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OBAMA AND DREAM TEAM OF BASKETBALL STARS PAST AND PRESENT PLAY HOOPS FOR THE TROOPS. August 9, 2010

Richard Kigel · Monday, August 9th 2010 at 9:59AM · 317 views
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA AND A DREAM TEAM OF CURRENT AND FORMER BASEKTBALL STARS GOT TOGETHER TO PLAY BALL FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT OF OUR BRAVE WOUNDED WARRIORS.

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and other NBA all-stars joined Obama in Washington to entertain wounded troops.

The present-day stars were joined by some retired legends, including Bill Russell and Magic Johnson. College player Maya Moore of the Connecticut Huskies women's team also played.

The game was played for a group of "wounded warriors" — troops injured in action — and participants in the White House's mentoring program. It took place at a gym inside Washington's Fort McNair, a short drive from the White House. The president was inside the gym for about two hours.

The reporters assigned to keep tabs on the president were shut out of the gym, forced to wait in vans outside. Asked why media coverage was blocked, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama "just wanted to play."

After the game some of the players joined Obama and a group of his friends for a barbecue at the White House, capping the president's 49th birthday week.

A small tent and tables decorated with sunflowers and yellow and white tablecloths were being set up on the South Lawn when Obama returned from playing basketball. The White House said the meal will include shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico.

First lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha returned to the White House on Sunday night after a vacation in Spain. The Obamas' older daughter, Malia, is away at summer camp.

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Richard Kigel Staten Island, NY

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Comments (7)

Jen Fad Monday, August 9th 2010 at 10:03AM

[... The White House said the meal will include shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico...]

I'm definitely going to keep them all in my prayers ~~ I wouldn't be eating anything from the Gulf of Mexico right now or for years to come. Yuck!

Richard Kigel Monday, August 9th 2010 at 10:26AM

Good idea, Jen.

Hopefully, the Secret Service Food Testers were on the case.

I love this story because nobody can claim this was a publicity stunt. All those great players got together for one reason--for our troops who have sacrificed for their country.

No cameras. No interviews. It was just for them.

AWESOME!!!

Jen Fad Monday, August 9th 2010 at 4:17PM

Yeh but then they accuse him (the President) of not being transparent as he promised the American people!

Richard Kigel Monday, August 9th 2010 at 6:02PM

Oh yeah...it must have been fun to watch!

Great for the guys and girl vets!!!

Siebra Muhammad Monday, August 9th 2010 at 6:09PM

I bet it was just as fun to watch as the Lakers game...also the president welcomed the New Orleans Saints to the White House!!! WHO DAT!!! WHO DAT!!!

Richard Kigel Monday, August 9th 2010 at 6:30PM

Yay New Orleans!!!!

Thomasena Martin-Johnson Thursday, August 12th 2010 at 11:19AM

Blind People can't see even if it is transparent.

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