Obama tapes message for NBA all-star game tomorrow urging service

[TeamJordan23]

Obama pitches public service in message for NBA All-Star Game

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It's another call for public service from President Barack Obama.

He says all Americans should help out in their communities. That could mean reading to children or repairing basketball courts.

The basketball-playing president taped a message for Sunday night's NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix. The White House released excerpts ahead of the broadcast. Obama's taped message will air at halftime.

The president is encouraging people to visit a Web site to find jobs that need done near their homes. He says everything from putting together care packages for troops and fixing up basketball courts can help.

Excerpt: “In this time of so much need in our communities and across our country, we are blessed with endless ways to restore hope and opportunity in places that yearn for both. Prepare a care package for a soldier. Read to a child. Or fix up a local basketball court so the next generation can play and grow. I encourage everyone to join the NBA in the spirit of service to others. Just log on to USA service DOT org to find or create a project near you, then gather some friends and lace ‘em up.”

Preview clip: http://www.whitehouse.gov/videos/2009/February/20090213_NBA_clip.mp4

[ORDagnabbit]

1. maybe getting those overpaid athletes to take salary cuts would be a start.

[TeamJordan23]

2. shouldn't be in the business of saying who should get paid what when they aren't relying on the govt

Let the markets work themselves out. For the amount of money some of these players generate for their owners, city, and sport - you could argue they are underpaid.

[asphalt.jungle]

4. exactly

nba players aren't running their teams into the ground and then requesting to be bailed out by the govt.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

3. Joe DiMaggio...

...used to keep a supply of bats, gloves and balls in the trunk of his car. Whenever he'd pass through a neighborhood where kids were playing ball in the street, he'd park the car and hand out freebies, visiting for a bit, and then would drive off.



My personal feeling is that athletes like DiMaggio took the heart of sports with them when they shuffled off this mortal coil. I understand that some present-day athletes sell their autographs in anticipation that kids will double or triple their investment by selling them on eBay, but I think the world was a better place when athletes played more for the love of the sport and less for the love of bling.

:rant:

[RollWithIt]

8. Lebron James does this sort of thing in Ohio....

He's given away millions to the local schools and charity organizations. Though it would be hard, and maybe dangerous, for him to drive around by himself and just jump out handing away basketballs.

[firedupdem]

11. Lebron and a lot of others give a lot back to the community. n/t

[Captain Hilts]

10. My man, Mookie Wilson is a gem of a human being...

[Radical Activist]

5. The players are just the hired hands.

If they can pay the players that much imagine how much the owners are making. They can start by paying their fair of business taxes and donating more to charity.

[RollWithIt]

7. The market decides how much they make, and in the NBA they have a salary cap....

You can't fault an athlete on signing a contract. It makes no sense.

[Captain Hilts]

9. The market determines their salaries. nt

[rcrush]

6. The only time I care if players are overpaid

Is when I hear that a sports team is annoucning layoffs of regular employees.

[ORDagnabbit]

12. nice how many come to the defense of overpaid athletes but are willing to attack and destroy CEO's