Team USA Gets Send-Off From Baller-in-Chief
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By DERON SNYDER
President Obama has some explaining to do. He was expected to be courtside Monday night at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., to catch part of the first game, which featured the U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team versus Brazil. But he didn’t appear in the arena until just before tip-off of the men’s game.
With two daughters and an athletic wife, Obama surely knows he can’t dis the women’s team. He made it to Verizon in time to greet and congratulate the players on a practice court after their 99-67 victory. The team gave him a jersey and an autographed basketball and posed for photos.
“We talked a little health care, tax breaks,” guard Diane Taurasi said. Guard Lindsay Whalen, who led all scorers with 21 points, added: “He just said represent your country well, and that he’s proud.”
Showing its own pride, the crowd chanted “U-S-A!” as Obama and Vice President Joe Biden entered and took their seats. First lady Michelle Obama and the couple’s oldest daughter, Malia, were also among the president’s party. Obama was interviewed at halftime and weighed in on a debate sparked by Kobe Bryant’s assertion that the current Olympic team is superior to the 1992 “Dream Team,” which featured Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and other superstars.
“This is a generational thing,” Obama said on ESPN. “I was around in ’92. I was a Bulls fan. So I have to go with the original Dream Team.”
