Baller-in-Chief

This, according to a piece that ran today on Politico.com:

President Barack Obama and his family plan to vacation next month on Martha’s Vineyard, Democratic sources said.

The trip has long been rumored on the island, where federal agents were reported to be checking out property last spring.

The plan puts the Obamas in one of America’s most diverse resort areas. The enclave of Oak Bluffs has long been a favorite vacation spot for the nation’s African-American elite.

The Vineyard was a favorite vacation spot of President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary, now Obama’s secretary of state.

An article about the Vineyard in New York Magazine reported: “In the past, Obama has spent time playing golf with Vernon Jordan, swimming off South Beach, playing basketball … reading and watching the ferries, and taking the girls for ice cream on Circuit Avenue.”

On the subject of basketball, as reported here last week, the president will have several options for where to play.

(From Josh Feit for Publicola.com)

(Tip of the hat to Ryan Curren from Seattle, Wa.)

This comment, from the “Baller-in-Chief” article by Nicki Parikh for Tweed at Ogilvy Entertainment, includes an informed mention of this blog:

For those of you who are not yet convinced about President Obama’s ability to influence and his passion for basketball, there is a blog, Baller-in-Chief, that reports all the basketball happenings and interests of President Obama. The blog reports that 38% of those surveyed think they can beat Obama in a game of basketball. Well, the UConn women’s basketball team—the 2009 National Champions—lost to Obama in a game of P-I-G. As a die-hard UConn fan, I must say that should be fair warning that President Obama is skilled. Although, I can also confidently say that they had to have let him win!

Thanks, Nicki.  Another way of stating this is say that only 38% believe they can beat President Obama.  The other side of your stat is that roughly 46% of respondents think that they would lose in a basketball game against the president, and 16% aren’t sure.

(From Jon Ward for The Washington Times Online)

President Obama is known for his unflappable cool, but those looking for signs of stress in the new commander-in-chief might find a clue in his changing sports preferences.

It was just last month that ESPN Magazine heralded a new day in Washington as a hoops town because of the country’s new president.

“Obama loves all things hoops,” Wright Thompson wrote, in a story that looked at the ways in which politicians and all stripes of power-seekers in Washington are tuning their games to try to get an invite to play with POTUS.

That may be, but if so, they’re most likely still waiting. After playing golf, again, yesterday, Obama has now hit the links 12 times during his six months in office, and gone off the White House grounds for a full run on the court only four times, according to the White House press corps statistician in chief, Mark Knoller of CBS News.

Now, Obama has had a new full court installed on the White House grounds, which has just been finished in the last week, Obama staffers told me. It is an outdoor court, so Obama may be back to balling soon.

But here’s a few reasons why the president may be gravitating towards the links rather than the hardwood or asphalt.

1. Golf is relaxing. The scenery is beautiful, the pace is nice and slow (unless you’re President George H.W. Bush). President George W. Bush was known to love mountain biking because it was one of the few times he could feel all alone, iPod earbuds in, nobody in front of him, just pedaling. Golf isn’t the same level of isolation, but you’re in a big physical space that the Secret Service can easily secure (Obama has played only on military bases) and so everybody’s chillaxin.

2. Golf is safer. There’s less risk of injury to the commander in chief swinging a golf club than there is crashing the boards for a rebound or going to the hoop.

3. Golf requires fewer people, and the president can play with just a few select people who he doesn’t have to worry about whether they want something from him or not. Obama has tended to play with a few of the same people. Yesterday, it was trip director Marvin Nicholson, young press shop staffer Ben Finkenbinder, and David Katz, a photographer for Obama’s campaign. None of those guys is going to be hitting up the president for a favor, and the president likely feels he can be himself around them and not put on airs.

4. Let’s be honest, if Obama wants to smoke or drink beer, golf is the perfect place. Photographers don’t see him for almost the entire round.

Of course, it might just be that Obama’s caught the golf bug. And when I mentioned his increasing golf habit to a White House staffer, the staffer mentioned that this pattern would likely be reversed in the winter, when there’s no golf to be played but the indoor gym still beckons.

——

UPDATE – 10:55 A.M.

I was told by a White House staffer that there’s been at least one full court game on the White House grounds outdoor court recently, and that with the court fully renovated (new lines and new baskets) the frequency of games is expected to increase.

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.)