Barack Obama isn’t all smiles this week. The US President was injured during a game of basketball last night and subsequently received 12 stitches to his lip.
The 44th President of the USA has always been an ardent lover of basketball and says that he never lets a chance playing the game pass even though he is always very busy and has a schedule that makes its very hard to take out time
for the sport.
During a game last night he was accidentally struck by an elbow to the mouth and had to receive immediate medical treatment. The White House’s official doctor, who treated Obama after the injury said that it was a minor injury
and he will recover very soon.
As the news got air some of the journalists rushed to catch the latest on the incident and spotted the injured player in one of the White House’s windows holding a compress over his mouth.
Robert Gibbs, the official spokesman of the White House told the media earlier this morning, “The President received 12 stitches today, administered by the White House Medical Unit. He also added that the injury is not very severe
and only a local anesthetic was used while receiving the stitches.
He continued, “The medical unit that treated Obama used a smaller filament than typically used, which increases the number of stitches but makes a tighter stitch and results in a smaller scar.”
The basketball game was being played among some close friends of Obama at Fort McNair, Washington DC.
Thanks to a relatively eventless political week, owing to Thanksgiving celebrations, the President had a chance to get out on the court. The President’s love for the game often has him playing, sometimes with cabinet members, friends
or even his security detail.
Obama who is a keen lover of the sport and a very passionate amateur basketball player who was even spotted playing on Election Day in 2008. He told the press that it was the best way to wait for the Presidency results with his
close friends and supporters.
In last night’s game, Obama was elbowed while he was playing defence. After the early treatment of the player, the White House stated that it was Rey Decerega, the Director of Programs for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
who caused the injury.
While talking to the press earlier this morning Decerega said, “I learned today the President is both a tough competitor and a good sport. I enjoyed playing basketball with him this morning. I’m sure he’ll be back out on the court
again soon.’’
Last night’s game was a five-on-five battle in which the close friends and family members of the President took part. Obama’s nephew Avery Robinson, Education Secretary Arne Duncan and the Personal Assistant of the President, Reggie
Love were among the players.
The wound came in the fifth and the final game of the evening, while Decerega turned around to attempt a shot. As he turned around his elbow hit Obama square on the mouth.
This is not the first time that a sports loving American President has hurt themselves or been injured. George Bush was injured during a mountain biking accident while Jimmy Carter narrowly escaped death during a road racing expedition.
Moreover, Warren Harding also received a deep paper cut during a poker session while he was trying to shuffle a new pack of cards!
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