President Obama and Vice President Biden are courtside today. I hope they caught this only-in-DC scene, which comes to us via the Twitterfeed of CNN’s Sam Feist:
From the latest White House Pool Report, here are some details of what the scene is like:
Pool Report #2
POTUS attends a basketball game at the Verizon Center between Georgetown University and Duke University.
Seated in a cushioned folding chair mere feet from the basketball court, POTUS studiously remained dispassionate and impartial even as fans of the Georgetown University team all around him went absolutely berserk. Just to his left was a line of shirtless students smeared with gray and blue body paint, some wearing frenzied blue wigs and screaming like they were possessed.
In response to a call that was apparently unfavorable to the Georgetown University team, one of the shirtless fans tried starting a cheer unfit for a family newspaper. But just as it started to get off the ground, a second shirtless student — no doubt a nerd — scolded, “Dude, the President of the United States is right there!”
Which effectively killed that cheer.
Anyway, POTUS did not appear to have noticed the offending cheer. He remain hunched forward, elbows on his knees, watching intently but carefully avoiding any hint about which team he might wish to see prevail.
POTUS perked up for the first time a few minutes into the contest during some kind of break in play when the Georgetown University Women’s Rowing Team was introduced, standing on the big blue “G” painted in the middle of the court. At least they got a polite applause from POTUS.
During another break in play as both basketball teams huddled about something, a referee sauntered beneath the basket nearest POTUS. Holding the ball in one hand, he shouted toward POTUS, “Sir. Sir!”
When POTUS looked up, the referee nodded his head toward the ball in his hand and then the basket, gesturing POTUS might want to take a shot.
POTUS smiled broadly and then both men laughed heartily.
Apparently, it was also bring-your-son-to-the-office-outing day.
Both Robert Gibbs and Rahm Emanuel showed up with their sons.
Shortly after kick-off, VPOTUS appeared from behind the stands. He strode right up to the court and sat beside POTUS. He wore the collar of his sports coat up, giving him a decidedly European look. His son, Hunter, was also in tow.
Also seated with POTUS was David Axelrod. Reggie Love was in attendance but not sitting with POTUS.
At halftime, POTUS got up from his seat and shook hands with some of the fans seated around him and VPOTUS posed for pictures.Charles Hurt
D.C. Bureau Chief
New York Post
