Coach Obama Mentors Daughter’s Team
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(Courtesy Pete Souza/White House Photo)
Between his many duties as Commander in Chief, President Obama seems to have added a new responsibility to his plate: Coaching his daughter Sasha’s basketball team.
Weekends at the White House typically see a casually dressed Obama traveling to his daughters’ sports games. This morning was no exception. Or if there are no events scheduled, he often takes the children and their friends to shoot hoops on their own. As such, the press is accustomed to seeing presidential assistants lugging sacks of athletic gear into his motorcade, weaving between Secret Service.
Media are rarely allowed to attend the games. But on Thursday Michelle Obama said the First Dad has taken a stronger role than previously known by actively instructing Sasha’s team.
“He hasn’t missed a game,” the First Lady said. “I think he was hoping to get this weekend off, but I’m gone.”
Mrs. Obama is traveling this week and is currently in Florida.
It’s unclear how long the President has been participating in the team. However, he is not a stranger to the practice. A year ago Obama and his then-personal aide, Reggie Love, once acted as substitute coaches when the team regulars both couldn’t make it to a game.
It is well known that the president is an avid basketball fan. A young Obama played for his high school in Hawaii. Now he seems to go out of his way to spend free time on the court, even sporting a pair of ultra-rare sneakers. In 2010 his pastime backfired when another player accidentally hit him in the lip, resulting in 12 stitches.
Sasha Obama, 10, attends the prestigious Sidwell Friends School in Washington with her older sister, Malia. Past presidential daughters Chelsea Clinton and Tricia Nixon Cox are among the private institution’s alumni.
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Posted by: dan | February 11, 2012, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
“the prestigious Sidwell Friends School in Washington ”
.
Has oBama dictated that Sidwell be forced to provide birth-control pills to all its students? Or is he only targeting Catholics….
Posted by: Michelle Shu Jas | February 11, 2012, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
“the prestigious Sidwell Friends School” after he made sure the vouchers are no longer used in DC schools so his daughters would not have to mingle with ordinary folks. Does he need the votes of the parents of the prestigious school.
Posted by: Lizzie | February 11, 2012, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
Good Dad!
Posted by: tiddah1 | February 11, 2012, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm
Mentor a girl’s team. Perfect for the stiff. He plays like a girl anyway – no offense to good female players. The stiff couldn’t make a girls team Not with the shot he has. The worst since Dick Barnett, but Barnett could shoot. Closer to Chris Dudley on accuracy. Stiff
Posted by: charles | February 11, 2012, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
I feel that these basketball, football and golf stuff is where Mr. Obama is natural, not the Presidential stuff.
Posted by: young_voter | February 11, 2012, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm
Does he ever work? I guess the Country is doing so well ( at least for his friends) he feels all he has to do is play and campaign, Michelle works more.
Posted by: Chuck | February 11, 2012, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm
Does he ever work?
Posted by: Chuck | February 11, 2012, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm
Wake up from your stupor Chuck. It’s Saturday – you know – the weekend? Spending time with family? Never heard of it?
Posted by: John | February 11, 2012, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm
__”Does he ever work? I guess the Country is doing so well ( at least for his friends) he feels all he has to do is play and campaign, Michelle works more.”
POSTED BY: CHUCK | FEBRUARY 11, 2012, 2:58 PM 2:58 PM_________________And Bush was chopping wood and carrying water at his ranch till 9/11 hit. Guess who took the most vacations? Your guess is as good as mine.
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | February 11, 2012, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
Obama is being a good dad, a good role model, and a good president. You can’t beat that!
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | February 11, 2012, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
noflyzone2 wrote:”How dare you post such a message? Do you realize these are young girls of about 10 years?”
.
Since when has that been an concern for the left. They are normally just another useful tool to push their radical ideology.
Posted by: Michelle Shu Jas | February 11, 2012, 3:36 pm.
Says a follower of Sarah Palin, who used her kids as props while trying to convince voters she was just like them……….
Posted by: A Cynic | February 11, 2012, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm
When is he going to start doing his job? No matter how this year’s election turns out, it’s hilarious watching the President’s campaign unfold. In 2008: “Vote for hope and change! I can make the waves stop and the planet heal.” In 2012: “Hey, don’t look at me or my record – look at those awful Republicans!” How sad. I may never vote for another liberal Democrat! They have no problem governing against the will of the American people.
Posted by: ProudCarolinaGirl | February 11, 2012, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
When is he going to start doing his job?
Posted by: ProudCarolinaGirl | February 11, 2012, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm
Over 3.7 million jobs have been added since Obama’s policies hit full stride. Oil production in the country is up. Green energy production in the country is up. GM is back at the #1 car company in the world! Third shifts are being added at automotive plants. Bin Laden is dead. Kaddafhi is gone. Many, many al Qaeda leaders are gone. Nuclear inspectors are back in Iran. The stock market has gone up hugely since Obama’s policies began to kick in. This is a top of the line administration.
Had Bush or any Republican accomplished all of this in 3 years, the right wingers would be creaming their jeans and calling him one of the greatest presidents of all time. Trouble is – it isn’t Bush – it’s Obama – and right wingers are biased hypocrites .
Posted by: Dan | February 11, 2012, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
a cynic wrote:”Says a follower of Sarah Palin, who used her kids as props while trying to convince voters she was just like them………”
.
Basketball “coach” oBama says… whatchutalkingabout. Hilarious!
Posted by: Michelle Shu Jas | February 11, 2012, 8:07 pm 8:07 pm
Like millions of parents around the world, President Obama can do his job and still spend quality time with his children. And, BTW, he is doing a great job as President. Osama Bin Laden is dead, our troops have left Iraq, the economy is improving and the American auto industry is back on top. It will take time to clean up the mess Dubya and the Republicans left him.
Posted by: midfield91 | February 11, 2012, 8:52 pm 8:52 pm
Good for him! At the end of the day this man is still a father and doing things like this will mean more to his daughters someday then the fact that he was president. For people that are making snide political comments about this, get real.
Posted by: DC_Cliff | February 11, 2012, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm
Over 3.7 million jobs have been added since Obama’s policies hit full stride. Oil production in the country is up. Green energy production in the country is up. GM is back at the #1 car company in the world! Third shifts are being added at automotive plants. Bin Laden is dead. Kaddafhi is gone. Many, many al Qaeda leaders are gone. Nuclear inspectors are back in Iran. The stock market has gone up hugely since Obama’s policies began to kick in. This is a top of the line administration.
Had Bush or any Republican accomplished all of this in 3 years, the right wingers would be creaming their jeans and calling him one of the greatest presidents of all time. Trouble is – it isn’t Bush – it’s Obama – and right wingers are biased hypocrites .
Posted by: Dan | February 11, 2012, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
Can President Obama parade you around as an example of the success of his administration? You haven’t worked his whole term and you’ve contributed nothing to GDP.
Posted by: Bill | February 12, 2012, 10:49 am 10:49 am
It will take time to clean up the mess Dubya and the Republicans left him.
Posted by: midfield91 | February 11, 2012, 8:52 pm 8:52 pm
President Obama deficit spent more in three years than Bush did in eight.
Posted by: truth | February 12, 2012, 11:03 am 11:03 am
As usual…there are people like Dan above who can find something negative to say about this. Typical….What I feel is this is a man with his priorities straight….he has security with him and is well prepared to handle a situation if something happens…..remember Bush was reading to school children when the 9/11 happened….no negative comments on this. However, should this be the case for Obama….it will all be his fault…he was not doing his job. I can bank on these statements coming out from people like Dan. This is a perfect example of someone who wants to be a good father and does not want to regret missing out on his children’s experiences as many have and regretted it. He is trying to find a balance and I believe he has. I also believe this reflects in his job…he has always had his priorities there also and has not neglelcted his responsibilities. He knows who is hurting the most…the middle class….and while the republicans say those words…they keep firing cops, firemen, teachers and give more tax breaks to the upper 1%. They will continue to do this as t his is their mantra…..Obama will not….he will try to find a balance here also. Look to Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida and now Indiana….all newly elected reps in 2010 and the people are ready to fire them. What else can I say?
Posted by: talmag | February 12, 2012, 11:03 am 11:03 am
Look to Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida and now Indiana….all newly elected reps in 2010 and the people are ready to fire them. What else can I say?
Posted by: talmag | February 12, 2012, 11:03 am 11:03 am
I’m not sure you should say much since you don’t know what you’re talking about. Let’s take Wisconsin as an example. Funny you don’t hear the left-wing media talking much about Scott Walker these days. Do you want to know why?
Because Governor Scott Walker has achieved great success in a very short time.
All of the hysterics about layoffs predicted by the labor unions never occurred, EXCEPT in districts that were locked into contracts and couldn’t adopt the reforms yet. Overall, Walker’s reforms resulted in MORE TEACHERS being hired, as he promised.
School districts utilizing the governor’s reforms were able to hire 38 percent more teachers than districts that did not use the governor’s reforms. Districts that used the reforms were able to hire 6.78 new teachers per thousand students, while districts that did not use the reforms were able to hire only 4.88 new teachers per thousand students.
According to Governor Walker’s office, if all of the districts surveyed adopted the governor’s reforms, more than 950 additional teachers would have been hired this year. Districts that did not use Governor Walker’s reforms accounted for more than 85 percent of all layoffs. School districts utilizing the governor’s reforms were also able to avoid layoffs at a far greater rate than districts that did not use the governor’s reforms.
Over the last five years the state of Wisconsin school tax levy has increased, on average, by $181 million dollars each year. In recent days, data was released that showed the total school tax levy decreasing by over $47 million dollars. It was the first tax levy decrease in six years. School districts with union contracts that did not adopt Gov. Walker’s reforms showed an increase in their tax levy.
Walker also balanced the state budget and did it while not cutting any services, as he promised. Wisconsin is operating in the black for the first time in a decade.
Given these amazing accomplishments in such a short amount of time, it’s clear those that want to recall Walker are idiots. Walker made them look like fools and he’s not done yet.
Posted by: Stacey | February 12, 2012, 11:24 am 11:24 am
Posted by: talmag | February 12, 2012, 11:03 am 11:03 am
Oh, and the newly elected Republican governor of Michigan has turned that hard hit state’s financial situation around. They’re now operating in the black. I’ll bet you didn’t even know that.
Posted by: Stacey | February 12, 2012, 11:27 am 11:27 am
Yeah right…Scott Walker has done such a great job that his state’s budget is almost $150 million in the hole again. Another classic case of a Republican claiming he can lower deficits while really raising them.
Posted by: elephant in the room | February 12, 2012, 11:39 am 11:39 am
Posted by: elephant in the room | February 12, 2012, 11:39 am 11:39 am
Wrong Skip, Wisconsin is operating in the black. The $150 million figure is just one PROJECTION for NEXT YEAR made by his POLITICAL OPPONENTS. Walker has proven he’s a brilliant and courageous fiscal conservative and will address any shortfalls if they exist. You failed to mention that the mass teacher layoffs you projected in Wisconsin never materialized and that many more teachers were hired. You also failed to mention that Walker’s approval rating is now at record levels for a Republican fiscal conservative in a purple state. Walker made monkeys out of all of you.
Posted by: Mary | February 12, 2012, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
“Walker has proven he’s a brilliant and courageous fiscal conservative and will address any shortfalls if they exist”
What? -with another popular budget repair bill? Considering the last one got him recalled we’ll be looking forward to it!
Posted by: elephant in the room | February 12, 2012, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
Posted by: elephant in the room | February 12, 2012, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
Skip, if I had been raised with your financial acumen I would have never become wealthy at a young age.
Posted by: Mary | February 12, 2012, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
Over 3.7 million jobs have been added since Obama’s policies hit full stride. Oil production in the country is up. Green energy production in the country is up. GM is back at the #1 car company in the world! Third shifts are being added at automotive plants. Bin Laden is dead. Kaddafhi is gone. Many, many al Qaeda leaders are gone. Nuclear inspectors are back in Iran. The stock market has gone up hugely since Obama’s policies began to kick in. This is a top of the line administration.
Had Bush or any Republican accomplished all of this in 3 years, the right wingers would be creaming their jeans and calling him one of the greatest presidents of all time. Trouble is – it isn’t Bush – it’s Obama – and right wingers are biased hypocrites .
Posted by: Dan | February 11, 2012, 4:45 pm 4:45 pm
Can President Obama parade you around as an example of the success of his administration? You haven’t worked his whole term and you’ve contributed nothing to GDP.
Posted by: Bill | February 12, 2012, 10:49 am 10:49 am
Your sad and completely uninformed attempts at personal attacks show you’re unable to address the points made. The Republican right limps further off into their ethical cesspool.
Posted by: Bill | February 12, 2012, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm
This is my third attempt to tall Stacey how wrong she is…one…the state is not financially solid. He has not balanced his debt but added to it and guess how he is planning to fix it? He is going to take the money each state will be allocated to assist the homeowners who are in distress to keep their home…he will use this money to pay down his debt those are his plans. He is one sleezy character and even tried to get a republican to run as a democrat in the last election thinking no one would notice. He lost two seats in that election. The only people Walker has helped are the corporations by giving them thousands of dollars when he got in. His unemployment rate has gone up and why? Because he has fired too many cops, firemen, teachers and nurses…and you say his state is fine. If it were fine..why are the people getting together to get him out….it would seem they would love him if he righted the state…he did not and the people want him out because he does too many things behind closed doors or late at night with no 24 hr. notices which is required by law. So, my friend Stacey, check out what I have said…you will see I am right.
Posted by: talmag | February 12, 2012, 7:27 pm 7:27 pm
Posted by: Bill | February 12, 2012, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm
So, DAN, you attack Bill using his own name? That’s a little odd, don’t you think? Why don’t you answer his question? Let’s hear why you’re such a great example of Obama’s America. Given your hysterically defensive response it sounds to me like Bill has you pegged.
Posted by: Carl | February 12, 2012, 9:54 pm 9:54 pm
Posted by: talmag | February 12, 2012, 7:27 pm 7:27 pm
Stacey is right. You’re wrong. Walker’s high poll numbers prove it.
Posted by: Carl | February 12, 2012, 9:55 pm 9:55 pm