(CNN) - After playing basketball at Washington's Fort McNair Army Base on Saturday, President Barack Obama seemed to approve the tentative deal reached earlier in the day to end the NBA lockout.
When asked about the potential agreement, Obama gave a thumbs-up and said, "Good deal!"
NBA Commissioner David Stern announced Saturday that players and owners appear to have come close to an understanding that could lead to a Christmas Day opener for the basketball season.
But even before that, fans will get a chance to see some pros face off in Washington in mid-December, that is if they're willing to dish out some campaign cash for the president.
A longtime basketball fan, Obama is slated to host the "First Ever Obama Classic" on December 12, a fundraiser featuring current and former NBA players. Some big names have already signed up, including Boston Celtics' guard Ray Allen and New York Knicks' forward Carmelo Anthony.
Other players include Patrick Ewing, Blake Griffin and Dwight Howard, and two female players: Cheryl Miller and Tina Thompson. More players will be added before the event, according to the Obama campaign.
The president will attend the Oregon State vs. Towson basketball game in Maryland Saturday afternoon.
From CNN Politics
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A person is given a scholarship to generate millions for the University/State in order to make it to the pro-level or get a free education. Don't break a leg.
Who cares? My interest in this is somewhere below the next republican debate.
Who cares?!? He has absolutely no influence over the process at all. No involvement whatsoever. His opinion of the deal is completely irrelevant.
Question, CNN: What do the GOP candidates think of the deal? Ever think to ask any of them? Would their positive opinions of the deal change yours?
maybe the fans could NOT attend the first 24 games. Just to show the players how we feel.. fans could return and enjoy and support bball for the rest of the season... they will have made their statement... now isn't that the best fantasy ever? ..
There will be millions and millions of 'thumbs-up' when this empty suit moves out of the White House in 2012!
who cares? I am worried who Obama thinks should be winning dancing with the stars! Wow just think if he was this involved in government, people would not think he was leading from waaaayyy behind.
CNN did their duty, do what they can to spin something positive for Obama.
Cue the derogatory remarks from conservatives about Obama wrt basketball and/or campaigning.
The only good I see coming out if this is the regular people that need to make a living. Arena employees & area businesses that benefit from the league playing. I couldn't care less about the cry baby owners and players trying to decide how to split up the zillions of dollars they bring in. The NBA will not be seeing one dollar from me in the near future.
Shame on you CNN for making this headline on both your news channel and website. You must be trying to imitate Fox News. The President was asked in passing about the tentative agreement ending the NBA lockout. He stated in stride "good deal" without stopping. If your viewer does not see the video, one could come to the conclusion that President Obama called a press conference to discuss it and we know that is not the case. I believe there are political reasons for this: simply to make the President look bad, like he cares more for "millionaires vs billionaires" than the vast majority of Americans suffering in this recesion. I expect better from you CNN.
Does anyone really care what he thinks anymore?
We know where his priorities lie. Ha Ha ... I said lie.
That is good. I hope the NASCAR redneck republicans kick rocks! And yes Michelle Bachmann deserve to be called out.
more words of wisdom from o dumbo. he will probably claim he created these jobs.
Obama was playing basketball after golfing again yesterday? Does this lazy bum ever do any work, other than destroying the economy?
Just think, Mr President.
In Jan. 2013, you will be getting a permanent vacation and can play golf and basketball 24/7....
the President hosting a BB game for fund raising? Why does the sounds and thought of that seem so illegal?
Who cares what Bozo thinks about the NBA? All this coming from a person that can't even lead a productive negotiation in Washington D.C. Great headline for a Liberal media outlet like CNN though:
Not news....
Who cares about the NBA? Just a bunch of greedy thugs!!! Obama 2012
Too bad, he doesn't show this much enthusiasm for our troubled, yet, leaderless country !
Real crack political reporting......not.
I can't wait to read the responses from the folks suffering from Obama Derangement Syndrome about this story. It should give me a laugh.
nobody cares about the nba... thugs and tatoo millionares...who barley graduated from high school...
PLEASE!! Keep the criminal in chief attending games and other social activities so he'll stay out of DC. If we're lucky, we can keep DC O-free until someone with a brain can move to Pennsylvania Ave.
I'm just glad Obama has his priorities straight. Nice to see he was worried about those players only getting 5.75 milion per man average to play basketball