Hoops Rule: The President and the Hard Court
The White House needs a new basketball court and it's not in the stimulus package.
I was in New York City recently and bumped into Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. I congratulated her on the stimulus package, but refrained from lobbying her about a glaring omission in the $800 billion legislation -- the absence of a public works project to build a new indoor basketball court on the White House grounds.
Regular basketball games for President Obama and his team are essential to the nation's recovery. Daily workouts on the court are important for the president's physical and mental health. The nation knows that Obama is a serious player. He was a varsity player at Punahou in Hawaii, and played in a the rough-and-tumble noon game at Occidental ("good herky, jerky motion, goes left to the basket," says Oxy coach Brian Newhall who played with Obama in college). Barack played in Chicago and frequently on the campaign trail. According to his brother-in-law Craig Robinson, it was on the court that Obama passed muster as a mate for sister Michelle. Now the coach at Oregon State, Robinson took the aspiring suitor out for a rigorous game of hoops, and reported that Obama was a stand-up guy who could play the game and maintained his cool on the court. No cheap fouls, no temper. A scholar-athlete who could be a decent member of the family, and perhaps more.
The White House needs a new basketball court and it's not in the stimulus package.
I have been playing basketball since I was very young, first in pick-up games at my local park, then in high school as co-captain of the Culver City Centaurs. It has always helped me keep my balance in life. I also learned the diplomatic uses of sports. In the 1980s my wife was elected Mayor of Santa Monica. I began playing ball with a group of city police at a local church, and encouraged our liberal city attorney and city manager to come along. It was a serious game, famous in local lore for the time that I brought a young politician from Arkansas to play (lousy shooter, but aggressive under the boards). I became good friends with detectives and patrolmen, and when issues arose at city hall, we knew each other and could talk easily and frankly.
When the lanky guy from Little Rock became president and asked me to serve as a US ambassador, I took my passion for basketball abroad. I organized an embassy team. We played every Saturday in a high school gym in Helsinki, entered a city tournament, defeated the Russian embassy for the title, and took home a trophy which I placed in the waiting room of my office. My son Anthony, a top player at UC Santa Cruz, came to Finland to play professionally. At one of his games, I joined in a free throw shooting contest at half time with the local mayor. Press coverage was not unfavorable -- similar to Obama sinking a three pointer when he visited US troops during the campaign, except that his shot was shown around the world on CNN (and I missed my last shot from the charity stripe).
The White House needs a new basketball court and it's not in the stimulus package.
Presidents have often played sports. Teddy Roosevelt liked to ride in Rock Creek Park and exercise vigorously. Eisenhower played golf. Richard Nixon bowled (and had an alley installed at Camp David). Jimmy Carter famously jogged. Clinton jogged and played golf but never tried basketball again as president. George W. Bush rode his mountain bike and had a daily workout. But these were all relatively solitary (or perhaps elitist) sports. Basketball is more social -- an urban game -- and it has become a truly global sport. For years, Michael Jordan, not the U.S. president, was the best known American in China. World class players from all over the globe try to make the NBA. Having a U.S. president who is a serious hoopster is great public diplomacy -- but the man needs a decent place to play. The current outdoor court on the White House grounds doesn't cut it.
When FDR was elected president, there was no pool at the White House. He had gotten in the habit of swimming regularly to strengthen his leg muscles, but he knew that it would be bad politics to spend public money for a new indoor pool, however important to his health, while millions were out of work. Instead, a subscription was taken up by the New York Daily News from its readers, and the pool built in 1933, funded by small private donations. Having the people build it for the president was an ideal solution.
I was discussing this with Jonathan Alter, author of the book The Defining Moment -- FDR's First 100 Days (which Obama and his staff have reportedly read). I said to Alter that we should ask the NBA to pay for a new indoor court at the White House. Alter said, not the NBA owners -- instead, ask the NBA Players Association. The workers, albeit highly paid, can afford it, and when it's built they can visit the White House and shoot hoops with President Obama. Retired players like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan could be asked to contribute as well.
The White House needs a new basketball court and it's not in the stimulus package.
It doesn't need to be. The greatest players in the land can be asked to step up and make sure that President Obama, who has so much of import on his plate, has a good place to play hoops - -a place for sweating, herky jerky moves left to the hoop -- and perhaps basketball diplomacy too.
In return, the president and his economic team might be persuaded to add funds to the stimulus package for more inner city sports facilities -- basketball courts, soccer and baseball fields, swimming gyms,etc -- and to make amateur and youth sports an integral part of his urban revitalization and health strategies. The president should appoint a top athlete to head the President's Council on Physical Fitness (I nominate former soccer star Mia Hamm and her baseball player husband Nomar Garciaparra to share the post). Participating in sports, not simply watching, should be a message that the Obama administration trumpets at home and abroad. Of course, President Obama will lead by example.
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Amended earlier comment
I read 'somewhere' that they are tearing up the indoor bowling alley in the basement of the White House to put in a basketball court...previously I said it was a tennis court. I don't have the source, sorry.
All white house renovations are paid out of a special fund....
Having given tennis lessons on the White House court (outdoors),and at the Senate Office building tennis court (indoors), over quite a few years, I'm quite sure there is no indoor tennis court at the White House. With 3 of the 4 Obama family members being quite interested in tennis, it would be a shame to do anything to the outdoor court. However, I'm sure the tennis court could be enlarged, a surface put on that would be good for both sports, and the family could play a little 2 on 2, followed by a set of doubles. The cost would be minimal. I have volunteered my services, as a 2007 World 65 and over Tennis Champion, and a member of the USPTA for almost 40 years, to improve the tennis abilities of the Obama family. Basketball footwork is very similar to tennis footwork. Ask Sam Jones who became a very competitive tennis player here in the DC area. The President and his family would be furthering the efforts of the Washington Tennis and Education Foundation which has a wonderful program that has enriched the lives of many Washington area youngsters. On the tennis court, I routinely manage to get my heart rate over 160 at the age of 66. The long term affects of athletics, albeit rigorous basketball or tennis, can only benefit the President, his family, and stimulate the entire country into more exercise and better fitness. How would that be for a stimulus package?
Never mind the basketball court. How about some funds for FEMA to respond to the ice storm disaster that has left hundreds of thousands without power - quite unlike the current occupant in the Oval Office who "can grow orchids in there, it's so hot."
I think Obama should have anything he wants as long as HE PAYS FOR IT. Taxpayers pay for their recreation and he should pay for his. Also, may I suggest an audit be done of all members of Congress, cabinet members, etc and if they are not paying their taxes, oust them. It is ridiculous that they are levying taxes on the rest of us but not paying up themselves as has come to light of late.
Do it ! Arf !
I read somewhere - that they are turning the indoor tennis court located in the basement of the White House into a basketball court and its part of the white house budget, not a stimulus package....
While building an indoor court on the White House grounds is a sizeable project, there is no reason the existing outdoor basketball court, or even the existing tennis court (with modifications) couldn't be fixed up for the President and his family to play on. An indoor gym is nice, but who wants to play indoors when the weather is nice??? And remember, his daughters want to play too.
My company (Rhino Sports of Sacramento) has offered to fix up the existing court. While the NBA could provide the best indoor surface for Obama to play on, we can provide the best outdoor surface and hoops for him to play on!
Check out my youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDVfOlfs8DQ
My only question is... what logo would he want on his court?
For the record, who would want to play basketball outdoors in Washington, D.C., if they had a chance to play inside at the Congressional gym?
For some time, the less time he spends playing basketball the better.
Go lift weights in private and get back at it.
I think there are valid safety reasons why the prez shouldn't routinely play basketball at area gyms. I agree that he needs a home court and I agree that it would be nice if professional basketball players gave serious donations to the cause. However, it should be open to everybody. A lot of us would like to give a few bucks to the home team. It makes it more a gift of all the people and it would be a satisfying thing for many of us. The grounds are crowded and a gym is not deeply attractive above ground, but if they can build a bowling alley under the driveway, then we should be able to find a place to dig a deeper hole and put in a full court gym. And in the event that we might gather more cash than needed, the money could be used by lottery choice to build some courts in other places where kids really need them too. So, how do we start?
In the meantime, he seems to really, really like "real" people. He may want to try to schedule some time at G'town or at any one of the other many colleges in DC. Even a high school maybe. He's ended up in a place that's pretty exclusive. Being in a semi-public place might actually please him, help him keep in mind why he went for the long shot.
If it still exists, why not convert Nixon's bowling alley into a court? Its hardwood to begin with, and as long as the height poses no restrictions, will require only modification instead of new construction.
As a lifelong hoopster (54 years old) with increasingly bad knees, I know the benefit of playing on wood as opposed to concrete or blacktop.
Long live the ballers!
www.whitehousemuseum.org/floor0/bowling-alley.htm
You need to see the space. Not going to work.
Great website! Fun!
....Hey Dorkus- Long may we 50-something ballers play!...i am still miraculous out to 28 feet, which allows me the privilege to be a "specialist" running in full court games vs. former D-2 AND D-3 30 Somethings...i am blessed....thank god for motrin...
He wanted to deepen the hole and do that, but the bowling associations were up in arms saying that if he tore the bowling alley out that it would depress bowling in America and put many out of business. But the bowling ally is built underneath a driveway, so let's find another spot, dig a hole deep enough for a good b-ball court and get busy. If it's done right, it could also probably be an extra security area as well as an all purpose gym for White House families and staffers. I like the idea of the people making the decisions having a chance to take an hour out and get the blood flowing to their brains again!
---Now how about a title Our House Our court .. The court proposed and all the washington structutures hallways jusice labor commerce cia -----------------------------
belong to the people . Even the opertion staff are the of our peoples . It would be a work incentive and when finished it too would belong tgo the people. .
Ask, if we benifit from adding this to the White House Grounds
With the Monuments of Lincoln Jefferson Madison Our fallen Hero's Memorials ?? (yes--no) .
My vote in no. Just use amtrack transport. With the VP.
Good idea and post.
Because of President Obama, I have dedicated myself to returning to the blacktop after a 5 year hiatus brought about by various physical ailments, and an addiction to golf, and general lethargy.
I think the ideas in the article could springboard a renewal of widespread interest in athletic activity, which could help remedy the current health epidemic that is gripping out nation. Obesity
I just sent a E-mail to the NBA to cough up some money for the President's court ,if nothing more than provide contribution kiosks at the games so the fans under their own volition pony up. Also, I know there is a Basketball Court above the Supreme Court, don't laugh it's true!
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