Defending champs visit President, White House
Earl K. Sneed reports from the nation's capital and the White House, where the defending champion Dallas Mavericks were honored by President Barack Obama. 
Washington, D.C.— He’s not only the leader of the free world, he’s also an avid basketball fan. And Monday, President Barack Obama added one more unforgettable moment to the growing list of memories for the defending champion Dallas Mavericks.
Before flying to Detroit in time to prepare for Tuesday night’s matchup with the Pistons, the Mavericks (4-5) made a quick detour to the nation’s capital. The team then entered the historic walls of the White House to be honored by the 44th president and first African American to hold the title of Command-in-Chief.
“This was the Mavericks’ first title, so I want to start by recognizing everybody who stuck with the team through good times and through bad -- from Don Carter, the original owner, to the arena staff, to all the fans back home,” the president said during his speech.
After the NBA released the 66-game shortened schedule, leaving off a road trip for the Mavs to travel to D.C. to matchup with the hometown Wizards, it appeared that the reigning titleholders wouldn’t have their opportunity to meet President Obama as originally expected. However, not to be denied the opportunity was Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and team president Terdema Ussery, working alongside the White House staff and the league to ensure that the organization was honored properly after bringing to Dallas the first title in the franchise’s 31-year existence.
“You could just tell watching the looks on [the players’] faces, you know, how excited they were to be here. It got me more excited. It was really cool. … This is the reward,” Cuban said after making his first trip to the White House.
“Of course, none of this would be possible if it hadn’t been for the shy and retiring owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Mr. Mark Cuban,” the president joked. “So, not only did Mark help put together an outstanding group of players and coaches, he was also responsible for making this event happen today. And so we are thrilled to have you guys here. It turns out that because of the lockout, Dallas wasn’t scheduled to play in Washington this season. That did not sit well with Mark. He knew this team had worked hard. He wanted them to get all the perks of a world championship, including a visit to the White House. It is tough to say no to Mark Cuban. And so they made a separate trip and here we are. And I’m glad it worked out, because this is a special group.”
The team’s returning veterans from a season ago say they’ll never forget the moment they stood shoulder to shoulder with the president, after showing that he is well knowledgeable when it comes to the Mavs’ journey to the Larry O’Brien Trophy. While point guard Jason Kidd presented President Obama with a signed golden basketball, fellow team captain Dirk Nowitzki held up a No. 23 Mavericks jersey, representing both his high school number and that of Michael Jordan who made the number famous for President Obama’s favorite team, the Chicago Bulls.
“I was 23 before Jordan,” Obama joked.
Meanwhile, the president exchanged a few joking jabs with Cuban and the veteran roster, making the Mavs’ players and coach Rick Carlisle feel right at home before a special photo op.
“You anticipate that it’s gonna be a terrific experience and then it exceeds all your expectations. So, it’s really special,” Carlisle added. “Unlike a lot of presidents that get briefed on a lot of this stuff, I believe that he knows most of this stuff already. So, for us that makes him a special president. And he’s so personable, so welcoming, it’s just a phenomenal experience.”
Now, Nowitzki says the Mavs can close the book completely on last season as the team turns its attention to a road-road back-to-back in Detroit and Boston on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. And with Kidd immediately boarding a plane back to Dallas to receive treatment for the lower back injury that will keep him out for at least two more games, the trip to the White House merely serves as a nice distraction before the team gets right back to work a day later.
“I think we were really disappointed looking at the schedule, not having a game in Washington when it first came out,” Nowitzki said. “But give all the credit to Mark and obviously Terdema, figuring out a way to make this happen. You know, this is just part … when you win it all, going to the White House and meeting the president. You watch all these teams do it over and over.
“It was just a special day. We got the tour, we got to meet him. His speech was hilarious. … It’s definitely a great experience. Now, we can kind of move on and we can settle into this season.”
Note: The Mavs will return to action for the first game of a road-road back-to-back on Tuesday night in Detroit in a game that will air on Fox Sports Southwest 6:30 p.m. CT.
After battling the Boston Celtics a night later, the Mavs return home to face off with the Milwaukee Bucks next Friday night in a game that will air locally on Fox Sports Southwest at 7:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling (214) 747-6287.
Single-game tickets are on sale and available at the American Airlines Center North Box Office, online at mavs.com, via phone by calling 214-747-MAVS or 1-800-4NBA-TIX and all Ticketmaster outlets (Fiesta Grocery Stores, Wal-Mart, Simon Mall in Garland and the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano).
Rivalry Pack: Aside from being a season ticket holder, the only way for Mavs fans to attend either of the two Los Angeles Lakers games is through the Rivalry Pack. Tickets to the Feb.22 and March 21 games vs. the Los Angeles Lakers can be purchased as part of a three-game package that includes one (1) of the three premium games and two (2) additional regular season games.
RPL Nights: RPL Nights return for the sixth season and will feature special discounted tickets for 10 pre-selected games. Tickets normally priced $9 will be $2, $15 will be $10, $31 will be $20 and $42 will be $32.
