Obama to attend UNC-Michigan State basketball game on USS Carl Vinson : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

SAN DIEGO — President Barack Obama will attend the Carrier Classic basketball game between North Carolina and Michigan State on Veterans Day on the USS Carl Vinson, the aircraft carrier that buried Osama bin Laden at sea.

The White House confirmed today that the nation's basketball-player-in-chief has accepted an invitation to attend the Nov. 11 game, the first college basketball game on an active flat top.

The Carl Vinson, whose commanding officer is Reidsville native Bruce H. Lindsey, and its sailors have attracted considerable attention since early May, when the carrier conducted bin Laden's burial at sea after he was killed by Navy SEALs in a raid ordered by Obama.

"This Veterans Day, President Obama will honor our nation's veterans by laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery and then by traveling to San Diego, California, to attend the Carrier Classic on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson," the White House said in a statement. "He looks forward to a great game between Michigan State and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill."

Obama is a huge basketball fan. Last November, he needed 12 stitches in his lip after he was inadvertently elbowed during a game of pickup basketball. His brother-in-law, Craig Robinson, is the coach at Oregon State. Obama has filled out an NCAA tournament bracket the last three years for ESPN, which will televise the Carrier Classic.

Mike Whalen, the director of Morale Entertainment Foundation, which is organizing the game, said there will be appropriate security considering the dignitaries who are expected to attend. Besides Obama, top Navy officials and congressional delegations from North Carolina and Michigan have been invited. A postgame concert is scheduled, but organizers haven't announced the acts.

James Worthy and Magic Johnson will serve as honorary captains for their alma maters.

The game will be played on the flight deck of the carrier, which is surrounded by military bases. The Carl Vinson, which has been in San Francisco for Fleet Week, will be berthed at North Island Naval Air Station. To the south is Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, where SEALs train. Across San Diego Bay is Naval Base San Diego. In case of rain, the game will be moved below to the hangar deck.

Navy officials got the news on the sea service's 236th birthday.

"We're honored that President Obama plans to attend the game on the Carl Vinson," said Rear Admiral Dennis Moynihan, the Navy's chief spokesman. "The ship is a representative of more than 100 Navy ships that are deployed right now. We see this as a celebration of service for all veterans, and we also see this as a great opportunity to showcase what our Navy does on a daily basis."

Said Whalen: "We're excited that President Obama would even consider showing up. We feel like we won the lottery."
The court will be surrounded by stadium-style seating for about 7,000 fans, with most of the tickets going to active military personnel. Tickets won't be sold to the public.

Whalen said Obama can sit "wherever he wants."

rooster8786

October 13, 2011 - 2:51 pm EDT

What a shame these service members and student athletes are going to be subjected to this poor excuse of a leader. How much will this little jaunt cost the American taxpayer, forced to watch it on tv, because they cannot afford to go out & watch it?

Abruti

October 13, 2011 - 3:01 pm EDT

I've never seen an outdoor college basketball game. Seems like the wind could really mess up a 3-point shot depending on weather conditions. Or are they building a gym on this thing?

RandolphBloke

October 13, 2011 - 3:28 pm EDT

Having family members aboard this ship I can safely say that most of them are thrilled about it rooster. Some of them have respect and realize that all that is wrong in the country is not caused by one person and will not be fixed by one person.

flagstik

October 13, 2011 - 4:31 pm EDT

You are exactly right.

SAGG

October 13, 2011 - 4:55 pm EDT

Ditto on both counts. Rooster, if it had been a Repub President, you'd defend it to the death. Chill.

northoftheboro

October 13, 2011 - 10:00 pm EDT

"If a Republican president did this, you'd defend it"

Only one problem with that statement: Republican presidents over the last fifty years have had ample opportunities to pull off this stunt, BUT NEVER DID IT. Had they tried, they would have been impeached , convicted, and perhaps executed, by Democratic rivals within months. It took a self-centered, narcissistic, militarily-inept presidential wannabe and man-child to accomplish this priority-lacking feat. Some of us warned you of this inexperienced lightweight in 2008, but it takes irresponsible actions like this one to reinforce the fact that Barack Hussein Obama is completely over his head when it comes to presiding over the world's FORMER greatest superpower.

Panacea

October 13, 2011 - 11:24 pm EDT

Bush just few into Iraq on Thanksgiving Day, unannounced, to have "Thanksgiving Dinner" with the troops, most of whom didn't actually get to eat anything because of the heavy security.

This, at least, has been planned out months in advance, will be televised to the public, and Obama will not actually be stealing the spotlight (ie he will not be playing).

This has nothing to do with Obama's leadership pro or con. As SAGG said . . . chill.

overtaxed

October 14, 2011 - 1:41 am EDT

"Bush just few into Iraq on Thanksgiving Day, unannounced, to have "Thanksgiving Dinner" with the troops, most of whom didn't actually get to eat anything because of the heavy security."

Panacea, after several years of watching you defend Obama with your "It's All Bush's Fault" comments, I must say you never fail to fail when it comes to blaming Bush for something.
Do yourself a favor and provide some reliable proof that "the troops, most of whom didn't actually get to eat anything because of the heavy security."

Alf42

October 13, 2011 - 7:57 pm EDT

Obama is not trying to fix it. He is making it worse. How clueless you are.

onbe1kanoby

October 14, 2011 - 3:25 am EDT

Are you people really serious? There has not, nor will there ever be! Any Pres, that doesn't take time to see the troops!!! It doesn't matter what it cost!! It is his duty!! You guys ever heard of that word? DUTY!!! HONOR, Country!!!
So if it was him, (OBAMA) or DumDum Bush.. Or bend them over Clinton.... You freaks would have something to say!! So I will say it for you!! Can you do a better job? I think not.. So shut the freak up!! Mofu's!!

October 13, 2011 - 8:01 pm EDT

I wish we could get a leader in chief instead of a basketball player in chief. There's a lot of people who would love to go to San Diego right now if we had the jobs and the money.

newshound

October 13, 2011 - 8:57 pm EDT

Quit your bitching. What are you trying to do to help fix the economy since you are the only one with a clue. If you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.

October 13, 2011 - 9:04 pm EDT

Get rid of Obama in 2012, that's the solution.

October 13, 2011 - 9:35 pm EDT

No, newshound, folks like you who have no tolerance for an opposing point-of-view are what is destroying this nation. And for the record, ordinary citizens like the one you attack are the ones keeping this country afloat with their labor, taxes, and contributions to our society and are not hell-bent on dividing, conquering, and destroying us like the "progressive" ones you so vigorously defend.

October 14, 2011 - 5:27 am EDT

Shows where your mentality is. All of us pay taxes whether we support our leader or not. Most of us pay more taxes. Bottom line is we are supposed to be in this together (together we conquer, divided we fail). I don't like paying the amount of taxes I pay as a government worker and don't qualify for any programs but I too pay to keep this country afloat and folks like you get the same message ---- quit your bitching; the solution is not getting rid of our (YOU HEAR THAT "OUR") President but a no nonsense Congress whose motto is JUST SAY NO to everything.
I don't know who said it but BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU ASK FOR.

October 13, 2011 - 9:28 pm EDT

Pretty disgraceful that one of America's vital, limited weapons of war is taken out of service in a time of armed conflict for one's own personal amusement, just to watch a college basketball game that should be played in another venue. And remember the grief that George W. Bush took years ago by these same people for a "Mission Accomplished" banner when the former president commemorated that carrier's successful and completed deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom?

tooltime123

October 13, 2011 - 10:07 pm EDT

I'm sorry, but doesn't Mr. Obama have more important things to consider like: jobs, the economy, foreign affairs to name a few? Didn't we elect him to give us his best? Isn't the expectation he give the American people 100% of his effort to turn things around? Are there any other American's who find his behavior and leadership lacking? When the unemployment rate is back to 5%, then Mr. Obama can go watch basketball on an aircraft carrier that the taxpayers are paying! Just sayin'........

October 14, 2011 - 1:51 am EDT

Yes tooltime, didn't he also promise to change the way business was done in Washington. Didn't he promise to end the influence of special interests on policy making?

saabman

October 14, 2011 - 6:29 am EDT

@ rooster8786 and his Friends:
You should take the time to think before you say anything . One it will not cost the American taxpayer a dime OK
But it will provide the DOD a good amount of money, with the TV rights and for use of the Aircraft Carrier.
And for you other Big mouths!! You also should think before you shoot off your big, uninformed mouths. President Obama’s $447 billion jobs bill, a mix of spending programs, tax cuts and tax increases. Which came from a Republican Blue print but your Republican House voted it down AND THE IDEA CAME FROM REPUBLICANS!! But you NO the Funny thing about this hold thing? You guys Don't even have a Jobs Bill of any kind and they have been their almost 3 years! BUT OH YOU DO HAVE A JOBS BILL YOU HAVE (999) FROM A PIZZA GUY (lol) come on NOW THAT IS FUNNY!!.!!! I'm a Warrant Office 3 retired (U. S. Army) AND I DOUBT THAT ANY OF YOU WHINING PEOPLE WOULD NEVER CONSIDER PUTTING YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE FOR YOU COUNTRY as THE MEN AND WOMAN HAVE ON THAT SHIP have. Now the next time you open your MOUTH THINK!!! And KNOW WHAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT..!!!!

square jaw

October 14, 2011 - 10:57 am EDT

I am not an Obama supporter. Did I mention that I AM NOT an Obama supporter??!!!?? However, the loser that he is, he did not foul up our country by himself. WE DID by not getting off our a_ _ es and flooding the voting booths over the past 3 or 4 national elections. You weenies stand back and let the "ultra educated" left leaning Liberals tell us what we can say or print and what is politically correct. Baloney. The bigger problem is us!!! We need to quit worrying about how fast we can get out of the voting booth and the 45 minutes we had to wait before we voted. Our impotent, take the money under the table, "what's in it for me" sorry a_ _ congress men and women are taking our country down the tubes. It is time for a revolution at the voting booth--every voting booth, every election. OR--do we want our grand children remembering us as even bigger losers than Obama and his minions? The Do-Overs are gone, there are no more mulligans. It's up to us. What will we do?

If you can read this-thank a teacher. If it's printed in english-thank a soldier. I hope my grand daughters can say that 30 years from now. God bless america

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