Obama Attends Basketball Game, Shoots Hoops On Casual Thanksgiving Vacation (PHOTOS)

It's been a stressful time for the president, what with the whole super committee mess and having to wear all sorts of unusual clothes.

So after pardoning a few turkeys, Barack Obama and his family got into their comfy clothes, unplugged and spent a few relaxing days enjoying their Thanksgiving holiday.

First thing on the agenda: basketball! On Saturday the hoopster-in-chief grabbed his athletic gear -- a white and black top and some awesome red and black Under Armour basketball sneakers -- and headed to the gym to play some b-ball with Reggie Love, Arne Duncan and Rey Decerega, director of programs for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

Unfortunately Obama got a bit more than he bargained for when Decerega went up for a shot and elbowed the president in the mouth: Bloomberg News reports that the president's lip was injured, requiring 12 stitches by the White House medical team.

But it must not have been too bad, because the president and his family still made it to the Oregon State-Towson basketball game later that day. Michelle, whose brother Craig Robinson is Oregon State's head coach, and Barack sat courtside in casual gear, with Barack in khakis and a zip-up and Michelle in black cropped skinny pants, black sneakers, a cool black moto jacket and a orange tee with a big heart on the front (that may or may not be from J. Crew).

The pair looks casual, cool -- and cozy! With Sasha and Malia sitting a few rows up with their grandma, Marian Robinson, the president pair got close to watch the game and spend some quality time.

Take a look at Barack and Michelle's off-duty looks!

Comments

[H321]

09:47 PM on 11/30/2011

Pic #8

[Zaida Adams]

09:10 AM on 11/29/2011

The guy recently flew all the way to Australia, and I thought, 'surely, after a 14 hour flight, he's going to need a break, at least a day or two to take in the sights and chill a bit'... He was in Australia for 28 hours, I think it was, before he was out and on his way to his next appointment (APEC Meet)... So for those saying "when does he work if he's got time to fit in a ball game"... All I can say is, this guy works HARD and a 3-hour ball game date with his fams and fans, to take care of his role as a father and husband, to take care of his own sanity and well being, while showing his people the sight of a good role model, is a wise thing for a productive president to do. All work and no play is the quickest way to burn out and fall apart.

[tangelan]

10:47 PM on 11/28/2011

Awesome pics. I love seeing them together.

[demisfine]

10:10 PM on 11/28/2011

Such an awesome couple.
I am so proud that each of them is willing to do what they do.

[PoliSci2008]

08:22 PM on 11/28/2011

The last 3 years are taking a toll on both of them.

[Liberal Independent]

05:59 PM on 11/28/2011

Got elbowed in the lip again? Stitches again??? Geesh!

[hidenout3]

08:54 AM on 11/29/2011

The basketball court appears to be the only arena where O shows any aggression. Hence, the stitches every so often. Or maybe he's a little of a cheap shot artist, and his opponents finally put him in his place.

[pb31]

08:01 PM on 11/28/2011

That part of the story may be wrong. If you click on the link to the story about the lip and the stitches, it is dated 2010. I think it is just an Opps! moment for HP. Obama is not showing off for the cameras; he has been playing basketball since high school, if not earlier. It is true that Obama is not Michael Jordan, but by definition, that is true for all of us (except Michael Jordan).

[youvegot2bkidding]

11:01 PM on 11/28/2011

That injury only occurred once--last year.

Better sharpen up those reading comprehension skills-- they could've saved the rest of us from such incredibly petty snark.

It's too bad that 'highly opinionated' doesn't equal 'highly intelligent'--or even 'halfway accurate'.

[pb31]

08:22 PM on 11/28/2011

They were married in 1992, their first child was born July 4th, 1998. Your point is?

[Ottawa257]

03:53 PM on 11/28/2011

Why must this family be so great! Love them.

[NevaforLeadership]

02:36 PM on 11/28/2011

Obama for small business.

Obama-Biden
2012-2016

[mrst2328]

02:32 PM on 11/28/2011

nothing like playing for the votes.. never see him like that with her any other time

[NevaforLeadership]

04:33 PM on 11/28/2011

You haven't been in touch have you?

[youvegot2bkidding]

09:49 PM on 11/28/2011

So you're blind as a bat.

Shocking

[mrst2328]

02:27 PM on 11/28/2011

So just when does he start working???

[NevaforLeadership]

04:44 PM on 11/28/2011

By the grace of Obama, who inherited the mess left by sixteen years of misguided Clinton, Bush policies, you are not suffering the enormous negative consequences of a global banking collapse and serious depression. Instead you are able to post your messages, with a roof over your head.

Fortunately the message, with no intent other than to negatively provoke, simply circles its karma 360 degrees.

[Lamar Chapman III]

06:12 PM on 11/28/2011

He knew what he was getting into and promised to fix it in three years or one term would be all that he would serve. I intend to help him keep his promise to the people! Its not about the DNC or GOP. Its about the value of the word!!!!!!! His word.

[demisfine]

10:12 PM on 11/28/2011

W took four times as much vacation.
We didn't mind when he did, because it meant he couldn't be breaking the world.

[AustrianSpeaker]

02:26 PM on 11/28/2011

This is a man who will not rest until everyone who wants a job, has one.

[Lamar Chapman III]

05:53 PM on 11/28/2011

Other than you, says who?

[stuff7321]

11:15 PM on 11/28/2011

I agree with the Austrian. At least the President is trying. He can't do it without help from Congress. It's pretty hard to keep your word when it's been publicly stated by the Republicans that they aren't going to let him accomplish anything. This is a democracy, not a dictatorship. If we were governed by a dictatorship, then you'd have a legitimate complaint. Dictators have the absolute power to do whatever they choose to do.

[naschkatze]

12:42 PM on 11/29/2011

I took that as snark.

[HC says]

10:44 PM on 11/28/2011

I thought for a moment you actually believed that.

[carolinacookie4]

02:24 PM on 11/28/2011

Didn't that elbow thing happen last year? Or did someone get him again this year?

[hypyrwyf]

04:37 PM on 11/28/2011

It was last year. The link is to an article a year old.

[Lamar Chapman III]

05:54 PM on 11/28/2011

Vote getting attention! The country is legally bankrupt and he's off to PLAY! Hell (spelling intended) to the Chief!

[sdanca4]

03:35 PM on 11/29/2011

You are sounding very Angry.... Cain have a job opening for you....hotel lookout....then you can shout....WATCH OUT!!!
You need anger management quick. The president can not Executive Order but so much. A president is only 1 branch of the 3 branches of our government. He do not write laws nor pass them. Remember the cartoon you saw in grade school on How a bill become law? If not go quickly to your local library....Oak Brook have plenty of them.

[vlvogrma2]

02:04 PM on 11/28/2011

Great..people are scraping together $$ for Thanksgiving dinner..trying to buy Christmas gifts for their family & all the media can do is pat themselves on the back & show pics of the Pres & his family have a high time at a basketball game complete with high priced clothes...makes me sick to my stomach..2012 can't come soon enough for me - no more Obamas & the press licking their shoes...free at last, free at last..thank God Almighty we'll be free at last!!!!!!!

[Tom Airhart]

03:52 PM on 11/28/2011

Say the serenity prayer, vivogma2. Furthermore, Obama will be around after he is re-elected in 2012.

[Annette Hammond]

10:31 PM on 11/29/2011

But you see,he will not be re-elected.

[NevaforLeadership]

04:48 PM on 11/28/2011

Obama-Biden
2012-2016

[Lamar Chapman III]

06:08 PM on 11/28/2011

In the unemployment line!

[HC says]

10:45 PM on 11/28/2011

BIDEN - KUCINICH 2016 (Let's get it over with!)