President Obama’s Basketball Fundraiser Delayed Until Summer 2012


Due to the impending end of the NBA lockout, Barack Obama will have to wait until next summer for his hoops fundraiser to take place. From the WaPo: “The celebrity fundraising game was scheduled for Dec. 12 but was immediately placed in peril when the NBA announced that training camps would begin on Dec. 9. Obama had pushed for the NBA to reach a compromise or risk long-term damage, but his reelection campaign capitalized on the extended lockout to organize an all-star exhibition game that would raise money for the Obama Victory Fund, which supports both the president’s 2012 campaign and the Democratic National Committee. Obama received commitments from current NBA stars such as Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh, Blake Griffin, Amare Stoudemire, Paul Pierce and Wizards guard John Wall; NBA legends Magic Johnson, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo and Reggie Miller; WNBA star Tina Thompson; and Cheryl Miller. Celtics Coach Doc Rivers was also expected to participate and the NBA had even granted special dispensation for league executives to interact with players. The Classic even had some snazzy uniforms, which can still be purchased on Obama’s campaign Web site.”