newser.com/story/97582/ob...or-troops.html

    a few other names including Bill Russell and Maya Moore.

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    Hot'Lanta... home of the Falcons!
    So, here are the list of pros who particiapted-- Battier, Hill, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Derek Fisher, LeBron, Magic, Maya Moore, Alonzo Mourning, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Bill Russell, Etan Thomas, Dwyane Wade and David West.

    The name that really sticks out is Etan Thomas, a guy who has pretty much been a benchwarmer for his entire NBA career and who would seem to be pretty out of place in that crowd. But, in case you did not know, Thomas is much more than an athlete. He is a published poet with a book of poetry called "More Than an Athlete" to his credit. He is also a big-time Obama supporter and anti-war activist who has spoken at rallies for Obama in places where his NBA and Syracuse pedigree make him popular.

    --Jason "interesting mix of folks on the floor" Evans
    Why are you wasting time here when you could be wasting it by listening to the latest episode of the DBR Podcast?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    Steamboat Springs, CO

    Talking Link Updated

    BTW the OP's link has been updated by the Washington Post. No word, however, on details of the game or whether the "keeper of the Holy Blackberry," Reggie Love, got some burn.

    sagegrouse

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
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    Durham, NC

    Thumbs down

    Not to thread-jack or anything, but I thought this was a fairly classless thing to do. Let's play basketball in front on wounded soldiers who can't play.

    I have no problem him having some fun on his birthday, but keep it in that perspective, not some event staged for the cameras.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by g4orce View Post
    Not to thread-jack or anything, but I thought this was a fairly classless thing to do. Let's play basketball in front on wounded soldiers who can't play.

    I have no problem him having some fun on his birthday, but keep it in that perspective, not some event staged for the cameras.

    Not in their shoes, but would think watching some of the greats of BB and hobnobbing a bit would be cool !

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by JasonEvans View Post
    So, here are the list of pros who particiapted-- Battier, Hill, Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Derek Fisher, LeBron, Magic, Maya Moore, Alonzo Mourning, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Bill Russell, Etan Thomas, Dwyane Wade and David West.
    --Jason "interesting mix of folks on the floor" Evans
    A couple of names to add to Jason's list, nad a picture with Joakim Noah

    http://www.gatorsportsnation.com/bas...medium=twitter

    •Joakim Noah
    •Pau Gasol
    [Info courtesy of the Chicago Tribune/Mike Memoli]

  11. #11
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by ACCBBallFan View Post
    A couple of names to add to Jason's list, nad a picture with Joakim Noah

    http://www.gatorsportsnation.com/bas...medium=twitter

    •Joakim Noah
    •Pau Gasol
    [Info courtesy of the Chicago Tribune/Mike Memoli]
    The names that stick out (which names do not belong with the others) are Melo, CP3, Rose and Noah. Noah and Rose play for the Bulls and Rose has a Chicago connection, so I guess I get them. CP3 is developing a bad rep and I really don't see why he is there. The one that surprises me is Melo. He has some REALLY bad connections and there is a distinct possibility for Melo to pose a PR problem for POTUS. If Melo goes to NYC next year, I predict bad things for him, ala Plaxico Burress.

    Why did Obama pick a Spaniard as his token white guy? He should have picked an American! He could have picked ... um ... well ... how about ... errr ... ahem ... oh never mind. Well, he should have at least invited Shaquille so there would be an Irishman in attendance!

  12. #12
    Quote Originally Posted by g4orce View Post
    Not to thread-jack or anything, but I thought this was a fairly classless thing to do. Let's play basketball in front on wounded soldiers who can't play.

    I have no problem him having some fun on his birthday, but keep it in that perspective, not some event staged for the cameras.
    Press wasn't allowed in the gym.

  13. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by g4orce View Post
    Not to thread-jack or anything, but I thought this was a fairly classless thing to do. Let's play basketball in front on wounded soldiers who can't play.

    I have no problem him having some fun on his birthday, but keep it in that perspective, not some event staged for the cameras.
    Quote Originally Posted by sivartrenrag View Post
    Press wasn't allowed in the gym.
    Yep,


    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...poref=obinsite

    The reporters assigned to keep tabs on the president were shut out of the gym, forced to wait in vans outside. Asked why media coverage was blocked, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama "just wanted to play."

  14. #14
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by g4orce View Post
    Not to thread-jack or anything, but I thought this was a fairly classless thing to do. Let's play basketball in front on wounded soldiers who can't play.

    I have no problem him having some fun on his birthday, but keep it in that perspective, not some event staged for the cameras.
    With respect, g4orce, I am compelled to disagree. I wore the uniform for two decades and I strongly believe the wounded warriors who were privileged to be at the White House perceived this as a wonderful, Presidential-level, statement of national appreciation for their services and their sacrifices -- and, doubtless, as a major highlight in their lives. I certainly understand why you feel as you do, however, I am sure the effort made by the President and the NBA stars was extremely well received (and, not to be political on DBR, I say this as one who is not universally enamored with the Obama Administration).

  15. #15
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    Durham, NC
    Thanks for allowing me to add my two cents in about this. As to no press allowed, this has become the norm, per se, for this administration. Press isn't allowed, but then press photos appear. If press wasn't allowed, and this wasn't a 'staged event' then why have photos already appeared? The situation was the same at Biden's house. A wounded warrior event took place with a select group of wounded soldiers invited for a cookout at Biden's house. Since no press was allowed, this sounded like a good event to honor these soldiers. But, when an entire photo spread was included on Food network's magazine, as well as another magazine whose name I do't remember, it makes the comment 'no press allowed' seem contradictory.

    Maybe I'm just jaded, but to me it appears as a staged event. I'm sure that anyone would have loved to have seen these guys play, not just these soldiers. I just think this had a political purpose masquerading as not being so, and including soldiers who had been wounded while serving in duty was the wrong approach.

    IMHO, if this was just to acknowledge the sacrifice of soldiers, why not sit on the sidelines with them, watch the pro's play and chat up the soldiers about the game? Throwing yourself into the game makes it not about the pro's, but about you. That was my point.
    Last edited by g4orce; 08-09-2010 at 01:30 PM. Reason: added comment for clarity

  16. #16
    So now does this mean POTUS will pick Duke to win the 2011 NCAA Tourney?

  17. #17
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by g4orce View Post
    Thanks for allowing me to add my two cents in about this. As to no press allowed, this has become the norm, per se, for this administration. Press isn't allowed, but then press photos appear. If press wasn't allowed, and this wasn't a 'staged event' then why have photos already appeared? The situation was the same at Biden's house. A wounded warrior event took place with a select group of wounded soldiers invited for a cookout at Biden's house. Since no press was allowed, this sounded like a good event to honor these soldiers. But, when an entire photo spread was included on Food network's magazine, as well as another magazine whose name I do't remember, it makes the comment 'no press allowed' seem contradictory.

    Maybe I'm just jaded, but to me it appears as a staged event. I'm sure that anyone would have loved to have seen these guys play, not just these soldiers. I just think this had a political purpose masquerading as not being so, and including soldiers who had been wounded while serving in duty was the wrong approach.

    IMHO, if this was just to acknowledge the sacrifice of soldiers, why not sit on the sidelines with them, watch the pro's play and chat up the soldiers about the game? Throwing yourself into the game makes it not about the pro's, but about you. That was my point.
    The Prez enjoys playing basketball. He is, by all accounts, fairly good at it and enjoys testing himself against the best. He is not even close to being in their league, but I am sure it is fun for him to be on the court with them.

    I was not there, and neither were you, to see how much Obama or the players interacted with the wounded soldiers. I think it is a safe bet that there was plenty of chatting with the soldiers and sitting with them in addition to being on the court for the game. If you choose to take the cynical view that this was an affront to the soldiers, that is fine, but I think most folks will see it as something that genuinely sought to honor these fallen heroes and give them something special.

    As for the press attendance and photos being released. I am a former member of the press so I know firsthand that this is standard operating procedure in the White House. With the exception of closed-door meetings, there is an official White House photographer who follows the Prez and takes pics of darn near everything he does. Those photos are made available to the press. The reason the president keeps the press out of some events is so the event can be more natural and relaxed. I am sure everyone in attendance had a better time not having to worry about the press capturing their every utterance and movement.

    You can choose to view the world cynically and with suspicion at everyone's motive... but I think it is a lot more fun to dare to imagine that our commander in chief actually cares about wounded soldiers and thought this might be a nice treat for some of them.

    --Jason "sure wish I could have been there to watch-- I bet it was waaaay cool" Evans
    Why are you wasting time here when you could be wasting it by listening to the latest episode of the DBR Podcast?

  18. #18
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    Mar 2009
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    Randleman,NC
    Why did Obama pick a Spaniard as his token white guy? He should have picked an American! He could have picked ... um ... well ... how about ... errr ... ahem ... oh never mind.
    Did'nt think racism would be a factor here aswell,not 1 single white american NBA past or present player availableMaybe they were all just busy,hmmm.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Duke4life92 View Post
    Did'nt think racism would be a factor here aswell,not 1 single white american NBA past or present player availableMaybe they were all just busy,hmmm.
    Missed my point. The players he invited were all exceptional (some off the court). I have trouble coming up with a white American that starts in the NBA, let alone coming up with an exceptional one. My point was that it WASN'T racism, except to the extent someone felt compelled to invite a white guy.

  20. #20
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    May 2010
    Quote Originally Posted by BD80 View Post
    Missed my point. The players he invited were all exceptional (some off the court). I have trouble coming up with a white American that starts in the NBA, let alone coming up with an exceptional one. My point was that it WASN'T racism, except to the extent someone felt compelled to invite a white guy.
    OMG, just what kind of Duke fan are you?

    Mike D

    Seriously, just how much of a Duke fan are you?

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