LAKERS VISIT THE WHITE HOUSE, MEET OBAMA

The Lakers came in first to a standing ovation in the East Room of the White House today, all of them wearing suits for their visit to meet the president of the United States, most of them looking excited and nervous. Obama congratulated the Lakers for winning the franchise’s 15th NBA championship, a 4-1 NBA Finals victory in June over the Orlando Magic, which was their fourth in the last decade. It was clear that Obama, a basketball fan who plays when he gets the chance, was fully aware of what the Lakers accomplished and who all the players were.

“I still get enormous, enormous pleasure from watching great athletes on the court, and nobody exemplifies excellence in basketball better than the Los Angeles Lakers last year,” Obama said.

Kobe Bryant presented Obama with a Lakers’ jersey No.1, and Derek Fisher gave the president an autographed basketball. It was the second time both Bryant and Fisher had visited the White House after winning an NBA championship. They last came in 2002 after the Lakers won the second of their three consecutive NBA titles.

- Jason