College Hoops & A Hot Dog

Cheering for First Brother-in-Law Craig Robinson's team, the President watches Oregon State Beavers beat Towson University Tigers...
It was a good post-Thanksgiving Saturday for the Hoops Lover in Chief: President Obama began the day with the news that the 149-day NBA lockout will end, played basketball with personal aide Reggie Love, then traveled to Maryland to watch as the Oregon State Beavers defeated the Towson University Tigers, 66-46. Oregon State, of course, is coached by First Lady Michelle Obama's brother Craig Robinson, and the entire First Family was on hand to witness the victory. President Obama enjoyed a hot dog and bottled water during the second half of the game, sitting beside his wife, who was clad in an orange sweater and black pants, in honor of Oregon State's team colors (above).

Obama daughters Malia and Sasha were also clad in team colors as the First Family entered the Towson basketball arena at 1:40 PM, to a standing ovation from the crowd. The Obamas shook hands with folks in the stands and took their courtside seats, opposite the Oregon State bench.
Before the tip-off, legendary actor-comedian Bill Murray, on hand for the game, stopped by to greet the First Couple (above).

As the Oregon State team was introduced, the President and Mrs. Obama smiled broadly and clapped a bit louder when Coach Robinson’s name was called out. The Oregon State hoopsters on Wednesday joined the First Family as they packed groceries at the Capital Area Food Bank, for a Thanksgiving community service event.

Earlier in the day, after playing basketball with personal aide Reggie Love at Fort McNair, President Obama was asked about the end of the NBA lockout.

The President gave a thumbs up and said, “Good deal.’’

At halftime, the Towson football team was introduced. The Tigers won the Colonial Athletic Association championship this season and are now competing in the FCS playoffs. The players posed for a photo with the President. Swarming around him, the team was warned they’d have to run laps if they didn’t give him some room.

By 4:02 PM, victory accomplished, the President and First Lady were airborne in Marine One, heading back to the White House from the Baltimore area. Daughters Malia and Sasha traveled separately, according to pool. Before heading to Maryland, the President and his daughters visited Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe in Washington, DC, for Small Business Saturday.

*Photos by AP/pool

read more "College Hoops & A Hot Dog"

President Obama's "Body Man," Reggie Love, Will Leave The White House

The President's closest personal aide departs after years of service...
Reggie Love, "body man" for President Obama, will leave the White House by the end of the year, the Washington Post was the first to report today. Love, 30, has traveled the world with Mr. Obama since his days in the Senate, a constant presence who takes care of any and every situation that might arise, from producing a Tide bleach pen when Mr. Obama spills hot sauce on his tie, to dealing with the countless take-out orders the President acquires when stopping at restaurants around the US for eat n' greets. (Above: The President hands off a pie to Love after visiting a restaurant in Minnesota)

Of course Love has more important duties than just being food-wrangler for the Eater in Chief, though he has been credited with keeping the President slender with his discreet disposal of all that take-out chow.

"Over the years, Reggie has been a friend, a teammate and an indispensable member of my staff," President Obama said in a statement today. "From my Senate office to the White House, his ability to juggle so many responsibilities with so little sleep has been an inspiration to watch."

The sleep-depreived Love started out as a staff assistant in Mr. Obama’s Senate office after college at Duke University, rising to become his ultra-personal assistant, known as the "body man." The 6'5" Love, a former forward for the Blue Devils, is “the person who keeps me on schedule,” the President has said. In a 2008 New York Times profile, Love said Mr. Obama hired him with “no job description whatsoever. It was just like, ‘You just go out there and--Take. Care. Of. Stuff.'"

"Even though I will miss seeing Reggie every day, I want to thank him for his service and wish him all the best as he begins a new chapter in his career," President Obama said.

While at the White House, Love has been enrolled in an MBA program at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, and a White House official said Love is leaving the Administration so he can focus on school. (Above: Love with the President at the 2010 White House Easter Egg Roll)

Love has given few interviews while in Mr. Obama's service, but he was on People magazine's 2009 list of "Barack's Beauties," a special White House-centric feature for the magazine's annual list of the most beautiful people in the world. First Lady Obama led the list, of course.

Love's departure is the latest in a string of longtime Obama aides who have left the White House this year, including Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, Senior Adviser David Axelrod, Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton and Deputy Communications director Jen Psaki. All were part of Mr. Obama's team since the 2008 race.

*Top photo by AP; second by Eddie Gehman Kohan/Obama Foodorama.com

read more "President Obama's "Body Man," Reggie Love, Will Leave The White House"