Obama plays tough game of basketball

Harry S. Truman got a bowling alley for his birthday. Ronald Reagan rode horses. George W. Bush rides mountain bikes. John F. Kennedy liked to sail. Teddy Roosevelt wrestled and boxed and did just about everything else, always with gusto.

Most U.S. presidents during the past century enjoyed some sort of physical, stress-busting diversion from their duties (even 300-pound William Howard Taft played golf). But none loved to play basketball like our next president.

Barack Obama likely will be the first national chief executive to lead a fast break.

His sport of choice might not be as urgent as his plans to fix the economy, deal with two wars and promote energy independence. But Mr. Obama did say during this year’s election campaign that he would convert Mr. Truman’s White House bowling alley into a basketball court.

“That would be great,” said Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas, a staunch supporter who has met Mr. Obama twice and spoken at rallies and fundraisers on his behalf. “As much as he likes playing basketball, it’s really a passion of his. It doesn’t really surprise me.”

Said Thomas’ teammate, forward Antawn Jamison: “I know he’s a big basketball fan. I don’t know if I’ll get invited [to play at the White House], but it’ll be nice to have him come out to some of the games.”

Alan S. King, a Chicago lawyer and one of Mr. Obama’s close friends, said it would be “pretty cool” to shoot hoops in the White House.

“Like the rest of his campaign promises, I’m gonna hold him to that,” he said.

Mr. King chuckled at the remark. Clearly, the president-elect has more important matters to address, issues that affect the nation’s prosperity, security and well-being. But in its context, he also takes basketball seriously. While playing in Denver in May, one of his shoes practically disintegrated. It might have been an old pair of sneakers, but he had to be going at it pretty hard for that to happen.

“He’s very competitive,” Mr. King said. “He doesn’t like to lose. People would be surprised at how competitive he is.”

Then Mr. King caught himself and laughed again.

“Or perhaps they wouldn’t,” he said. “It’s no longer a big secret.”

The sport has been a vital part of Mr. Obama’s life since his father gave him a basketball when he was 10. He spent countless hours dribbling and shooting left-handed jumpers while growing up in Hawaii, earning the nickname, “Barry O’Bomber,” and playing for his state champion high school team.

“I could play basketball with a consuming passion that would always exceed my limited talent,” Mr. Obama wrote in his book “The Audacity of Hope.”

The passion is still there. At 47, Mr. Obama remains an avid player - and Chicago Bulls fan. Basketball is a key link among his close friends and advisers, a fellowship of the hoop that regularly gets together for spirited pickup games in which the flying elbow is not uncommon. It also runs in the family. His brother-in-law, Craig Robinson, was captain of Princeton’s team in the 1980s, was twice named Ivy League player of the year and remains the school’s No. 4 career scoring leader. He now is the coach at Oregon State.

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