By: Carl M. Cannon
Source: politicsdaily.com
The NBA season starts this month, but at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, basketball season starts whenever the Big O says it does, which means it starts tomorrow. That’s when a handpicked group of Cabinet members and congressman will play at the White House, courtesy of their host, President Obama.
The original “Big O” was Hall of Fame guard Oscar Robertson, but today’s version is a slashing left-hander who was known as Barry Obama back when he was leading Punahou Academy to the state championship in Hawaii. “Barry O’bomber” he was called then, and basketball was one way that Obama forged friendships with fellow students back in the day.
The roster of players consists of cabinet secretaries Arne Duncan (Education), Ken Salazar (Interior) Shaun Donovan (HUD), and Tim Geithner (Treasury). The congressmen who are scheduled to play are John Shimkus of Illinois; Mike Arcuri of New York; John Boccieri of Ohio; Jay Inslee of Washington state; Jeff Flake of Arizona; Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania; Health Shuler of North Carolina; and Brad Ellsworth and Baron Hill of Indiana.
There are some athletes in the crowd – Shuler was a star college quarterback who played for the Redskins – and some stellar basketball players as well: Arne Duncan played professionally in Australia; Baron Hill is an Indiana high school legend inducted into the state’s basketball Hall of Fame.
He’s Got Game: Obama Hosts Cabinet Members, Congressman for White House Basketball
