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powergirl

(2,393 posts) Mon Jan 9, 2012, 10:02 PM Jan 2012

OBAMA JOKES WITH AND GETS TEAM JERSEY FROM DALLAS MAVERICKS - PICTURE

Team captain Dirk Nowitzki presents President Barack Obama with a Dallas Mavericks team basketball jersey during a ceremony honoring the 2011 NBA basketball champions Dallas Mavericks, Monday, Jan., 9, 2012, in the East Room of the White House in Washington.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama saluted Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks on Monday as NBA champions who staged a season-ending charge to beat LeBron James and the vaunted Miami Heat and claim their first title with a “heart that's the size of Texas.”

“This was a remarkable run, a great victory,” Obama declared, as owner Mark Cuban and Mavericks stars, including series MVP Nowitzki, looked on. “It's too bad that next year, it'll be the Chicago Bulls here.”

The first basketball fan — a passionate supporter of his hometown Bulls — was nonetheless lavish in praising the Mavericks, who beat the Heat in six games last June.

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Monday's ceremony reflected both the league's current, lockout-shortened season and the determination of the colorful Cuban to make it happen. Typically, White House visits take place when a championship team plays in Washington. With such a short season, the Mavericks aren't here this year. Cuban insisted on the ceremony anyhow.

“It's tough to say no to Mark Cuban,” Obama said, to knowing laughter from his players.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/dallas-mavericks/headlines/20120109-president-obama-jokes-with-mavericks-during-their-white-house-visit1.ece