Ball Don't Lie - NBA


Unless you've been living under a rock (and it's okay to admit if you have, I'm told rent is cheap), you probably heard that President Barack Obama sat courtside at D.C.'s Verizon Center Friday night, watching his hometown Chicago Bulls take on the Washington Wizards.

The First Fan drank beer, read the game program and left early (with four minutes left) during a blowout. "All common American activity," as Tom Ziller put it, "except most of us don't sit courtside, nor are we important enough that the NBA will hold up a tip-off until we get to our seats." (Speak for yourself, Z!)

But Obama's night of "Joe Plumber Americana" didn't stop there. He also exchanged a few playful words with a diehard Wizards fan sitting a few rows back. Yes, that's right, the 44th President of the United States joined in a little trash talk. Awesome.

The vocal instigator: Miles Rawls (above, standing, "heckling"), the commissioner of the Barry Farms' Goodman League — a big-time summer circuit in Southeast D.C., which has starred Gilbert Arenas and Kevin Durant, among others.

Dan Steinberg of the D.C. Sports Bog, in a fun must-read, talked with Rawes about trading barbs with the President.

Here's a snippet from the interview:

[Rawls] said his chatter, like always, was unscripted, "right off the top of my head. I just had to see how he was gonna take it," Rawls said. "Once I knew he was a big trash talker, too, about them Bulls, that means the gloves came off." [...]

"I wasn't heckling the President and I don't heckle the players. I talk about their weaknesses. We was having a good time. He was talking trash and I was talking trash. I couldn't believe he was that laidback and real. I loved it."

And while they talked through much of the game, Rawls — who had never met a President — said no lines were crossed. "I wasn't disrespectful," he said. "I know my limits."

So, for example, he told the President that if he was rooting for the visitors, he was "gonna have to keep it to a low roar, because we're cheering for the Wizards over here." Obama, in turn, repeatedly needled Rawls about the Wizards' habit of letting leads evaporate, especially when the Bulls made a run.

"We was just going back and forth," Rawls said. "Once Chicago started coming back, he told me, 'Now I think you need to sit down.' When Tyrus Thomas dunked on somebody, he turned around, was talking smack. Then JaVale McGee had that alley-oop, and he gave me the high five. We was just supporting each others' team, having a good time."

Click here for the full interview.


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3965 Comments

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  1. Manoj Lal
    1. Posted by Manoj Lal Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:05 pm EDT

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    lol hilaaarious but awesome stuff. And somehow the Wizards won this game??
  2. Manoj Lal
    2. Posted by Manoj Lal Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:05 pm EDT

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    Dude plays pretty well too... I remember when he played with the Tar Heels in a scrimmage: has the ball, goes around a pick, splits the subsequent double team, and goes to the hole and gets the ball over Tyler Hansborough (who had desperately attempted to swat it)... Didn't get the roll but it was pretty impressive
  3. SB 13
    3. Posted by SB 13 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:06 pm EDT

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    cool a$$ dude
  4. Ridiculous Scott
    4. Posted by Ridiculous Scott Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    How about the usher behind Obama? Her job is apparently to look at the camera and smile all night?
  5. Nate S
    5. Posted by Nate S Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:36 pm EDT

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    haha that is funny R Scott... she is just straight cheesing. Obama is a real dude. Real recognize real
  6. Simon Le Pierre
    6. Posted by Simon Le Pierre Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:44 pm EDT

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    look at that kid in red, he is probably worried about letting one rip around the president, the secret service might not take too kindly to that.
  7. JB
    7. Posted by JB Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:46 pm EDT

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    I'm just wondering what sort of trash will be spewed when Obama goes to a Redskins game.
  8. lions, vikings, and bears suck
    8. Posted by lions, vikings, and bears suck Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:44 pm EDT

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    where's his bulls jersey? some fan huh
  9. Diemenz
    9. Posted by Diemenz Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    6. Posted by Ridiculous Scott Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:52 pm EST Report Abuse
    How about the usher behind Obama? Her job is apparently to look at the camera and smile all night?
    hillarious dude
  10. JJ L
    10. Posted by JJ L Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

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    Who wears sunglasses to an NBA game??
  11. deb
    11. Posted by deb Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    YOU did Mr Max S. Mr George Bush and look were we are. Please dont be upset your President is a black man who is very qualified. Oh yesh did i say your pres is a BLACK MAN.
  12. football4life
    12. Posted by football4life Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:25 pm EDT

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    12 qualified like bush qualified? how about palin qualified? idiot.
  13. Trip Sulat
    13. Posted by Trip Sulat Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:23 pm EDT

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    lol @ ridiculous scott:
    I think she's either a statue or a paper standee. Her smile didn't change in those two photos.
    To all Obama critics:
    I don't know much about him or what he will do, but i dearly wish my own country can have a fresh president who will energize and unify our nation.
    --tripsulat
    manila, philippines
  14. john madman
    14. Posted by john madman Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:42 pm EDT

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    bozo the clown
  15. john madman
    15. Posted by john madman Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:42 pm EDT

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    hey JJL, you mean you didn't know ray charles is blind and needs those glasses
  16. mikey
    16. Posted by mikey Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    What wrong has Obama done? Good grief, like going to a ballgame is contributing to the economic downturn, or a puppy for the Presidents kids is stalling the end of the fighting, friggin sour grape republicans who have the audacity to think they have any room at all to say how a government should run after the total failure they have shown in the 8 years they have had to ruin this country, another recession like Reagan and Nixon, you cant teach old fools
  17. tamara
    17. Posted by tamara Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:55 pm EDT

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    That man looks pretty angry in the first picture(the one standing up). And why does everyone get into an economic debate when its the president at a basket ball game. He's a free man too...right? I mean sure he could be doing something, but then again so could everyone else being doing something instead of watching basket ball games :/
  18. EBT
    18. Posted by EBT Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:53 pm EDT

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    That's really cool of the President.
  19. J E
    19. Posted by J E Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:27 pm EDT

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    Hmm, If the Media went after Obama like they go after A-Rod and other Steroid abusers. We may actually learn something about Him for a change. Like His socialist and terrorist ties. Or that he thinks we are a nation of 57 states.
  20. Jeff
    20. Posted by Jeff Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:53 pm EDT

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    Haha talkin smack to the guy on your shirt. Not too shabby...
  21. john madman
    21. Posted by john madman Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:42 pm EDT

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    dear bozo: the guy has the concerns of the globe on his mind when he is at home and then he goes out to watch a basketball game and try to forget for a moment the tumultuousness and then you have to jump up like a jack in the box and then for humility sake he is forced to go along with your asinine behavior and then you go out and tell the press how cool you and the president were on this special night, bozo.....probably he'll call you before he goes to the next game and see if you want to roll with his motorcade...
  22. fc
    22. Posted by fc Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:59 pm EDT

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    Thats cool...but if Bush had gone to a Texans game everyone would have had negative thoughts on that...
    Let's face it, Obama's the president of the United States, he can do whatever he wants...
    Its funny, that the Dems are saying the Rs are all sour and shouldn't be talking...yet their party is the most sour one, the one that loves to create phobias and irrational panic. This is not the place for politics, but unfortunately, the sports news loves to inject Obama talk into every Sportscenter, halftime show, news article, or blog...
    Let me say this...so what? Who cares if Obama went to a game. Who cares if so and so player dedicated the next game to Obama. Who cares if so and so player wants to be the first team to visit the white house...what does that have to do with covering sports??
    Some idiot even asked him how he feels about steroids in baseball at the state of the union...who cares?? Others have called for Obama to fix college ftbll...who cares??
    For those paying attention to the real world, notice that Obama is following Bush economic policy. Only diff is he plans to tax "the rich" and give some free handouts...
    Obviously, I hope that his plans work, as does everyone in America I assume, but unlike the mindless drones that believe he's got the touch of gold and everything he does is super, I'd rather see what he does...
    So far...no different than any other politicians in his actions, speeches or policies since taking office...
    But whatever, bow down to him people...
  23. Thomas N
    23. Posted by Thomas N Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:13 pm EDT

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    i'm sure obama can afford to go to a game-he's now not only president but cfo of our entire country. read some history books-not endorsed by nbc-and you will see that except for reagan we have been on a slide of overpowering government control since fdr. blame bush all you want, but make sure you go through what got him to that point. yes include dear mr clinton in the fact that he screwed us all with unchecked market growth. obama wants the government to rule everything, if you're cool with that fine, but i doubt jefferson or franklin or even washington would have labeled obama anything more than an idiot.
  24. curtis
    24. Posted by curtis Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:18 pm EDT

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    Given Dubya's track record with sports (Texas Rangers... *shudder*) I wouldn't want him anywhere near a Houston Texans game.
    Bush can throw one helluva opening pitch, though.
  25. dp4
    25. Posted by dp4 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:23 pm EDT

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    If any of you stood by Bush while he was screwing up and you are throwing insults at Obama already, you are not patriotic, you are a racist. Give this man a chance and if ur a Republican, tell the people in your party with no leader to come up with a plan and stop whining all day. There has never been a Blackman as a potential leader of the GOP and this guy named Steele is supposedly the leader now since Obama won? Give me a break!! As Bush did as President, Obama is doing what he thinks is the best solution. Hopefully it will work but he has done a lot since he has stepped into office. I am from Chicago, not a Bulls fan but he supports his team like everyone else so let him enjoy his sports. He is like a celebrity and on every talk show so why hate him? How is that affecting you? Is that what you want for yourself? Get off ur a** and make something happen and stop judging your President!!!

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