Baller-in-Chief

(From the Associated Press Online)

President Barack Obama speaks with Washington Mystics owner Sheila Johnson, far right, during a Washington-Tulsa WNBA game on Sunday. Obama’s daughter, Sasha, is in the middle. (JIM WATSON / AFP – Getty Images)

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama checked out the WNBA’s Washington Mystics on Sunday after spending the morning shooting some hoops himself.

Obama, his daughter Sasha and a friend of Sasha’s had courtside seats for a women’s basketball game between the Mystics and the Tulsa Shock at the Verizon Center in downtown Washington. Sasha and her friend, whom the White House declined to identify, both wore Mystics jerseys.

The crowd at the arena roared when the scoreboard showed the president’s arrival. Obama chatted during the game with Mystics owner Ted Leonsis and team president Sheila Johnson.

Obama and his party left the arena a few minutes before the end of the game, which the Mystics won, 87-62.

After the game, Mystics player Marissa Coleman told reporters: “The only two times I’ve noticed who was courtside was when LeBron (James) was here, and obviously today. And today’s was even worse. It’s just kind of a surreal thing to look over and see the President of the United States sitting courtside.”

Earlier Sunday, Obama played basketball against an Army team at Fort McNair in the District of Columbia.

Obama has attended basketball games at the Verizon Center before. In January he had front-row seats for a Duke-Georgetown game, and even sat in with CBS’ announcers for about seven minutes. Last year, he saw his hometown Chicago Bulls lose a game to the Washington Wizards at the arena.

(From BeachFrontNews.com)

President Barack Obama means business, at least on the basketball court. In addition to building a new hoops court on the White House South Lawn (to which he’s invited LeBron James and other NBA pros to play), he has assembled what he says is ”the best basketball-playing cabinet in American history.”

Separation of power (forwards): Obama jockeys for a rebound during an October 8th game with members of Congress and his cabinet

Some prominent administration officials who also have the hops include: Attorney General Eric Holder, co-captain of his high school team (the “Peglegs”) and a freshman player at Columbia University; Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who, at 6’5”, was co-captain of Harvard’s varsity squad, and played professionally for Australia’s National Basketball League; General James Jones, the National Security Adviser, who stands 6’4” and was a forward for the Georgetown University Hoyas; UN Ambassador Susan Rice, a feisty 5’3” but a star hoops player when she attended Washington, D.C.’s National Cathedral School, where she was nicknamed “Spo” (short for “Sporting”); Paul Volcker, the former chairman of the Federal Reserve Board and now chairman of Obama’’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board, played basketball for Princeton.

And, of course, there’s the Baller-in-Chief himself, an avid hoops player when he attended school in Honolulu who would dribble and bounce a ball between classes (and where he was nicknamed Barry O’Bomber because of his devastating “jump shot”).

By Claude Johnson

There’s been much chatter lately about President Obama and his family spending their summer vacation in the traditionally African American enclave of Oak Bluffs on the island of Martha’s Vineyard.

If you’ve never been to Oak Bluffs, you’ve got to check it out.  The black history heritage trail of Martha’s Vineyard is fascinating and little known.  And, don’t believe the silly hype from the recent New York Magazine article that claims visitors and residents adhere to self-imposed racial segregation.  That’s simply not true.

By the way, my wife and I got married (over a decade ago!) at a private house in Oak Bluffs, overlooking the water, in a lovely low key ceremony.  Boston Celtics star Ray Allen did the same thing last summer (got married there, that is, not necessarily low key).

Yes, Oak Bluffs and Martha’s Vineyard do have their share of celebrities.

Meanwhile, the Boston Herald suggested this week that “the Secret Service reportedly has scoped out a number of homes” there.

But has anyone scoped out the basketball options for the president?  Where did Ray Allen shoot around while he was there?

Sure, people have driveway hoops.  But that’s not what we’re talking about here.

Unfortunately, the best place to play, by far, won’t be ready until next summer.  It’s the brand new Y.M.C.A. gymnasium that’s going up in nearby Vineyard Haven, a mile or two down the road from Oak Bluffs.  The $1.7 million facility will include a sweet, full sized basketball court with accompanying locker rooms, cafe, snack bar, wellness center, and other features.

Until then, the president (and everyone else) will have to “settle” for the awesome outdoor lighted court at Niantic Park in Oak Bluffs. That court is sweet too.

It’s got a special smoothly finished surface, extended backboards (so you go hard to the rim), padded poles (ditto), a neat paint job with contrast colored keys and center circle, bleachers, and an electronically controlled scoreboard.

It’s also got an enclosed fence and parking. Plus, it’s right in the middle of Oak Bluffs, you can’t miss it, and everyone can walk over there from wherever they’re staying.

And guess what? The president could attend the annual Vineyard Streetball Classic!

It’s a 3-on-3 youth basketball tournament that takes place on July 4! This year marks the seventh annual event!  It’s for boys and girls ages 10-18 (pre-registrations July 1-3).

Best of all, the tickets, registration, and sponsor fees benefit the Oak Bluffs Parks Department and the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce Charitable Fund.

Isn’t that right along the lines of what President Obama and Mrs. Obama have asked Americans to do, as far as supporting their communities through volunteerism and goodwill?

Opening rounds for the Vineyard Streetball Classic on July 4 begin at 10 a.m.

By the way, the court stays open late, and there’s even an open-age night hoops league played there.  Maybe, just maybe, the president can use his executive privilege to substitute in on one of the teams as a ringer.

(Photos courtesy of the Vineyard Streetball Classic and the Vineyard Gazette.)

_______________

Baller-in-Chief.com is a website-blog that reports everything about the basketball activities, interests, and skills of President Barack Obama.

(A “baller” is one who “has game” — that is, exhibits proficiency — either on or off the basketball court. For more on that, please see Breaking Down The Term ‘Baller-In-Chief’.)

To date this includes almost every online media item about Obama and basketball that’s ever been published — hundreds of entries including articles, editorials, blog posts, video clips, audio segments, and photos from around the world, carefully vetted and screened, often adding our own commentary and insights, to achieve the highest quality of content and relevance.

There’s no agenda here, other than to promote the president and his hoops game.  Our tag line says it all:  “Obama and Basketball. Period.” (Well, we do also advocate for physical fitness, romanticize the cult of pick up basketball, and encourage a view of the sport as being more than just a game.)

What started as a simple question in an article by Claude Johnson called Baller-In-Chief back in February 2008 — Has there ever been a basketball-loving President of the United States of America? — turned into a new buzz-phrase and a new genre of interest that’s been featured in such major media as Sports Illustrated, ESPN, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, The Boston Globe, and The Tom Joyner Morning Show.

Baller-in-Chief.com is edited by Claude Johnson, the founder and president of Black Fives, Inc. (http://www.blackfives.com), which researches, promotes, teaches, and preserves the pre-NBA history of African Americans in basketball. Johnson also writes for The Black Fives Blog (http://www.blackfivesblog.com).

Meanwhile …

Whether you want to play pickup basketball at the White House, have an Obama basketball Jones, are politically motivated, are eager to join a hot trend, want to hang out with cool people, or just want to connect with others who love to play hoops for more than just to stay in shape, Baller-in-Chief is perfect for you!

We hope you enjoy what you see!  If you have any thoughts, comments, ideas, or suggestions, please visit our suggestions page or contact us directly.

Thank you.