Zion Williamson found it crazy to learn that former US president Barack Obama was among his most devoted and dedicated supporters at an NBA All-Star Game event in Chicago on Friday.
Obama chatted with the 19-year-old rookie star forward of the New Orleans Pelicans ahead of today’s 69th showdown of elite NBA talent, impressing the prodigy with his knowledge.
“He said I was playing great. I kind of zoned out after that. That’s all I needed to hear, to be honest,” Williamson said. “He was even talking about my recent games. I was like: ‘You’re keeping up with me? I’m 19, man. You’ve got superstars you can go and keep up with.’ It was crazy.”
Photo: EPA-EFE
Obama told Slovenian guard Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks: “You are doing fantastic,” and impressed Atlanta’s Trae Young, another All-Star Game starter.
“He just loves watching me. He watches me all the time,” Young said Obama told him. “Telling me how it’s going to turn for the Hawks in the future — it’s crazy that he knew all those different things about me.”
Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel said it is par for the course for an ex-president who is a noted basketball fan to have supporters among NBA players.
“There’s really nothing like it,” Vogel said. “He’s a young president who is really beloved by all of America, but in particular the NBA family. He’s so in-tune with our game and it was a great honor to meet him.”
No one was more thrilled than Williamson, who made his NBA debut on Jan. 22 after missing three months with a knee injury.
He scored 32 points in a 123-118 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. With 221 points in 10 games, he joins Shaquille O’Neal and Allen Iverson as the only players with more than 200 points in their first 10 league appearances.
“He said: ‘Career-high 32.’ Crazy,” Williamson said of Obama. “For him to keep up with all of us, hats off to him. I’ve got a lot of respect for him, just knowing us, knowing our stats.”
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping