By Jueseppi B.
Scottie Pippen joins President Barack Obama in Chicago for a game of basketball as millions of Americans cast their votes.
There are certain perks that come with having won six world championships and being a member of basketball’s Hall of Fame.
One of them, as Scottie Pippen learned this week, is that you get an invitation to play in President Barack Obama’s traditional Election Day basketball game.
It was the first time Pippen had met Obama. The connection was made through a mutual friend, Marty Nesbitt. Obama mentioned that Nesbitt thinks very highly of Pippen.
“He said it was a pleasure to meet me and that he had heard good things about me from Marty,” said Pippen. “I told him, ‘Thank you and I wish you well tonight. But if you want to be a winner this afternoon, you better play with me.’”
Apparently the President agreed, so when the action began, Pippen and Obama were on the same team, in addition to former Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and two others. And this was no informal pickup game—there were officials, a running clock and four 12-minute quarters.
As for a scouting report on the left-handed Obama, Pippen came away impressed.
“He’s not an overly aggressive player, but he takes what the defense gives him,” said Pippen. “He’s got a smooth game. He probably used to be a little more aggressive, but obviously he doesn’t want to get hurt.”
That certainly wasn’t going to happen if the defense had anything to do about it.
“I thought the lanes opened up when Michael Jordan used to drive,” laughed Pippen. “I used to be like, wow. But when I saw the President drive, I thought they were bringing the whole motorcade through the lane it was so wide.”
In the end, and perhaps this comes as no surprise, it was Obama and Pippen’s team who walked away with an easy win.
“We kind of blew them out,” said Pippen. “It should have been worse but we started messing around at the end. The game was close for awhile, but in the third quarter we opened it up. They tried to get back in it in the fourth, but we kept expanding the lead. It was a good game, fun and competitive.”
The Election Day games began when Obama played on the day he won the Iowa caucuses in 2008. They became tradition after he lost the New Hampshire primary to Hillary Clinton on a day in which Obama did not play basketball.
Other participants in this year’s edition included former Bulls guard Randy Brown, currently the team’s Special Assistant to the General Manager, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
Mr. Obama arrived in Chicago late Monday night after a full day of campaigning, his last stop being in Des Moines, Iowa. As he did in 2008, the President will spend election night in his hometown, this year hosting a rally at McCormick Place.
The game wasn’t the first time Pippen, who serves as Special Advisor to the President and COO for the Bulls, has been in the company of a sitting President.
During the Bulls dynasty of the 1990s, Pippen and his teammates had the opportunity to meet President George H.W. Bush during the first three-peat. They also visited with President Bill Clinton, who like Pippen is an Arkansas native, on more than one occasion during his time in office.
But running up and down on the basketball court with President Obama was obviously a unique opportunity for Pippen that he will never forget.
“It was a very special experience to play ball with the current President on Election Day. That says it all,” said Pippen. “You sit there and wonder what the President is doing on a day like this aside from voting. It was very enjoyable for me and something I’ll always remember. I got to see the President in a relaxed atmosphere—no suit, just one of the guys. It’s a story I can tell my kids and have them look back on.”
After they finished playing, Obama approached Pippen and told him, “Hey, I’ve got to get you out to the White House.”
Pippen’s response: “For sure, Mr. President.”
Filed under: Politics Tagged: | Alexi Giannoulias, alexigiannoulias, Barack Obama, Chicago, election day, Michael Jordan, Obama, Pippen, Randy Brown, Scottie Pippen
Jueseppi B.
The Beauty of America is that for all the evil we do… when it really counts, we do the right thing and we choose the right leaders. We got it right tonight.
Glad this one is over.
IF it is over. Lyin UnFitt Mitt refuses to concede yet.
Uh-huh. Well, trust funders have issues with rejection, man. The math here is pretty easy to read. It’s over. And it wasn’t really that close.
Perfect.
I never thought it would be close Mr. Publius. America don’t like to be told they will lose shit they fought to get.
I’ve been catching up on some Ancient history articles I have saved for just such a time. I can’t relax but it doesn’t pay to watch the kettle.
I’m watching the Chicago Bulls….QVC. I ordered a black leather otterman for my feet.
My stomach is fluttering. Ohio is doing well for Obama. What do you think?
I have no idea, I am watching the Chicago Bulls play Orlando Magic….and drinking sweet mango tea. I’ll tune into C-SPAN around 10 PM Central time when there are some solid results to watch. Right now a bunch of morons are sitting round a desk scratching their balls and crotches waiting for the results to come in….which won’t be for hours.
Iowa polls will close at 9 PM central time….31 minutes from now….so they really don’t have much to say until 10 or 11 PM.
Relax, watch something besides this dumb election coverage until they have something to actually tell us.
I did that earlier, the History Channel. Can’t sit still.
How you doing now? Still nervous?
yep nervous and excited. Calling friends. yelling happily.
CNN says we are ahead in electoral votes now
It ain’t over yet…..Florida is still important and Florida is only in Obama’s column by 35K votes with 90% counted. Florida is a tricky state, they cheat & steal. What are you “yelling happily” about?
Because I think we are going to go all the way. Dade county is heavily Dem. And he will get Ohio. I am excited. CNN says iowa went to the President!
Iowa was always Obama territory. I’ll celebrate when the POTUS hits 270 Electoral votes….and wins the popular vote. I’ll let you be excited until then. Should not be too long now. Once Florida goes to Obama/Biden…it’s over.
oregan went to the President…256 electorial votes!
We don’t need the popular just the electoral, right
I want both popular and electoral. Send a message
electorial 274.
I Love The ObamaCratic Party
me too! I have already posted my congratulations!
281 electorial votes
Where’d you get the 281 number from?
MSNBC has it at 274
CNN 281
I see that now.
Romney won’t concede. That is a sign of a poor character I think. He needs to man up. He is shaming himself.
He is now down 284 to 203….Ohio no longer matters…..the west coast is yet to be counted and the west coast is all ObamaLand
CNN gave Obama California about an hour ago.
It’s now 290 to 203 for Obama/Biden according to ABC News
Whoo. I heard they are giving women a lot of credit for the win. We will stop the war on women. Romney speaking in 7 minutes.
Yes I heard he will speak at 11:55 CST, id 6 minutes. I always say women are a force to be reckoned with…..politically.
just politically? We are all powerhouses. Feminist women and feminist men.
This was an important lesson to all of the racists and sexists in the world and people who do not want to take care of our planet.
This time good common sense and the American way prevailed.
Oh, yes it did! It has been such a wonderful evening and I am having a glass of wine. I want to hear the President speak.
His speech is wonderful. I am so proud of him. He is so right for America right now. We had a tiny part in it. See you tomorrow.
Night night, sleep well and sweet dreams.
I slept so well. And I awoke to, President Obama being President. Sometimes life is so sweet I can’t hardly stand it!!! That is the idealistic part!!
I am pleased you slept well. It was well deserved. We worked hard, now it’s time to work even harder.
Jusesppi, someone on FB wrote to me and I know he wasn’t in agreement with my views but seemed to take them in stride. As I took his. His comments now are irrational and talking about how we are communists and socialists. Islam is going to take over. His first grandchild is going to be born and will have a terrible life. I told him I have read Marx and the Qua ran. They have nothing to do with one another. Would someone harm themselves because of the election? Or is he putting me on?
I am not qualified to give advice on this person’s state of mind Barbara, but whatever this idiot does or does not do to himself, you are not responsible for him or his actions. If he told you he was gonna go out and shoot Muslims because of last night, would you feel responsible for his actions against those Muslims?
Same difference here. Unless you enjoy the drama, I would suggest you cut off all contact with this person.
Usually when someone tells you they plan to do something, they are just interested in your response and your attention.
You are right and I will do that. Thanks for an unemotional perspective. Back to We did it. LOL. Are you having a good day today?
I am having a wonderful day after. Amazing how politics is indeed affecting the everyday lives of so many Americans. In a positive way no less.
so true
Thanks for the reblog. I am dancing. I am singing. We imagined it and worked for it and it happened.
cnn projects we won
GAME OVER…..Yes We Won
Congratulations Ms. Barbara
NM is going to the President! Whoo hooo