President Obama is set to be in Oklahoma on Wednesday touring something about something in Cushing, so there was some speculation that with him being a hoop head, he’d attend the Thunder’s game against the Clippers that night.
Doesn’t sound like it’ll be happening though, via the AP:
President Barack Obama will make no public appearances during his brief stay in Oklahoma this week, the White House said late Monday.
Obama will arrive by jet in Oklahoma City late Wednesday, tour the Cushing area on Thursday, and speak briefly to the press at a pipeline company freight yard before returning to Oklahoma City and continuing on to Columbus, Ohio.
Bummer. Would’ve been really cool.
Don’t come to Oklahoma City Charles Barkley and President Obama,
Sir Charles, your (Feb 17, 2006) 7:16pm CT "reality check" comment ……..Oklahoma a "vast wasteland" and "no place for black people” holds some truth. I was recently refunded of over $700 worth of season tickets because (A) being Asian/Black American (B) taking Thunder pictures and providing them free to fans and friends. (C) Wearing President Obama jerseys. Answer (B) taking pictures. But, everyone takes Thunder pictures and posts them today. Question? Is wearing a President Obama basketball jerseys by an Asian/Black American the correct answers. Yes Charles, in Oklahoma, the NBA’s Oklahoma City’s Thunder games are also "no place for black people”. That is, unless you are the starting 5 Thunder players. Watch out President Obama, the Thunder games may be no place for a Black President”. Can anyone help “Oil this Armor? See photos at www.MyPictureman.OKC.com /Sports/Oklahoma City Thunder 2011-2012/OKC vs President Obama.
If Obama's handlers have ever read the political comments on the newsok.com political 'coverage'--it would behoove the safety of our president to not be exposed in OKC in this manner. He should skip the game in as much as Biden is too old to be president. He's not going to win a county in this state regardless--so why even tempt a wingnut with a cameo Peake appearance?
channel 9 is reporting that if you're going to the Thunder game Wednesday to leave early, some of the streets will be blocked off due to the president's visit. They didn't mention him going to the game but supposedly he will land at Tinker and then be going downtown to I guess stay at a hotel down there. Still think he might be at the game.
@ocdred i wonder if he is staying at the skirvin and will be haunted by the ghost
@f5alcon
I bet he is staying at the Skirvin and that would be hilarious, just like the Knicks.
It's going to be really sweet when we get to hand the Prez an OKC Thunder jersey when we visit the White House after the NBA Finals.
Is it too late to make a disparaging remark about Obama in this thread?
@FloppyPunch! I think you're only allowed to attack his basketball skills and/or fandom here. Do either of those apply?
What do you guys think about Ryan Hollins
@walkerdog I don't think he would make a good president but i don't discourage him to dream
@doofUSA nick collison for president
@walkerdog
Is he better than Lazar?
@anonymous12345 Hollins is a generally a terrible defensive rebounder and generally a weak offensive player but he can finish at the rim or get foul shots. He did well including on rebounding in his one and only playoff appearance. RAPM suggests he is below average but maybe not too harmful this year. More info here http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/celtics/post/_/id/4691129/should-cs-consider-ryan-hollins
He is probably good for a 5th big, maybe weak for a 4th big. If they won't play Aldrich they probably wont sign Hollins.
I'm bummed too, it would have been a good interaction for the state, which is as everyone knows, quite Republican. But regardless, I think the enthusiasm would drown out any partisanship. Then again, I voted for the guy so maybe I'm too skewed...? Nah, OKC would be a good host, though the security (as mentioned below) would be crazy.
Oklahoma is 'quite Republican'. That gets the understatement of the month award. I think cooler, more sensible heads have prevailed. It would be a nightmare. Have W come back and pretend like he and Cheney are still president and let him do something at a Thunder game.
@walrusmuse Have you been in any event involving the president? Not just this one, but any of them? It's NIGHTMARISH. You might as well dedicate your entire day just getting to where you need to be. No thanks, Blue or Red.
@Tronchaser hahaha good point. Project 180 is already making hash of downtown streets (with a good end), I can't imagine it with the Prez in town.
i was hoping he could provide Ibaka's real birth certificate.
@justin_mia Ibakas from Hawaii??
@Tronchaser @justin_mia
No, but he's really 32.
http://www.dailythunder.com/2012/03/should-the-thunder-sign-derek-fisher/
Put your voter regisration cards away folks. This would have been awesome. The President is one of the most widely known basketball fans in the country. If he'd gone out of his way to go to a Thunder game it would have been further evidence of how big a deal our young team has become. Oh well. Maybe some other time.
@Old Man Game They could have even incorporated him into the This City intro . . . . :)
@Old Man Game I agree. It would say a lot for the city as well as the team.
I wish he wasn't coming at all I'm afraid someone will try to shoot him. Be safe out there Barack
Serious bummer. I was really looking forward to the President making it out. I think it'd do wonders for his image in OK too. Obviously, we're a red state, but the Pres coming out to an OKC game would get people talking and at the very least, spread some good feelings about him.
@TempBoy Brandon We'd sure look like a BLUE state at the arena though. . . .
@TempBoy Brandon Good feelings? I doubt it.. more like getting booed.. now THAT would be entertaining and get people talking!
@Tronchaser My friend and I were talking about that. I think (hope) that Okies are classy enough to realize that he is our President and would show a little respect and patriotism and give him a good, hearty ovation, mixed of course with sprinkles of boo's. But I'd hope that the majority would cheer and clap, enough so that the jeers would be drowned.
@TempBoy Brandon Hmm, I doubt it. This is the reddest state in the union (I think we had the lowest % of people voting for Obama out of any state). I think the sprinkle of boos would be considerably more than you think. :-)
@TempBoy Brandon Maybe, unless you went to the game yourself and had to suffer though an hour of security checks before you could get in.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct security would take forever, i was at an event with senators once at my college and full metal detectors for people and xray for bags, so it is good that he is not going.
@Jax Raging Bile Duct Good point. But with my girlfriend being in LA, I wouldn't mind a little guilt-free pat down.
@f5alcon I mean, I'd try to get in the line with a sexy lady security guard first. If there are none, I'll go to the older lady line. Then if all else fails, a dude that looks gentle.
@TempBoy Brandon from a dude?
Hey, me and a friend are tripping to OKC for the Clipper, Twolves, and Heat games tomorrow. Are there any good bars and restaurants within walking distance of the arena and if so where should we head? Thanks!
Thanks for the suggestions everyone.. Luckily I have a 5 days to try a lot of these places.
@belt I'm a fan of the bricktown brewery -- their pulled pork sandwich is pretty fantastic. If you can make it to 63rd and May, try Ted's. And ask for the atomic salsa. Best tex mex in town, in my opinion. But like people have said, there's a lot of places to go downtown, so you can just walk around until you find something you want. The melting pot is there too -- going there for dessert is always fun.
@Landstander @belt Ted's is not the best tex-mex on May, let alone in the entire city.
@Patrick OKC @belt Well, I said 'in my opinion'. And I stand by it. I've eaten at plenty of tex mex / mexcian places in the 12 years I've lived here. The only one I missed during the year I moved away was Ted's. Their tortillas are amazing. And I love their salsas. Entrees are just like every other tex mex place. Except the fajitas are better because the tortillas are better. :P
@Landstander @belt agree . . . but The Melting Pot is not for the faint of wallet.
@ThunderChick2010 @belt Very true. Although going for just dessert isn't THAT bad.
@belt A whole lot of really bad generic restaurants in the area
@belt And don't forget Toby Keith's. They always stay open at least an hour after the game ends and serve up half-price appetizers. Tops for dessert and coffee too. If you're a real nightowl, there's always IHOP too.
@belt We need to write a blog post on this sometime, since this question is asked a couple of times every season. At least that way you could get more thorough and have some reader input as to which places they like, etc...
@belt I'll add The Wedge for pizza if you're downtown, but it's on the edge of Bricktown and a bit more of a walk.
@belt The whole downtown area is covered with bars and restaurants, so you'll surely find a place you'll like just by walking up and down Bricktown. Some good restaurants-- Zio's and Spaghetti Warehouse (Italian), Abuelo's and Chelino's (Mexican), Bricktown Brewery and Brix and America's Pub (sports bars), Texadelphia (great cheesesteaks), In The Raw (sushi), Earl's Rib (bbq), Nonna's and Mickey Mantles (fancy). Anyways, there's tons. And there's a ton of bars too. Glad you're making the trip and hope you have fun! And if that's a self pic in your avatar, then I'd be glad to be your personal guide to all things OKC!
@TempBoy Brandon view profile- right click image, view image, nice full size image.
@Tronchaser @f5alcon I shouldn't be drinking when I choose new profile images.
@f5alcon Whoa.
@belt There's quite a few. Are you looking for a bar to watch the game in? Or just to go after/before? The restaurant really depends on your price range/taste