Obama and British PM Cameron talk hoops and politics

President Obama last night showed British Prime Minister David Cameron what March Madness in America is all about after he escorted the PM to the NCAA men's basketball tournament in Dayton, Ohio— which is, coincidentally, a key swing state in November's election.

While Cameron didn't look too crazy about the sport, he watched two games which would have left the King speechless.

First, Western Kentucky came back from a 16 point deficit to defeat Mississippi Valley State, 59-58, then BYU came back from 25 down to beat Iona 78-72 in the greatest comeback in tournament history.




Earlier in the day, the two leaders were set up to discuss their respective policies on Afghanistan before embarking on Air Force One to catch the play-in game.

The President did all of the things everybody usually does while relaxing at a basketball game— shake the hands of dozens of fans and kiss a baby.  Cameron took off his sweater.

Cameron became the first foreign head of state to fly with the president aboard Air Force One and from the looks of him at the game, it was probably the highlight of his day.

At halftime, Obama joked, "He's going to teach me cricket."

Obama: I knew about Lin before everyone else

You can agree or disagree that President Barack Obama knows more than most people when it comes to foreign policies or national budgets and will probably be the first person alerted to a nuclear attack but— on a podcast recorded earlier this week —the country's number one basket fan said he he knew about about Jeremy Lin long before Linsanity struck.

In an interview with ESPN's Bill Simmons, the President told him he knew Lin would become a star.

"I knew about Jeremy before you did, or anyone else did, because Arne Duncan, my Secretary of Education, was captain of the Harvard team," Obama said.  "And so way back when, Arne and I were playing and he said, 'I'm telling you, we've got this terrific guard named Jeremy Lin at Harvard.'  And then one of my best friends, his son is a freshman at Harvard, and so when he went for a recruiting trip he saw Lin in action.  So I've been on the Jeremy Lin bandwagon for a while."

Suddenly, Obama sounds less like the Leader of the Free World and more like Cliff— the know-it-all mailman— on "Cheers."

Duncan does know the game and was the MVP in last week's Celebrity Game at the NBA All-Star weekend in Orlando.

"What's interesting is the fact somehow folks were missing it in practice," said the Harvard-grad Obama about Lin.  "It's a terrific story.  He's seems like a wonderful young man.  And, look, it elevates this great game all around the world."

The President also revealed that he, and former top-aide Reggie Love, a former-Duke player, used to pass notes to his daughter's basketball coach during games— until she finally let them run practice.

Call it bi-partisan coaching.




"You want them to win so bad," he said.  "And when they run a play and it works— you're just ecstatic.  And a couple of heartbreaking losses and you're just feeling terrible.  But they're wonderful."

Kind of like The House and Senate voting on his health plan.

Obama said he is such a huge basketball fan, NBA League Pass is on his iPad.

The President also keeps his eye on college basketball.  Obama's annual tradition of picking the NCAA brackets live on ESPN is anticipated almost as much as his State of the Union addresses— without all of the hand-clapping.

If the President falls short of being re-elected in 2012, he shouldn't sweat.   I'm sure there will be a few NBA teams who could use a scout who was the first guy to spot Lin's talent.

VIDEO OF INTERVIEW

NBA looking to add Jeremy Lin to All-Star Weekend

The NBA is giving serious thought to finding a way to get the season's biggest story down to its All-Star Weekend festivities in Orlando.

The idea of adding Jeremy Lin to the All-Star roster may be a hard sell considering the New York Knicks sensation has only five career starts; but it sounds like the league will somehow find a way to bring Linsanity to the party.

According to the New York Daily News, the NBA is trying to maximize the attention Lin is receiving and bringing the Knicks point guard down to the All-Star weekend is a no-brainer.

According to the Daily News source, the NBA is hoping to add Lin to its NBA All-Star lineup by having him participate in the Haier Shooting stars competition during All-Star Saturday night.  The competition features one current NBA player, one current WNBA player and one TNT on-air talent and legend on each team.

While it may hard to swallow the thought of a player who was cut by two teams and sitting on the Knicks bench just two weeks ago playing alongside Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Derrick Rose, the NBA knows the underdog Lin is too big a money-maker to keep away.



TV ratings have soared when he plays and stores can't keep his No. 17 jerseys on the racks.

The league hasn't seen a phenomenon like Lin in a long time and— by adding the player with a dozen nicknames to the All-Star weekend— it would be a nice gift to the fans from the NBA after the off-season lockout.

After all, he did breathe some life into the abbreviated season.

Even with basically a six-game season, Lin isn't undeserving of some kind of participation in the All-Star weekend in two weeks.

The 6-foot-3 Knick doesn't have the hops for the Slam Dunk Contest but the Skills Challenge seems to fit him a little better than one of his loose-fitting jerseys.

The Chinese-American Harvard-grad has become an overnight sensation after leading the Knicks to six straight wins since coming off the bench.

Last night, he buried three-point shot with :05 left in regulation to beat the Toronto Raptors and kept his legend growing.

Lin's humble personality and storybook season have made him a fan favorite. He is headed towards Tim Tebow-like adoration.

Linsanity has even made it to the White House.

According to ESPN, President Barack Obama is following the exploits of the reluctant star.

White House spokesman, Jay Carney said the President caught Lin's game-winning shot at the end of Tuesday game while on Marine One to Andrews Air Force Base.

He considers Lin's success a "great story" and it "transcends the sport itself,' said Carney.

Sounds like an endorsement to me.

Bruins Tim Thomas Skips Ceremony With President Obama

The Boston Bruins went to the White House to meet President Obama and celebrate their 2011 Stanley Cup championship yesterday— shorthanded.

Two-time Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas snubbed the meet-and-greet with Obama and later issued a statement on his Facebook page citing his reasons for snubbing the President of the United States at the traditional ceremony.


"I believe the federal government ha grown out of control," he stated, "threatening the rights, liberties, and property of the people."

Call it Unoccupy White House.

The Internet lit up with polarized opinions about Thomas' political views and defiant stance at the expense of the entire team.

The Bruins president, Cam Neely, tried to distance the team from Thomas without alienating the playoff MVP.

"We are disappointed that Tim chose not to join us and his views certainly do not reflect those of the Jacobs family or the Bruins organization," said Neely.

Thomas— born in Flint, Mich. and an outspoken Tea Party member— said he blames both political parties for the nation's woes and had been at odds with the Bruins about attending the fete for a while.

"The Federal government has grown out of control threatening the Rights, Liberties and Property of the People," for that reason he stated, "I exercised my right as a free citizen.  This is not about politics or party, as in my opinion, both parties are responsible for the situation we are in as a country."

Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli said he had been trying for months to convince Thomas to attend with the rest of the team, but that it still didn't happen.

Even though the event was an honor for the entire team, a lot of the attention was centered on Thomas.

President Obama didn't seem miffed by the slight and even singled out the absent Thomas to congratulate the goalie on his playoff exploits.

"Tim Thomas posted two shutouts in the Stanley Cup Finals," he said.  "He set an all-time record for saves in postseason."

Thomas is only the second U.S. player to win the playoff MVP.

Yesterday was the Boston Bruins turn to bask in the national spotlight for what they accomplished as a team and Thomas took the opportunity to turn it into a personal political statement.

Call him disrespectful, unprofessional, selfish or just plain honest, Thomas got his point across— no matter who he disappointed or pleased in his wake.

It's his right as a citizen in this country to voice his opinion— whether it be declining an invitation to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or camping out and banging drums in a city park.

Lamar Odom Got Lap Dance From "Khloe Look-a-Like"

Lamar Odom was spotted partying at a Washington, D.C. strip club and reportedly spent hundreds of dollars during the night— including a lap dance from a woman who resembled his wife Khloe— reports the New York Post.

The Dallas Mavericks star was seen at the club Sunday night with two teammates the night before the Mavericks were to be honored by President Obama at The White House for winning the 2011 NBA Championship, according to Page Six.

A representative for Odom, the husband of reality star Khloe Kardashian for two years, told the New York Post that the NBA star was at the Stadium strip club, but no one in his group received any private or public dances from any of the girls.

But sources, according to the Post, told Radar Online that Odom was seen spending hundreds of dollars on several lap dances— including some from a "Khloe look-a-like."

I know being a Kardashian look-a-like in strip clubs is all the rage these days but, a Khloe replica strutting her stuff is a lot of woman anywhere.

If Odom wants to keep his club escapades more discreet, he might try not getting lap dances from 6-foot strippers with Dwight Howard-sized shoulders.

I wonder if Kris Humphries looks for Kim K wannabes. Too soon?

Mavericks' Delonte West Banned From White House

The Dallas Mavericks will be visiting the White House today, as each member of the 2011 NBA champions will meet with the nation's number one basketball fan President Barack Obama— everyone except for off-guard Delonte West.

The often-troubled player— who was arrested two years ago while under the influence of prescribed medication— is banned (his words) from stepping stepping foot in the White House after the President's security team ran a background check on West.

The rest of the Mavericks team will get to shake hands with the President at expense of owner Mark Cuban.

West was quoted by the Fort-Worth Star Telegram after Saturday nights Mavericks victory:


"I'm banned from going to the White House, so I'm not going to make it," said West.  I'm going home to D.C., I'm just not allowed to go to the White House.  That's what happens when you make bad decisions in your life.  You can't go to the White House."


West, who was born in Washington, D.C., claims to have visited 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue before.


"I've been there 100 times in my lifetime," he said.  "I live right around the corner.  I live in D.C..  It's going to be ashamed the President isn't going to get a chance to meet me.  I'm the president of my house."

Later, West went on Twitter to profanely rant against the Dallas-area reporters.  According to reports, West saved most of his venom for a beat reporter from Akron who now writes for ESPN and wasn't even at the Mavericks game.

West, who was picked up by the Mavs in December has a history of trouble and was arrested in 2009 for a motor vehicle infraction while carrying two handguns and a shotgun in a guitar case. 

The tattooed guard has been pretty consistent this season by averaging 8.0 points and 3.1 assists for Dallas.

The nasty tweets have since been deleted.

World Series Champs Giants Visit White House; President Obama Admits He Fears The Beard

The San Francisco Giants,  2010 World Series Champions, visited President Obama at the White House yesterday.  The nation's number one baseball fan called the team, "Characters with character,"  then singled out out Giants closer Brian Wilson by asking," Where's the guy with the beard?"  Obama looked at Wilson's Grizzly Adams-type facial hair, shook his head and said, "I do fear it."

Obama, taking a break from his budget battle, met with the Giants yesterday afternoon in the East Room of the White House and wished the team well in it's quest to defend it's World Series Championship unless it was against his beloved Chicago White Sox.  "Which right now isn't a sure thing," he joked about his struggling home team.

The President shook hands with the players and mingled with a gaggle of San Francisco politicians including former mayors and House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi.

Besides seeking out the free spirit Wilson, Obama sounded like he feels a kinship with Tim "The Freak" Lincecum and the rest of the team's collection of castoffs and misfits.

"The Giants may be a little different, but know how to win," said Obama, a knowledgeable baseball fan.

Obama congratulated the Giants for their miraculous season, where they won their first World Series Championship since moving to San Francisco from New York 53 years ago.

The President got to hang with one of his idols once again, Willie Mays-- who was once a guest on Air Force One during a trip to the 2009 All-Star Game.  Mays presented the Leader of the Free World with a Giants jersey signed by the team.  Obama joked about his flight with the baseball great, Mays.

"Very rarely, when I'm on Air Force One, am I the second most important guy on there," he said.  "Everyone was passing me by-- 'Can I get you something Mr. Mays?'"

The President lauded the team for efforts to support injured U.S. troops and praised the players for being the first American sports team to make an "It Gets Better" video to help gay and lesbian youths who have been bullied.

Giants manager, Bruce Bochy, summed up the visit by saying," Certainly, we were all honored to be there.  It's quite a privilege."

He was probably more thankful the outlandish Wilson didn't wear a skin-tight Lycra tuxedo.