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Heels visit White House
Submitted by Anonymous on 05/11/2009 - 13:50
AP photo
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama loved the gifts the North Carolina Tar Heels gave him Monday, but he had one more request for the 2009 national basketball champs.
"If somebody could please present me a jump shot, I need one of those!" Obama quipped in a celebration ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House.
Obama, a fervent basketball fan who grew up playing hoops in Hawaii, told his visitors they'd all done pretty well since he famously scrimmaged with them during a North Carolina campaign stop in April 2008.
"I'm not sure whose luck rubbed off on who - there was some good vibe there - because they're now the national champions and I'm now the president," Obama said to laughter outside the White House.
Obama thanked the Tar Heels, who waltzed through the NCAA Tournament this year, "for salvaging my bracket and vindicating me."
Obama filled out his March Madness brackets on live TV, picking UNC to win it all.
At the ceremony Monday, Roy Williams held up a blue-and-white Carolina jersey with "Obama" and the number 1 on it.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Obama crowed.
The five seniors who graduated Sunday presented Obama with a large framed photograph of the then-candidate in sweatpants posing with the team 13 months ago after their widely covered scrimmage in Chapel Hill.
"Tyler (Hansbrough) chose not to block my shot," Obama said to more laughter. "Of course, I was so intimidated by him being near me that I missed the shot."
Obama met privately with the team inside the White House before the ceremony.
Ty Lawson said afterward that Obama had complimented his play during the championship run.
"We didn't talk too much because I know he's a busy man," Lawson said. "I must have been doing something right that he was paying attention to my game."
— James Rosen, McClatchy Newspapers
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Too bad Michigan State had
Thu, 01/14/2010 - 02:47 — mobdevToo bad Michigan State had an off day and lost rather badly to North Carolina in the championship game. I guess it was destiny for the Tar Heels. Here is hoping that the same holds true for Michigan State next year : they win the championship and get to visit Obama and Co. at the White House a year from now!!! 2009-2010 pre-season rankings have them as high as No. 2.
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Tue, 05/12/2009 - 13:35 — heelsno1Even as a Repulican, I think this story is way cool.
Re: Way Cool
Thu, 05/14/2009 - 17:47 — treefroggerYou my friend are way cool. My best friend is an evangelical Christian who builds multi-million dollar houses in Utah. I'm almost a socialist living in PA. The key is that we respect each other and there's no jammin' opinions down each other's throat. For those that said that Bush got dissed on similar visits, he deserves more than than it. I'm not talking vengeance. That's for simple-minded, crazy people. His conscious will be present, front-and-center at what you call Judgement Day.
He started an unnecessary war, indirectly killed at least 100,000 Iraqi civilians and troops (never mind the "low" number of American casualties but the significant number of permanently-wounded soldiers). He was consumed with that war to the point that Wall St. ran across this country naked and nobody even noticed until someone opened up their blinds.
This is simply a good story. If you are for NCSU or Duke, I'm sorry. UNC has an advantage much like the Yankees do with their inflated payrolls. So be it. They may have an advantage recruiting but you still have to coach and you still have to play-it-out all season long.
Me too
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 19:54 — JPDOhioI am no Obama fan. However, the Office of the President is the Office of the President. When you get invited, you go and show proper respect. Shame on those who disrespected President Bush in similar circumstances.
I agree
Tue, 05/12/2009 - 08:15 — dsb311First of al learn how to spell and secondly who gives a rats you know what whether you would have gone. You need to get over it.
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Tue, 05/12/2009 - 12:05 — gvillegatr"first of al ..."
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The comment "Oh boy" has been removed
Mon, 05/11/2009 - 20:57 — rcarter (not verified) (author)The comment "Oh boy" has been deleted. All of the responses to that post were automatically deleted by our blog system.
How embarrassing for the
Mon, 05/11/2009 - 17:27 — BitterEXdemocrat (not verified) (author)How embarrassing for the team and the coach for having to endure this moment but they did win...
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Mon, 05/11/2009 - 22:25 — carlydaviesi really dont see how it is ebarrassing? but thats my opinion
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Mon, 05/11/2009 - 18:08 — gvillegatrand I prolly would not have gone. more b/c "other athletes" elected not to show for George W. Bush.
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