NBA 2017 ALL STAR GAMES: CHARLOTTE vs ATLANTA

NBA ENTERS 2016 POLITICAL FRAY; LGBT v RACISM; ATLANTA v CHARLOTTE

CHARLOTTE IS A MUCH BETTER VENUE.

IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME JUST TRY LIVING IN ATLANTA FOR THREE MONTHS.

WHAT YOU SEE ON THE "REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA" SHOW IS NOT ATLANTA.

Sources: The State, Newsmax, ABC 11Alive, AJC, Charlotte Observer, YouTube, 

Story Highlights:

April 2014 - Donald Sterling is banned by new NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for mentioning Racist remarks secretly recorded by his girlfriend.

June 2015 - Charlotte, NC wins bid to host the 2017 NBA All-Star games.

February 2016 - Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed (Democrat) announces his endorsement for Hillary Clinton as President.

Charlotte City Council (Democrats) passes LGBT Bathroom Sharing Ordinance February 2016 despite widespread local voter opposition.

Gov McCrory repeals Charlotte's LGBT Bathroom Sharing Ordinance in March 22, 2016

Gov Nathan Deal vetoes the Georgia Religious Liberty legislation March 28, 2016 (the day after Easter Sunday)

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed calls on NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to change its 2017 All-Star Game venue from Charlotte to Atlanta

Obama visits Atlanta, Ga March 29, 2016 to speak a symposium to combat Prescription Drug Abuse

NBA Spokesperson said they are trying to keep the 2017 All-Star in Charlotte.

**** NBA responds to Atlanta’s call to move All-Star Game from Charlotte

Atlanta City Council invites NBA to move All-Star weekend

Resolution points to passage of North Carolina’s House Bill 2 as reason to move

NBA still hopeful N.C. can work through ‘differences’

Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/news/nation-world/national/article68968147.html#storylink=cpy

The Atlanta City Council is asking the NBA to move the 2017 All-Star Game from Charlotte to Atlanta after the North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 2, repealing portions of Charlotte’s nondiscrimination ordinance.

During a committee hearing Tuesday, the resolution was introduced in Atlanta. It invites the NBA to consider relocating the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend “due to the passage of House Bill 2, a measure that discriminates against members of the LGBT community.”

The NBA says they are still hopeful Charlotte and North Carolina come to an agreement.

“We appreciate the invitation but are hopeful that the city of Charlotte and the state of North Carolina can work through their differences far in advance of the 2017 All-Star Game,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass said about the proposal.

The day after the bill was signed, the National Basketball Association speculated that the bill might affect the Queen City’s hosting the 2017 All-Star Game. It’s scheduled for Feb. 17. 

“The NBA is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all who attend our games and events,” the organization said in a release via Twitter after House Bill 2 was passed.

“We are deeply concerned that this discriminatory law runs counter to our guiding principles of equality and mutual respect and do not yet know what impact it will have on our ability to successfully host the 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte,” the statement continued.

Charlotte won the bid to host the All-Star Game in June 2015. One month later, the city formally committed to spending $600,000 in general tax dollars to host the event. The total incentive package for the All-Star Game is about $5.9 million, according to WBTV’s news partner The Charlotte Observer.

“The City of Atlanta draws strength from our diverse community,” said Atlanta Council President Ceasar Mitchell. “This unity creates our city’s embracing spirit, a quality that has made Atlanta the destination of choice for numerous international business conventions, professional and college sporting events, as well as one of the largest concentrations

“Atlanta is a vibrant, energetic city that would be an outstanding host to the 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend,” chairman Andre Dickens said. “As the home to the civil and human rights movement, our diverse set of people and businesses welcome this global event with open arms.”

Charlotte’s nondiscrimination ordinance passed in February by a 7-4 vote from the Charlotte City Council. It broadly defined how businesses should treat gay, lesbian and transgender customers. The debate, as in other cities recently, focused on bathrooms.

After its passage, several high ranking North Carolina Republicans, including McCrory, voiced concerns about people having the ability to choose public restrooms corresponding to their gender identity.

McCrory signed the state bill repealing parts of the ordinance into law Wednesday night. Lawmakers passed the bill in a special session and the governor signed it within one day.

Pres. Obama Throws All-Star Game First Pitch For: Health Care Reform, Stimulus, Community Service, Sotomayor etc.,

MSNBC, Huffington Post----

(President Obama throws out first pitch of 2009 All Star Game. It looks like he was throwing that pitch for Health Care Reform, Stimulus Success, Community Service, Financial Regulation, Urban Renewal, High Speed Rail, Equal Education, Sotomayor and Benjamin's Confirmation Hearings, etc.,)



ST. LOUIS - President Barack Obama was true to his word: He didn’t bounce it.

Pres. Obama’s ceremonial First Pitch at the All-Star game barely reached the plate Tuesday night.

St. Louis Cardinals star Albert Pujols helped the president, moving up on the plate and reaching out to scoop the low toss.

Obama had warmed up on the White House grounds Monday night, and was determined his pitch would get there on a fly.

“We did a little practicing in the Rose Garden,” he said during a half-inning with the FOX broadcasters. “This is as much fun as I’ve had in quite some time.”

Wearing a Chicago White Sox jacket, jeans and sneakers, and cheered by the sellout crowd at Busch Stadium, Obama walked out of the National League’s dugout on the first-base side, shook hands with Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan Musial and trotted to the mound.

From right on the rubber, 60 feet and 6 inches away, Obama wound up and bit his lip as he let go. The left-hander grimaced slightly, and gave a fist pump when Pujols — a Gold Glove first baseman — made the neat grab with a specially made black mitt with “Obama .44” and an American flag on it.

Obama became the latest Chicago hoopster to try his hand at baseball. Like Michael Jordan, the president looked more natural in his other job.

“I did not play organized baseball when I was a kid and so, you know, I think some of these natural moves aren’t so natural to me,” Obama said.

The All-Star game capped off a big sports outing for the president. He began the day by greeting Wimbledon champion Serena Williams at the White House, then picked up Hall of Famer Willie Mays in Michigan for the flight to St. Louis.

Asked what advice he gave Obama, the Say Hey Kid said: “Follow through.”

“He’ll be fine. I guarantee it,” Mays said aboard Air Force One.

This was the second time Obama threw out a first ball at a big league game. As a U.S. senator, he did it when his favorite White Sox played the Angels in the 2005 AL championship series.

“When you’re a senator, they show you no respect so they just hand you the ball. You don’t get a chance to warm up,” Obama said. “Here, at least they had me down with Pujols in the batting cage, practicing a little bit.”

Obama’s motorcade left the ballpark in the bottom of the fourth inning, and he was due back at the White House shortly after midnight EDT.

After landing in St. Louis, Mays and Obama walked off the plane arm-in-arm, and headed to the ballpark.

Obama first visited the NL’s clubhouse. Known for trash talking on the basketball court, he saved a little bit for the locker room.

After greeting Pujols, the most fearsome slugger in the majors, Obama went over to Milwaukee star Prince Fielder, who won Monday night’s Home Run Derby.

Pointing at Fielder, the president said, “Hey Albert, what happened, this guy, man — in your home park? What’s going on, man?”

Obama left that side with a souvenir, too. Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino, like Obama from Hawaii, gave the president some macadamia nuts.

NL starting pitcher Tim Lincecum enjoyed meeting Obama.

“He signed a baseball for me and shook my hand, and just went around saying hi to the various guys in the clubhouse, and expressed his love for the White Sox, I guess,” he said.

Next stop was the AL clubhouse, where he jibed Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter for being so old and signed an autograph for Seattle outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. A White Sox fan, Obama was glad to see pitcher Mark Buehrle, the only representative from the president’s favorite team.

Hours earlier, Buehrle was asked whether he thought Obama realized the White Sox only sent one player to St. Louis.

“I’m not sure he knows that. He’s got other things to care about,” Buehrle said then.

Obama and former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter joined together for a seven-minute video about community service shown on the scoreboard at Busch Stadium and Fox.

George W. Bush was noted for his particularly impressive first-ball throws. Then again, baseball was in his background as the former owner of the Texas Rangers.

Earlier Tuesday, Obama talked about his upcoming pitch.

“You know, my general strategy the last time I threw a pitch was at the American League Championship Series and I just wanted to keep it high. Now, there was no clock on it, I don’t know how fast it went — but if it exceeded 30 miles per hour, I’d be surprised. But it did clear the plate,” he said.

Like at that playoff game, Obama got the job done. It probably helped, too, that he practiced Monday night on the White House grounds with personal aide Reggie Love.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig had invited Obama to the game.

“It’s a big thing. The players will enjoy it. The fans will enjoy it. But it’s another testament to the meaning of this sport,” Selig said earlier Tuesday.

“We are a social institution and whether we want to admit it or not, and for years I don’t think baseball wanted to admit that, we do have enormous social responsibility, and clearly that intrigued the White House and the president.”



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Sources: MSNBC Sports, Huffington Post, Whitehouse.gov, Google Maps, Youtube

Pres. Obama Fourth President To Throw Out First Pitch At All-Star Game

NBC Sports----

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama plans to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the All-Star game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on July 14.

The White House said Tuesday that Major League Baseball's focus on community service matches with Obama's service initiative this summer, known as United We Serve.

"The central theme of the 2009 All-Star game is community service, celebrating the extraordinary work being done by ordinary people," baseball commissioner Bud Selig said. "We are thrilled that we can come together with President Obama, who has encouraged a renewed spirit of national service, and illustrate a call to action in our communities. President Obama will continue a great tradition that joins our nation's leader and the national pastime."

Obama, a White Sox fan, will be the fourth president to throw out the first pitch at an All-Star game, following John F. Kennedy (1962 in Washington), Richard Nixon (1970 in Cincinnati) and Gerald Ford (1976 in Philadelphia).

In addition, Franklin D. Roosevelt attended the 1937 game in Washington, and George H.W. Bush went to the 1991 game at Toronto with Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and the 1992 game at San Diego with President Carlos Salinas de Gortari of Mexico.

Ford (1978 in San Diego) and Ronald Reagan (1989 in Anaheim) attended as former presidents.

Obama didn't accept an invite from the Reds to throw out the first pitch at Saturday's Civil Rights Game in Cincinnati against the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox also were said to have invited Obama before their opener against Kansas City on April 6, and Nationals manager Manny Acta had hoped Obama would throw out the first pich prior to Washington's home opener against Philadelphia on April 13.

As a U.S. Senator, he threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the White Sox defeated the Anaheim Angels 2-1 in Game 2 of the 2005 AL championship series.


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Sources: NBC Sports, Real Clear Sports, Flickr, Google Maps