President Barack Obama is taking British Prime Minister David Cameron to watch Iona play BYU in an NCAA Tournament game on Tuesday night. The trip to Dayton, Ohio is part of the official visit to the United States by Cameron and his wife, Samantha.
Asked how he felt about the President attending the game Tuesday, Iona sophomore guard Lamont “Momo” Jones who had not been told about Obama’s trip to Dayton, said “the President of Who?”
Told “President of the United States” Jones smiled.
“I’ll be looking forward to meeting him,” said Jones adding “Obama’s my man.”
Sean Armand, asked the same question promised to show Obama what Iona basketball was all about.
“I hope he comes into the locker room to say ‘hi’ to us”, said Armand.
“That’s a great honor, Obama at our game.” said Armand. “Hopefully, get to meet him, show him how Iona basketball is, get a W for him”.
Iona Coach Tim Cluess, was asked about the President attending the game.
“I’m going to force him right”, said an upbeat Cluess, joking with reporters.
“I’ve seen his game,” Cluess continued, dispelling any notion of a possible political statement behind his basketball strategy for dealing with the Hoopster-in-Chief.
Obama plays pickup basketball games regularly and had shared his NCAA tournament bracket on ESPN since he was came into office in 2009.
“That’s great,” said Cluess more seriously, but added “I’m more worried about playing BYU”.
Iona President Joseph Nyre was similarly lighthearted about President Obama’s attendance at Iona’s first NCAA game since 2006.
“We sent him an invite about a week and half ago, hopeful that we’d make it,” said Nyre. “We’re pleased he’s going to make the game.”
The Presidents visit is more than just a night out with the boys.
The trip to the NCAA tournament game is part of an effort by the White House to stress the “special relationship” between the United States and the United Kingdom. The pair of world leaders will trade hot dogs and beers on Tuesday for a state dinner on Wednesday.
The choice of Ohio for the game may also have something to do with Ohio’s significance as a battleground state in the upcoming Presidential election.
Or maybe the President just wants to get an up close look at the nation’s assist leader, Iona star Scott Machado.