Arenas has decided to show his permanent support of President-elect Barack Obama with a tattoo. Arenas had the words “Change We Believe In” tattooed onto the fingers of his left hand in cursive writing. Then, Gilbert showed the outside of his pinky finger, which had “44″ inked on it.

UPDATE: Here’s a photo of the ink. (From Washington NBC via Ball Don’t Lie)

As far as finger tats go, it’s not quite WHIT EBOY. But what is? Plus, it is actually some pretty dope ink in and of itself, let alone with the added historical/emotional significance of Obama ascending to become the leader of the free world forty years after MLK Jr. was murdered.

Essentially, Agent Zero wanted to commemorate this remarkable transformation and what it says about the United States.

“By him winning, it showed the world that we’re not as racist as people think we are. I think that’s the beauty of [the election]. Not just because he’s the first African American president. America is not as bad as people think we are.”

And it’s not just his fingers he’s using to show his support — he’s also working on a dual-family portrait.

Arenas has gone all out for Obama, adding that he hired an artist last week to paint a mural with Obama’s family on one side and Arenas’s fiancee and children on another side of a wall in Arenas’s house.

Etan Thomas’ take on Gil’s new outpouring of affection for Obama?

“Gilbert’s bored,” Etan Thomas said.

Yeah, probably.

(via Truth About It dot net)

“He needs to pass the ball a little bit more. He was hogging the ball.”

Some leader.

So you’re telling me we just elected a poor man’s Ricky Davis to the highest office in the land? And he tucks his shirt into his wind pants? Super.

Unrelatedly, I bet Mike Ramos is that guy who gets a ton of uncontested lay-ins because he smells bad and nobody wants to guard him.

(video via Ball Don’t Lie)

I mean, I know Obama winning was a big deal and all, but I still don’t understand how so many people are overlooking the truly historic victory that took place last Tuesday.

It was time. Nay. It was overdue. And, frankly, I find it hard to believe that fries even kept it that close given their heritage.

An historic election.

Arenas has decided to show his permanent support of President-elect Barack Obama with a tattoo. Arenas had the words “Change We Believe In” tattooed onto the fingers of his left hand in cursive writing. Then, Gilbert showed the outside of his pinky finger, which had “44″ inked on it.

As far as finger tats go, it’s not quite WHIT EBOY. But what is? Plus, it is actually some pretty dope ink in and of itself, let alone with the added historical/emotional significance of Obama ascending to become the leader of the free world forty years after MLK Jr. was murdered.

Essentially, Agent Zero wanted to commemorate this remarkable transformation and what it says about the United States.

“By him winning, it showed the world that we’re not as racist as people think we are. I think that’s the beauty of [the election]. Not just because he’s the first African American president. America is not as bad as people think we are.”

And it’s not just his fingers he’s using to show his support — he’s also working on a dual-family portrait.

Arenas has gone all out for Obama, adding that he hired an artist last week to paint a mural with Obama’s family on one side and Arenas’s fiancee and children on another side of a wall in Arenas’s house.

Etan Thomas’ take on Gil’s new outpouring of affection for Obama?

“Gilbert’s bored,” Etan Thomas said.

Yeah, probably.

(via Truth About It dot net)

My wife and I were watching CNN at home as things went along on Tuesday. I still couldn’t necessarily believe it as it was getting closer and closer and they were saying that it looked like Obama was going to be the President. Even once they said it, I was like, “I cannot believe this is actually happening.” I felt like somehow he wasn’t going to get elected, or something was going to happen.

When it happened, it almost seemed like it wasn’t real.

He continues:

The following morning, I talked to my grandmother. And I asked her, “Did you ever think you would live to see the day of a black President?”

She said, “No, I didn’t.” She said “I woke up this morning and thanked the Lord that he allowed me to be able to see this before I go.” And that hit me a little more than anything else. With everything that my grandparents have been through, everything they’ve seen, they didn’t think this was going to happen. And to see it happening, it’s got to be a different experience for them.

At that point, I just kind of sat back and really thought about it. It’s an amazing thing. The world is changing.

A few weeks ago, he wrote about meeting Obama during the preseason as well, which is also worth reading.

1.

A very special message from CB4 (via Fanhouse)

2.

I wonder who Steve Francis voted for? KG and TMac too? (via Ball Don’t Lie)

3.

What did Obama do yesterday before becoming President? He played ball at Attack Athletics, MJ’s stomping grounds.

Hoops heads see “Attack Athletics” and one name jumps to mind: Michael Jordan. Attack is Tim Grover’s famous gym, where MJ went from phenom to Greatest of All Time. Grover was MJ’s personal trainer for years; these days, Grover’s summer clients include Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, O.J. Mayo … pretty much the brightest guards in the world. Attack might be the most cited dateline in the run-up to the June draft — besides IMG in Florida and Joe Abunassar’s joint in Las Vegas, Grover trains the cream of every draft class.

Was Attack just the most convenient gym to play at this morning? Maybe. I prefer to think of the decision as a magnificent display of swag. At the very least, it’s good vibes.

4.

Two great t-shirts from Undrcrwn. You can buy them at their website: www.undrcrwn.com. (via Slam and Slam again)

5.

Last night, KG and the rest of the Celtics were amped more by Obama’s win than their own. (via TrueHoop)

HOUSTON – Doc Rivers kept his focus on game preparations before the Celtics’ 103-99 win over Houston last night. But afterward he turned his attention to the presidential election.

“The guys are celebrating in there,” Rivers said of his players’ reaction to Barack Obama’s victory. “I told them this isn’t a black-and-white thing, don’t look at it that way. It’s good for America. I don’t care who you voted for, America got involved.”

Before the game, Rivers had observed, “This is the first time I can remember in sports so many guys being so interested in the results. I’ve never seen anything like this, ever.

UPDATE: Wrote Rondo on his blog:

OBAMA IS THE PRESIDENT! I can’t even explain how I feel right now. All I have to say is that we have to repeat, because we have to go back to the White House to meet Obama.

6.

Mark Cuban is proud to be an American and, as happens on occasion, he wrote something I agree with wholeheartedly.

On the economic side, other than being ok with him raising my effective tax rate to 40pct, there isn’t a lot of his economic policy that I do agree with him on. So why did I vote for him ?

Its simple. Having an elected black President will do more to energize this country than any economic or social policy ever could. In a single day of voting, our amazing country once again reinvigorated the dream that any child in this country, no matter what circumstances they are born into, can grow up to be anything they want, including President of the United States.

That dream, staying viable, being reinvigorated, will do more for this country than any economic policy or any legislation that could ever be passed.

7.

Brown Recluse, Esq.’s reaction last night at 10:17 pm on freedarko.

It’s Over

8.

Not Obama-related but still political…On the strength of the Both Teams bump, the new mayor of Sacramento is Kevin Johnson. The Sacramento Bee (a newspaper, not a spelling contest) showed it’s canny penchant for cleverness and originality with an opening line that, shockingly, used two basketball/athletics cliches.

The opening tipoff of the Kevin Johnson era is barely in the books, but the mayor-elect is off and running today, making the rounds of media events, waving to morning commuters on J Street, and promising to stop the financial bleeding at City Hall.

KJ’s main focus seems to be the city budget, but he had a nice quote about him being an unlikely person to become Sacto’s mayor.

“A little knucklehead kid, a poor kid from Oak Park going away and coming back and being the mayor of the city he grew up in — that’s the American dream,” he said. “I hope it’s a great example for every young person in our community that if you work hard, you get a great education and have good character, anything is possible.”

9.

Greg Oden’s call to Barack the Vote (from Monday). He sounds very scripted and, surprisingly, somewhat homosexual.

10.

Another message and video, this one of Hawks reserve PG Acie Law voting yesterday. Thanks to “scout,” without whom none of this riveting footage would have been possible. Someone call the Academy.

Man i voted for the 1st time today and to show u how serious i was about it I had my boi (scout) sneak a video camera in so we could get some footage for you all. Im excited about this whole change movement I really believe its goin to happen. I know its early but if the numbers are any indication Sen. Barack Obama is goin to be our guy for the next four years. I dont really have alot to say about my 1st experience, it went smooth i was worried tht i mite be late for practice but i was only there for about half an hour. I was expecting to be there much longer thinking tht the crowd would be huge but it wasnt bad at all. This is something ill be able to tell my children about tht i was apart of history, i was apart of gettin Sen. Obama in office THE FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT!!!

UPDATE:

11.

I just found this so we’re doing eleven. And I really wish I would have voted for Nick Young. He sounds intelligent. (via Bullets Forever)

UPDATE:

12.

Why not? Despite the fact that Obama isn’t a kid dying in a hospital with cancer or anything, Melo is playing for our new President tonight. (via Slam)

At the Nuggets’ shootaround, there was a post-election buzz. Carmelo Anthony smiled and said, “I’m going to try to score 44 tonight,” in honor of president-elect Barack Obama, who was elected Tuesday as America’s 44th president.

Since they are playing GState and he no longer has to let Ivy take 18 shots per night, his biggest problem will probably be keeping it that low.

And how bout we just say, let me know if I missed any other good ones in the comments.

And while that’s all well and good, riddle me this, multi-millionaires: Has Obama ever changed breakbeats for Rakim? Didn’t think so.

(Hat tip to Hard For the Yard for the photo montage work)

His campaign slogan?

“I can’t screw up Alabama. We’re number forty-eight in everything and Arkansas and Mississippi aren’t going anywhere.”

But the interview is actually a serious discussion on the state of the country and Charles is rather insightful on the issue of race and the affect of the president on a person’s daily life, as well as politics in general to a lesser degree.

Here are two quotes (both from part two) that seem to sum up his two most-likely platform centerpieces:

“I think it’s a bona fide tragedy what has happened to poor people in this country. The gap between the rich and the poor is wider than it’s ever been…I think it’s a travesty.”

“[My top priority is] all the way education. The public school system in this country is the worst it’s ever been. What that does is it hurts crime, it hurts the judicial system. If you don’t give people education and hope, they become criminals. They get involved in drugs. So we’ve got to fix the public school system.”

Part 1

Part 2

According to new Knicks point guard Chris Duhon, “He talks the whole time. He’s never quiet.” In an interview with MSG’s Jill Martin airing tomorrow, Duhon said he played the Illinois senator in a pickup game in Chicago, where Duhon played for the Bulls. “What are some of the things he would say?” Martin asked. “‘You can’t guard me!’ Just random talk,” Duhon replied. “He knows the game. He’s like a point guard out there, and so he’s always telling guys where to go, what to do, very vocal.”

I just really hope that after he wins the election next week his first comment is “That Oval Office has had my name on it for a year now. I knew I was gonna win it. My party members said I wasn’t gonna win it, but I came back and…lucked out, really.”

Between this, his presumed love for Sheed as a Tar Heel fan and his favorite show being The Wire, I’m actually considering voting for someone other than Eric B. for the first time.

Then again, he does eat babies.

UPDATE: Not only does Obama love The Wire, The Wire loves him back.

Like Larry, Obama can put his finger up before the contest is even over.

For Barry O supporters, however, this should prove to be a great get-out-the-vote event for the base in battleground Ohio, as there might not be three men in America more capable of prompting young black males to make it to the polls on November 4.

I’m not sure what LeBron will be doing at the event, but Hov is planning to give a performance. I believe it’s fair to say that none of “Politics as Usual,” “Never Change,” “Dead Presidents,” “Nigga Please” or “Ignorant Shit” will be on the set list. Jay really should open with “The Takeover” though and definitely needs to kick “Coming of Age,” “A Dream,” “Moment of Clarity” and “What More Can I Say?”

Obama will also be on hand to orate like only he can, and since this is a hoops site, I was trying to think of the basketball player he most resembles. Visually, we’ve already established the Reggie/Barack connection.

Philosophically, however, I think it has to be Sidney Deane. Because the way Barack has maintained the high road despite all the mudslinging and low-brow political attacks coming out of the McCain campaign, it has become clear that Obama would rather look good and lose than look bad and win.

Given the scandalous reasons that the position is now open, I suppose anyone would be an upgrade, but Bing’s law enforcement platform and history of promoting development are both top priorities for MoTown, which is routinely named the most dangerous U.S. city.

“Detroit needs a leader who will end corruption and reestablish trust in city government,” said Bing, a former Detroit Piston. “We need a mayor with integrity and a person who has no hidden agendas. Our next mayor must have a proven record of making tough decisions during tough times. We need a fighter who will stand up for our city and our people.”

Says one local on Bing:

“He’s building stuff right here in the city,” she said. “I remember when we didn’t have anything around here but abandoned houses.”

Though Bing, a Hall of Famer and with career averages of 20 ppg, 6 asp and 4 rpg, has largely been forgotten by most, he was known as a devastating scorer, who in his sophomore NBA campaign in 1967-68 (he had won Rookie of the Year the previous season) outdid Wilt and Elgin to lead the League in scoring, something no guard had done in 20 years.

He would later suffer a debilitating eye injury, but continued to play at a high level regardless, making seven All Star teams during his career. More importantly, he showed a commitment to community early in his career and made a real impression on his peers.

At Bing’s 1990 election to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Oscar Robertson introduced his longtime rival, saying, “Dave is the perfect example of professionalism, class, dignity, and humanity. He cares. He gets involved with the world.”

With no other logical way to end this post I asked former Funky Bunch front man for his take on Bing’s campaign: “Say hello to ya mother for me,” said Mark Wahlberg.

Three Piston guards made the NBA Top 50 Players of All Time: Dave Bing, Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars

KJ has nobly devoted his post-NBA career being a “community organizer,” most notably establishing the St. Hope Academy, a nonprofit education organization that has since turned Sacramento High into a charter school. According to the article, his penchant for this work and the beginnings of his political aspirations began during his playing days.

Even as his NBA career progressed, Johnson became fluent in the language of policy entrepreneurs, salting his conversation with terms like ‘holistic community development’ and ‘personalized learning.’ A born networker, he traded on his celebrity to meet business and political luminaries wherever he traveled.

When he retired from the Phoenix Suns, in 2000, both the Republicans and the Democrats asked him to run for governor of Arizona. Johnson demurred, choosing instead to put into practice what he’d learned about the power of business to transform urban areas.

Good luck, KJ. May I suggest that this be the only campaign advertisement you run?

And I’m not familiar with his policies, but if his executive leadership skills are anywhere even nearly as good as his Dream impersonation skills, Sacto will be in good hands.

Meanwhile, one fellow NBA-fan cogently pointed out that this may have been the first time that the media, President Bush and The Truth have all appeared together in the same room. It looks like Rajon agrees.

Of course, when it comes to post-championship athlete visits to the White House, no one can top the comments of the man who made this blog possible:

From the Detroit News: To say that Rasheed Wallace is less than thrilled to be meeting President George W. Bush on Monday is an understatement. When asked about the Pistons’ trip to the White House, Wallace said, “I ain’t going to say [shit]* to him. I didn’t vote for him. I’m not excited at all, it’s just part of the thing.”

Said Chauncey Billups: “He ain’t lying, either. He won’t say nothing to him.”

* I’m presuming he said “shit.” The Detroit News article actually says “[nothing]“. But since it’s Sheed, I suppose it could also have been “dick” or “a muthafuck” just as easily too.