Obama suffers basketball injury; Gets 12 stitches

[deminks]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama has received 12 stitches in his lip after being hit during a pick up basketball game.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says the president was inadvertently struck by someone's elbow Friday.

The president received the stitches in the doctor's office on the ground floor of the White House. Obama had traveled to Fort McNair with a group of family and friends for an early morning game of basketball.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/7312457.html

[qazplm]

1. there was talk

when I was stationed in DC this past year of the group of military members I played basketball with getting a chance to play with the President. It never happened but that would have been cool.

[MineralMan]

2. That must have made him smart.

A fat lip is no fun at all, especially with stitches in it. Oof!

[Tx4obama]

3. Twelve seems like a lot - I hope he feels better soon. n/t

[JBoy]

5. I was thinking the same thing. Must have been a hell of an injury.

[The Croquist]

83. I'm not sure that 12 stitches is allot

45 plus years ago I got 9 in my nose at an emergency room and it didn't leave a noticeable scar. I suspect he's fine.

He's also allot tougher then this 7 - 9 year old was.

[alphafemale]

100. Not for a cut on the lip. They'd have to use a tiny thread with close stitches

so it doesn't scar.

Can you imagine bustin' the Prez's lip though?

Oh my gawd

[Ilsa]

86. Explanation from article about the # of stitches:

"Aides said Obama was given a local anesthetic while receiving the stitches, and doctors used a smaller-than-usual filament. That increased the number of stitches needed to patch up the tear, but it made a tighter stitch so that the scar on the president's lower lip should be smaller."

[Barack_America]

4. $10 the culprit was a Republican.

Will he ever learn with this bipartisan shit?

;)

Seriously though, I hope he heals up soon.

[Frisbee]

8. RE: $10 the culprit was a Republican.

Or a progressive. ;-)

[Tx4obama]

9. The game was with 'friends and family' see article below includes PHOTO

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/26/president-obama-injured/

[activa8tr]

34. Friends and family??? Then Fox News will report it's another. dangerous liberal

that brought great harm to our nation.

RIGHT?

[Posteritatis]

43. Wouldn't Fox consider harming the president a gift to the nation? (nt)

[Yupster]

98. Friends and family?

I'll put my $ 10 bet on his mother-in-law then.

[geckosfeet]

6. 12 stitches is a pretty hefty split lip

[polichick]

11. Yeah, that sounds pretty bad - ouch! nt

[athena]

65. They're smaller stitches.

The article says:

The stitches were made with a smaller filament than is typically used, which increases the number of stitches but makes a tighter stitch and results in a smaller scar.

I'm hoping that means it's not such a serious injury.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/27/us/politics/27obama.html?hp

[jaxx]

7. There goes the idea of his pals just letting him win.

He'll be back on the court before long is my bet. ;-)

[RandySF]

10. Imagine injuring the president

Knowing there are men standing around with loaded guns.

[rtassi]

91. I was just thinking the same thing! n/t

[Tx4obama]

12. Here's a link with six photos

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/26/barack-obama-stitches-basketball-injury_n_788627.html#s192442

[Raine1967]

66. The article says upper lip -- the pictures indicate lower.

either way -- he plays hard, and I am sure he knows this is what happens.

I look forward to him getting back on the court ASAP --

[Barack_America]

68. Dude, it's sports. You always keep the true injury site a secret!

;)

[PeaceNikki]

13. White House: Obama needed 12 stitches after being hit in lip during basketball game

Source: AP

WASHINGTON — White House: Obama needed 12 stitches after being hit in lip during basketball game
___
November 26, 2010 07:23 PM EST

Read more: http://www.journal-news.com/news/nation-world-news/white-house-obama-needed-12-stitches-after-being-hit-in-lip-during-basketball-game-1013901.html

[LiberalFighter]

14. Is that all there was in the story? I wasted my time tyring to check it out.

[BlueJazz]

15. Yep..they forgot the When and Where.

[radhika]

16. Raw Story has a better link...

Personally, I would like someone to look more into this. Today's military has been highly protheletized by right-wing entimers and anti-government rhetoric. I know you'll stompt this - but I'm just suggesting a deeper look.


http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/11/struck-mouth-playing-basketball-obama-12-stitches/

[Dreamer Tatum]

17. Oh brother.

Get a grip.

[Codeine]

28. Only a person who has never played basketball

would assume there had to be a dark conspiracy behind an elbow to the mouth.

[The Hitman]

31. Definite Conspiracy

Obama's opponents secret plan was recently uncovered. Apparently they are engaging in the subversive technique of "boxing out in the paint".
This is being done to stop him in "the lane" and keep him away from "the hole". High level, black ops stuff.

Seriously? What planet do you live on?

[awoke_in_2003]

40. I heard...

that Yao Ming will be playing Obama soon- the Chinese are trying to take over :)

[Telly Savalas]

82. The timing is awfully suspicious.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

52. at least it wasn't caused by a pretzel!

[Botany]

64. r you nuts?

this happens all the time in pick up games, high school games, college games,
and pro games .... an elbow here, a knee there, a ball off the face .... it can happen in
a split second. I love the fact that my President gets out and runs with the guys
playing b-ball.

@ 30 I broke a guy's ankle going for a lay up ..... stuff happens when you are playing
sports.

BTW from the pictures Obama acted just like one of the guys ,,,, walking it off and out to
the car to get sewn back up.

[Raine1967]

67. Epic fail. eom.

[Imajika]

74. Maybe you'd like the GOP House of Representatives...

...to conduct a full scale investigation?

Please, this is a non story. President who loves to play sports suffers a sports related injury, news at 11. This is not some dark conspiracy, it is cut lip from playing some basketball.

[Bluzmann57]

81. Have you ever played any sports at all?

Injuries happen all the time in almost every sporting event. Hell, I dislocated my shoulder many years ago playing basketball and hurt my knee playing SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL! So it can happen almost any time, any place. From all indications, Obama plays Basketball to win and should probably expect a split lip. Probably lucky he didn't hurt any limbs. Get a grip!

[The Croquist]

96. I know a guy who lost a tooth playing

croquet *. People underestimate how brutal croquet can get.

* He really did. The ball went out of bounds into a drainage ditch and one of the players was hit by another swinging his mallet, knocking down the weeds to try and find the ball.

[Bluzmann57]

99. Man that would hurt

I bet there was some embarrassment by both parties.

[bitchkitty]

93. You need a vacation. n/t

[pnorman]

60. Finer filament was used, so the number of stitches was so large, and the scar would be smaller..

But inquiring minds want to know:
"WAS THERE A PRETZEL INVOLVED?"

[Tx4obama]

18. Info regaring the filament used for the stitiches (that's why more stitches than usual)

From HuffPo

According to a pool report, Obama received a special type of fiber that should leave a smaller scar:

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. Obama was given a local anesthetic while receiving the stitches.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/26/barack-obama-stitches-basketball-injury_n_788627.html#s192442

[warrior1]

19. he's tough.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/26/barack-obama-stitches-basketball-injury_n_788627.html#s192442

[The Hitman]

20. I hope he doesn't stop playing hoops with his buds.

Think of it as a metaphor.

[Tx4obama]

21. AP raw VIDEO: Obama seen thru window nursing lip, as WH Christmas tree is delivered

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRPaHvfISXw&feature=youtu.be&a

[rainbow4321]

44. Aaaaw, so sad..

You just wanna stand beneath the window and say "can POTUS come out and play??".

[Old Italia]

22. That's a big wound. Let's pray for him

He should be allright.

[Tx4obama]

24. Adesso sto pregando per lui. Preghiamo insieme. :) n/t

[Xenotime]

95. Pray?

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. 
[link:www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html|Click
here] to review the message board rules.

[The Hitman]

25. Welcome to DU, Freeper!

:sarcasm:

Now head back to third grade to learn how to spell!

[Grassy Knoll]

27. Alert the troll. what a jerk.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

29. ABTT

[Taverner]

26. Ow! I had one of those as a kid

Only six stitches tho

[Posteritatis]

30. I suppose it's good that various world leaders are keeping active at least

This, Putin's black eye a week or so ago, etc.

Who shall the spectre of klutz loom over next? Only time will tell!

[awoke_in_2003]

41. Well, it used to loom over W...

all the time- but maybe that was just Johnny Walker.

[emad]

32. Basketcase Obama in stitches - sounds like another presidential pretzel moment!

http://www.thespoof.com/news/spoof.cfm?headline=s2i87215

[bluedigger]

33. Issues plea for bipartisanship in response. n/t

[dave29]

45. leave the cheap shots

on the court?

[bluedigger]

77. Um, no.

It's just a split lip - he can take it.

[liberal N proud]

35. Ouch

Stitches in the lip hurt.

[Posteritatis]

36. Even elbowing someone there hard enough to do that can't be too fun

Especially surrounded by armed guards. ;)

[guitar man]

37. Ouch

I got kicked in the mouth by a horse when I was 12, took 9 stitches. No fun at all :(

[truthisfreedom]

38. Man of the people. Pick-up basketball game, takes one for the team.

GObama!

[awoke_in_2003]

39. and unlike Bush...

Obama was probably sober when this happened :)

[Gman]

42. We used to say no blood, no foul

I guess his team got the ball back on this one.

[rainbow4321]

46. Yeah, really. After the game came probably came to a grinding halt

for a bit.
Thank goodness it didn't knock a tooth out (mouth guard, maybe, hopefully?) or break his nose.

Damn, that musta hurt/stunned him for a bit!

[Dappleganger]

58. Ha!

I'll never forget the time I went after a foul ball and came down w/elbows out, breaking the nose of my best friend.

She never let me forget that...and yes, there was lots of blood!

[jennied]

47. Of course freepers are dancing with glee

[No Elephants]

48. Imagine how bad the person who elbowed him feels.

[moonbatmax]

53. Unless it were Cheney

Yeah, like you'd ever see HIM on a basketball court,
but you can bet THAT idiot would be expecting an apology.

[lillypaddle]

49. awwww, c'mere Mr. President

a little kiss will make it feel so much better. :)

[BrklynLiberal]

50. Was it Boner or McConnell who hit him???

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: ...at the image of either one of them playing B-ball..................

[Egnever]

51. Well I have to say thats way cooler than falling off your bike

or choking on a pretzle.

[PSzymeczek]

78. Or fallling off

a Segway.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

54. Ow! Hope you get better soon Barack.

I wonder can he eat OK?

[juxtaposed]

55. I wish someone would post one of those pickup games

To get elbowed in the mouth it has to be a pretty physical game. Also, I wonder what position the Prez plays, I'd guess forward.
How cool a president that mixes it up on the court..
Not like falling off a couch

[Dappleganger]

56. B-ball is a full-contact sport most times--have the scars to prove it.

As do several of my childhood friends who played with me. ;)

[Tx4obama]

57. Update: The guy that elbowed President Obama was Rey Decerega

UPDATE (5:30pm ET) -- The pool report, from Roll Call's Jen Bendery, has solved the whodunnit question:

The White House announced the culprit who elbowed Obama in the lip earlier today: Rey Decerega, who is the director of programs for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

Decerega said in a statement that the game was all in good fun (and didn't apologize):

"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," Decerega said.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/26/barack-obama-stitches-basketball-injury_n_788627.html#s192442


Edited to add:

Decerega "turned into POTUS, who was playing defense, to take a shot when the elbow hit the President in the mouth," the White House said.
http://dyn.politico.com/members/forums/thread.cfm?catid=15&subcatid=52&threadid=4792656

[NuclearDem]

59. Yikes

Hope he feels better soon.

[oneshooter]

61. Ban Basketball!!! It is the only way to assure the safety of the children!!!! n/t

[rainlillie]

62. I wish the president a speedy recovery!

[alp227]

63. Conservatives' reason to party?

Oh yeah, I can't wait for the first Republican campaign ad to make a joke out of this incident. I hope that Obama gets better and that no one has to see him in public with his stitches. Oh well, that's what the Vice President is for.

[DesertFlower]

69. it must really hurt. such a sensitive area.

[PSzymeczek]

79. I learned all the way back

in sixth-grade health class that the thinnest skin on the human body is on the lips and the eyelids.

[RamboLiberal]

89. Having taken a couple os shots to the mouth in martial arts

Split lips aren't a lot of fun, but they heal fairly quickly. And eating is a bit tricky for a day or two.

[brewens]

70. The Cheif is mixin' it up in the paint! That shit happens. n/t

[Skittles]

71. he exercises rough

I can respect that :D

[CLANG]

72. This seems awfully suspicious...

Doctors used a smaller filament than typically used, which increases the number of stitches

Well, how will we ever know how many regular stitches he would have had if he'd not had these smaller stitches? Would it have been 4, 8, 10? Is this a blatant PR move to elicit more sympathy due to the greater number of stitches?

:sarcasm:

Just one possible Glenn Beck conspiracy!

[RufusTFirefly]

73. What next? First, liberals control the media. Now they've got the doctors

:sarcasm:

Seriously though, if he got popped under the chin he may have bitten down pretty hard on his own lip. That could result in a pretty serious gash.

[Dash87]

75. I wonder what Glenn "Mr. Rogers" Beck will have to say about this?

Perhaps rolling out the chalkboard to demonstrate how basketball is a Marxist game that our founding fathers would not have approved of! :)

[nolabear]

76. Easy there, dood. Mister Rogers was a good guy. Beck's more of a Mr. potato Head.

[RamboLiberal]

88. Hey quit insulting Mr. Potato Head

I think he's a good guy too! As of course was Mr. Rogers.

:hi:

[Posteritatis]

97. I feel somewhat dirty merely for seeing Beck's name in the same sentence as Rogers'. (nt)

[dgibby]

80. The Dr. probably used micro stitches.

That's used to reduce scaring, also, some are probably internal.

[JohnnyK]

84. K&R - seems his lips hit someone's funnybone... had him in stitches!

[Tx4obama]

87. Ah, the fake email from The Onion ;)

The Original (fake article) on The Onion
http://www.theonion.com/articles/frustrated-obama-sends-nation-rambling-75000word-e,18516/

Fox Nation Reposts Onion's Anti-Obama Article (Doesn't Say It's Joke)
http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/11/foxnationcom-reposts-anti-obama-article-from-the-onion-doesnt-mention-its-a-joke.php?ref=fpb

Fox News Posts Onion Obama Story Amid Real News (update)
http://www.thewrap.com/television/article/fox-news-site-posts-satiricial-onion-obama-story-amid-real-news-22840

[Wheezy]

85. At least he didn't get shot in the face. n/t

[Skip Intro]

90. I just gotta say...I fell and busted my forehead and bled for hours recently

I called my nearby sis who is a nurse and she demanded I go the emergency room and get stitches.

I had been to the emergency room about three months ago for what I thought was a heart attack. Thank God, it wasn't.

But with blood pouring from my head, I declined to go back because I was already being sued by the ER for non-payment of the earlier visit.

Eventually the bleeding stopped, and I still have a noticeable knot on my forehead, not to mention what I'm sure will be a permanent scar.

I'm glad Obama got medical care when he needed it. I passed on that option for lack of health insurance, or free medical care. Which I still don't have.

One of the reasons I was glad Obama was elected was because I thought we all would finally have access to medical care, regardless of our financial standing or state of insurance. Nothing has changed for me.

He needed care, and got it. I needed care, and was at the very least intimidated from not seeking it.

Considering he was the one who pledged to change such situations, I find this story pretty ironic.

[4lbs]

92. That's a pretty minor injury considering some of the ones I've seen during my high school days as

the varsity team manager.

We had a guy who suffered a concussion taking a charge. There was also a kid on a different team during a tournament who went face-first into the bleachers while running after a loose ball. He had his front four upper teeth knocked out. His entire mouth was bloody.

[Xenotime]

94. Get well soon, prez!