Harlem Globetrotters Set Up Barack Obama With Some Special Hoops Gear
Posted by: Baller-in-Chief in Articles
He’s certainly no bowler, but President-Elect Barack Obama does have a good bit of ability on the hardwood. In fact, he’s probably this country’s sportiest president since Gerald Ford, who was a beast on the gridiron for Michigan and turned down a career in the NFL to enter public service.
People are noticing Obama’s basketball prowess, and are doing their best to get in on the action. America’s favorite comedy basketball troupe is no different.
The Harlem Globetrotters have announced that they will send a set of four special basketballs to Obama in time for his inauguration, allowing him to play his first presidential pick-up games in style.
To be more precise, there will be four “Inaugural Balls”—basketballs, that is—courtesy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their official ball supplier, Spalding. The team has created an “official” red, white and blue presidential ball especially for Obama, a noted hoops (and Globetrotters) enthusiast, along with each member of his immediate family, in advance of his historic inauguration.
Globetrotters player Wildkat Edgerson helped the team pack up and ship the specially-made balls, each of which are official Harlem Globetrotters Spalding red, white and blue microfiber composite game balls which have been specially-embossed with the presidential seal and the words “Official Ball of the White House.”
“President-elect Obama understands, perhaps better than any other chief executive in our nation’s history, the power that basketball has in its ability to bridge cultural barriers and bring people together,” said Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider. “Plus, he has clearly demonstrated his desire to play on a regular basis, and we can think of no better ball to show off his skills with than our official Harlem Globetrotter game ball—which is already, appropriately, red, white and blue. The ball should fit in nicely around the White House, or wherever his pickup games will take place.”
As part of their gift to the President-elect, the Globetrotters will also be donating 50 brand new game balls from Spalding to the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington, D.C., in the new year.
The Globetrotters make a point of noting that Obama has spoken highly of the team in the past, specifically declaring that the team, as African-American entertainers, played a crucial role in paving the ground for a guy like him to become president. Aww.
Obama’s sure to be sent tons of new gear. At least these will stand out from the pack.
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