‘Barry O’Bomber’ To Shoot Hoops In White House

07/11/2008 04:04

Along with a new president, Washington's most prestigious address may soon house a brand new sporting venue, a five-on-five indoor basketball court.

The 44th president of the United States stands to be the first resident of the White House to make basketball a presidential sport.

A fan of Michael Jordan, U.S. president-elect Barack Obama found refuge on the blacktop while growing up poor in Hawaii. He was a member of the state-championship high school team, earning the nickname Barry O'Bomber.

"Sports have always been a central part of my life," Obama told SI.com before being elected president. "Growing up, I learned about competition and teamwork on the basketball court, and these days I try to get in a pickup game whenever I can.

"If I'm fortunate enough to move into the White House, I'd consider putting in a basketball court," he added.

Obama is a left-hander, and indulged in a basketball game before the results most of the Democratic primaries throughout the 10-month U.S. presidential campaign.

Past presidents have also added sports facilities to the White House:

Franklin D. Roosevelt installed a swimming pool.
Dwight Eisenhower put in a putting green.
George Bush Sr. added a horseshoe-throwing pit.
Bill Clinton installed a running track.

Just before the results of the Nov. 4 presidential election rolled in, Obama spent two hours at the Attack Athletic Centre on Chicago's west side to play basketball with his campaign staff and friends.

It had become a voting-day ritual throughout this campaign. On the days he played basketball he won the Iowa and South Carolina primaries, and the days he did not play, he lost to Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire and Nevada primaries.

SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:

I’m really enthusiastic and looking very much forward to the Obama administration. He’s gonna knock the socks right off some of the stodgy old codgers in Washington, D.C., isn’t he?