On Monday, Jan. 28, the Miami Heat organization stopped by the White House, as they were honored by President Barack Obama for winning the 2012 NBA Championship.
A lifelong Chicago Bulls fan, Obama admits that he was disappointed to see his team upended in the playoffs after Derrick Rose suffered a season-ending injury, but still was classy in giving the Heat their respect.
“Even though I’m a little disappointed that the Bulls couldn’t make it, I do want to congratulate the Heat on a well-earned championship,” stated Obama.
The Heat suffered heartache the year prior when they lost in the Finals to a rejuvenated Dallas Mavericks squad and Obama praised the team’s perseverance.
“This team traveled a long road to get to where they are,” he added. “In 2011 the Heat got all the way to the finals only to come up short but when you fall the real test is whether you can ignore the naysayers pick yourself up and come back stronger and that’s true in Basketball and it’s also true in life.”
The President also gave a big thanks to the team for visiting wounded military service members at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
“You guys are heroes to them, but they’re heroes to all of us,” Obama stated.
Heat star forward Lebron James presented the President with an autographed team basketball and seemed thrilled to be in the position he was in, claiming “Mama, I made it.”
Dwayne Wade was also seen giving the President a custom Obama Miami Heat jersey and jokingly referenced that he would love to have Obama on the team.
“You can use a shooter,” Barack playfully stated.
The Heat will next travel to Brooklyn, where they will face the Nets on Wednesday night.
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*** For more behind-the-scenes photos from Lebron James' personal Instagram during his time at the White House, please click HERE
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Chris Robinson can be reached at Trimond@aol.com
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