July 2009 www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com
The Hampton Roads Messenger
7
Bryant, Jackson, and the Lakers
White House Briefs
Are NBA Champions….Finally
First Lady Kicks Off
United We Serve
Recently, First
Lady Michelle
Obama and a
large number
of Cabinet
s e c r e t a r i e s
and senior
administration
officials kicked
off the United
We Serve
summer service
initiative by
participating in
service projects
Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard, right, and Los Angeles Lakers’ across the
Lamar Odom (Ap photo/Stan Honda, pool)
country. United
We Serve is an
extended call
First Lady Michelle Obama promotes the White House’s United
to service by
We Serve volunteering initiative at the Bret Harte Elementary
BY octavia wYatt
School in San Francisco, California with Maria Shriver, First
had their many differences ever since
President Obama
Ever since Shaquille O’Neal left Kobe
Lady of California, photo by Samantha Appleton
O’Neal’s departure in 2004, the two have
challenging all
Bryant and Lakers in 2004 and headed
finally begun the road to letting go of the
Americans to help lay a new foundation
of Service and Remembrance on
in a “Flash” to Miami, there has been
past. Earlier this season the two shared
for growth in this country by engaging
September 11th. The initiative will
talk if either one can win a title without
the title of All Star Co MVPs. Shaquille
in sustained, meaningful community
be led by the Corporation for National
the other. O’Neal silenced his critics
O’Neal has said during the playoffs that
service. The United We Serve summer
and Community Service, the federal
in one full season with the Miami Heat
he wishes the best luck to Kobe Bryant
service initiative begins June 22nd
agency dedicated to fostering service in
when he and Dwayne Wade, whom
and that he hopes he wins it all. So after
and runs through the National Day
communities across the country.
O’Neal nicknamed “Flash”, won the
Kobe and the Lakers did just that, Shaq
championship in the 2005-2006 season.
sent his congratulations to Kobe via his
Twitter page. “Congratulations kobe, u
So when would Kobe Bryant be able to
President Obama Launches
deserve it,” O’Neal said on his Twitter
prove he does not need O’Neal to win
page. “You played great. Enjoy it my
a title?
Conversation on Fatherhood
man enjoy it.”
Well, after this championship win, that
Coach Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant
President Obama
talk has to officially stop, and nobody
have had their share of problems but
kicked off a national
is happier to silence the critics more
after this historic victory, hopefully
conversation on
than the Black Mamba himself. “I don’t
all their problems are far behind them.
fatherhood and
have to hear that criticism, that idiotic
During the celebration Bryant and
personal responsibility
criticism anymore,” said Bryant, “It
Jackson shared a long embrace, probably
with events across
was annoying.”
thanking one another. Phil Jackson has
the Washington
When the final buzzer went off in Game
coached the great Michael Jordan, who
area and activities
5 at Amway Arena, Lakers players may
won him 6 titles in Chicago, but maybe
at the White House.
have finally had a sigh of relief. After
this championship means more.
This conversation
this long road to the finals and being
on fatherhood and
Like Bryant, Phil Jackson has been
criticized every step of the way, the
personal responsibility
criticized. Many people have wondered
Laker organization rejoiced in their
comes during the
if Jackson still had the ability to produce
15th NBA franchise title with a 99-86
100th anniversary of
president Obama hosts a Young Men’s BBQ to celebrate
a championship team, and he showed
victory over the Orlando Magic.
the day dedicated to
Fatherhood and start a national conversation on the
them he can with collecting his 10th NBA
dads.
importance of fathers and personal responsibility. Invited
For Kobe Bryant, this was his fourth
title as a head coach. He has 6 titles with
guests included celebrity dads like Dwayne Wade, Eta
title and first without O’Neal, but for
Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls
President Obama
Thomas, Alonzo Mourning, Tony Hawk, influential fathers
Laker Coach Phil Jackson this was
and 4 with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.
and a group of very
in ranking positions, community mentors, young men and
his 10th championship title. With this
The Laker team made sure that the “Zen
special fathers and
teenagers. The BBQ took place on the South Lawn of the White
championship he passes Boston Celtic
Master” got the proper celebration.
mentors visited non-
House with one of the best chefs in the world, Bobby Flay.
great Red Auerbach‘s historic 9 titles as
profit organizations
The team gave Jackson a champagne
a head coach.
throughout the Washington DC area
models. They set examples of success
shower in the locker room that they
dedicated to mentoring and supporting
and push us to succeed ourselves –
Bryant finished Game 5 with 30 points,
hope he will never forget. “He took his
young men. The group then returned
encouraging us when we’re struggling;
5 assists, and 4 blocked shots. Unlike
glasses off, threw his head back and
to The White House for a town hall
loving us even when we disappoint
Lebron James, Bryant’s supporting
soaked it all in because this is a special
meeting on fatherhood featuring five
them; standing by us when no one else
cast did not disappoint. Trevor Ariza
time,” Bryant said. “For us to be the
outstanding fathers and their incredible
will,” President Obama said during the
finished with 15, Lamar Odom with
team that got him that historic 10th
life stories. The afternoon culminated
town hall meeting.
17, Derek Fisher had 13 and Pau Gasol
championship is special for us.”
with a mentoring session with the
recorded 14 points and 15 rebounds. visiting fathers and more than 120
President Obama also issued a Father’s
So with this season coming to a close,
young people from the DC area.
Day proclamation honoring the work of
Although Kobe Bryant was not named everyone is wondering will the Lakers strong, committed fathers and also taped
the MVP of the NBA this year (it was be able to repeat. Kobe has already This occasion highlights fathers from all a public service announcement for the
given to Lebron James), he definitely
said no to the idea of leaving the Lakers
walks of life who have faced challenges
Ad Council.
made sure he would receive the MVP
even though he could be an unrestricted
and overcome obstacles large and small
of the finals. There was no denying that to do what is right for their families.
The White House is preparing to continue
agent next month. There are numerous
he deserved it. Bryant averaged 32.4
these conversations with a series of
Laker players, such as Trevor Ariza and
points, 7.4 assists and 5.6 rebounds in
“We all know the difference that
regional town hall forums throughout
Lamar Odom, who could become free
the finals and went on his way to earning
responsible, committed fathers like
the summer and fall on the importance
agents next month and we will see who
MVP honors.
these guys can make in the life of a
of fatherhood in communities across the
will stay around for a possible run at the
child. Fathers are our first teachers and
nation.
Although O’Neal and Bryant have title for the 2009-2010 NBA season. coaches. They’re our mentors and role
www.whitehouse.gov
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