By Michael D. Shear Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, August 8, 2010; 1:11 PM 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. The group will play before "wounded warriors" -- troops injured in action -- as well as participants in the White House's mentoring program, at Fort McNair in Southwest Washington, according to an Associated Press report. The president is known for throwing a few elbows on the court and for having a fierce determination to win. But the 6-foot-2 commander in chief may have his work cut out for him. Hill and Battier are both 6-8. With his wife and kids gone for the weekend, Obama is making it an all-sports-all-the-time weekend. He spent four hours at the Andrews Air Force Base golf course Saturday with old friends from Chicago and Hawaii, including Wahid Hamad, Laurent Delanney, Marvin Nicholson, Greg Orme, Bobby Titcomb, Michael Ramos, Marty Nesbitt and Eric Whitaker. That crew is said to be attending the barbecue today at the White House, as well. No word on how many of them will be joining in the hoops competition. No word from the White House about whether they'll be playing H-O-R-S-E or something a bit more serious. "As soon as we get the basketball nets up we're going to have some of these guys over for a game," Obama said of pros such as Lebron James. Asked by Bloomberg if he'd be playing, Obama said: "Of course. It's my court." Staff writer Josh Barr contributed to this report. Basketball is enjoying something of a renaissance at the White House under Obama, who had a new court built on what had been the presidential tennis courts. Obama plays with staff and friends, including body man Reggie Love, who was on the NCAA-winning Duke team in 2001. But in June 2009, when the basketball court was being built, Obama told Bloomberg that he was itching for some professional competition. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/08/AR2010080801558.html?hpid=topnews
[basso]Why Obama no working? First wifey goes on vacation in Spain now he plays pros vs. Joes fantasy camp with Battier and Hill? Unbelievable. He should take Hill and Battier to work on closing the borders with Mexico and stopping contruction of Islamic center in Manhattan!!! Why they no do that? Why they ball?[/basso]
I hope security is easy on battier for the faceguarding. obama will see plenty of it. It's just sound defense.
obama gonna score 40 points and win and everyones going to say battier is top notch defender and how he is championship material. and Battier loss will be blame on yao not being there in the paint
Why Battier ball with politician? Why he no ball at Fonde with other pros or work with Hakeem on his post moves! Unprofessioal! Trade his ass!
Can Shane be president if he wins? I know he isn't 35 yet, but he is change we really can believe in!
LOL. Cot Damn Moe, you have enough green bars. I thought I was playing Tetris. Anyway, I think it's an awesome opportunity for Shane to participate in that. He's a great guy on and off of the court.
Wow! You like the Rockets? No...you just saw something about the "president" and you had to troll the thread.
