Baller-in-Chief

(From Bob Shallit of the Sacramento Bee Online)

An El Dorado Hills businessman has a fix for President Barack Obama’s basketball addiction.

Jeff Barker is offering to install – for free – a new hoops court on the White House grounds.

“Here’s the new leader of the free world and he’s totally into basketball” – but doesn’t have a decent place to play, says Barker, a local franchisee of Rhino Sports, which makes and installs basketball, tennis and other sports courts.

Barker’s proposal is to lay down one of his company’s hard-plastic surfaces over the outdoor concrete court that former President George H.W. Bush put in almost two decades ago. (And he’d also help out if Obama opts to replace the White House’s basement bowling alley with an indoor court.)

Barker says Rhino’s 3/4-inch surfacing material is more forgiving than concrete and would help protect the new president from injury. He says it’d also be more attractive than a traditional court, incorporating custom colors and even a presidential logo.

The 41-year-old franchise owner says he’s installed about 500 sports courts in the Sacramento region since 2002. Prices range from $12,000 to $18,000 for a typical half-court installation.

As for the White House idea, Barker says he’s serious. He’s contacted other Rhino dealers asking if they have any “ins” with the Obama team. He’s requested help from Sacramento Mayor (and former hoopster) Kevin Johnson. He’s even posted a Craigslist ad (http://sacramento.craigslist.org/res/999867002.html) about his proposal.

The posting ends with a note: “In the event President Obama isn’t browsing … on Sacramento Craigslist, will someone that knows him please forward this to him?”

Barker’s willing to do the White House job for free, he says, because it’s “the coolest idea.” And because it’ll generate publicity for his company and for Sacramento.

“This town needs a positive basketball story,” he says. Amen to that.

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