POTUS loves sports

Gibbs Wears Canadian Hockey Jersey To Briefing After Losing Bet (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | March 12, 2010, 3:36PM

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs appeared at today's press briefing wearing a Canadian hockey jersey, fulfilling his end of a lost wager.

And then, surprise! Halfway through Gibbs pulled off the Canadian jersey, revealing a U.S. hockey jersey underneath.

Read more »

Presidential fitness

Since Taking Office Obama's Cholesterol And Blood Pressure Have Increased

Christina Bellantoni | March 1, 2010, 9:20AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama has chronic tendinitis and his cholesterol has increased, according to his first presidential physical exam performed yesterday at Bethesda Naval Medical Center.

The bottom line is Obama, 48, is "fit for duty," Chief White House Physician Dr. Jeff Kuhlman wrote in his report. But Obama's overall cholesterol of 209 needs to come down, Kuhlman wrote.

That's up from overall cholesterol of 173 in spring 2008. Obama's other cholesterol stats: 46 Triglycerides, 62 HDL and 138 LDL. Kuhlman recommended a healthier diet to reduce the LDL number to below 130.

Read more »

POTUS loves sports

Magic Johnson Forgives Obama's Teasing And Will Join Him On The Court

Christina Bellantoni | January 26, 2010, 11:04AM

Earvin 'Magic' Johnson

NBA superstar Magic Johnson made a second trip to the White House today, and plans to shoot some hoops with President Obama soon.

Johnson, spotted by a TPMDC reporter as he left the White House grounds this morning, said there are no hard feelings after Obama teased him yesterday when presenting the Los Angeles Lakers with recognition. Obama is an avid Chicago Bulls fan who has made basketball a regular White House activity.

Asked if he planned to play ball on the court Obama erected last year in place of the White House tennis court near the South Lawn, Johnson grinned.

"Once the weather breaks we'll be out there," said Johnson, who campaigned for Hillary Clinton during the Democratic Presidential Primary.

Barack Obama

Chinese Weekly Asks Obama About His Love Of Hoops

Christina Bellantoni | November 19, 2009, 10:12AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama granted an interview to Chinese weekly Xiang Xi while traveling in Asia and detailed his view of economic and trade relations with the country.

It's not clear if the interview ran in full or if reports it was censored are accurate, but Obama told the weekly he viewed his trip as a success.

You can read the whole transcript at the White House Web site, but here's an amusing exchange:

Q I know you love basketball. So do you think you have time to play basketball while you're being President?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: You know, I do play, not as often as I used to, but I still play maybe once every week or two. And I enjoy going to games, as well. I wish I could have gone to see the Shanghai Sharks, but it wasn't in my schedule. And I'm looking forward to meeting Yao Ming, who is one of my favorite players.

Asia trip

In China Obama Touts Freedom Through Twitter, Basketball's Yao Ming And Being The First Black President

Christina Bellantoni | November 16, 2009, 7:55AM

President Barack Obama

President Obama held up Twitter and non-censored technology as a key foundation for a free society while addressing students in China.

Speaking in Shanghai during his 8-day trip through Asia, Obama operated much like he does at his typical U.S. town hall, even going boy-girl, boy-girl as he took questions.

He opened up on winning the Nobel Prize, how he views the conflict in Afghanistan and complimented the students on their English skills.

During the town hall Ambassador Jon Huntsman read the question, submitted through the embassy: "In a country with 350 million Internet users and 60 million bloggers, do you know of the firewall? ... Should we be able to use Twitter freely?"

Obama admitted he had never actually tweeted - despite his campaign and the White House's large presence on Twitter - but said technology helps unite the world.

Read more »