Dwight Howard, star of the Orlando Magic, has pulled out of the Obama Classic, the incumbent president’s fund raising celebrity basketball game. Howard leaves the game in the hands of fellow stars Chris Paul and John Wall (Dr. Seuss’ favorite backcourt tandem), and celebrities like Bono and George Clooney.
Awwww
Ewwww
In lieu of that game, Howard is joining the Gingrich Obligational, the former Speaker’s own fund raising basketball game. It is to be held on the same day this summer at 2600 Pennsylvania Avenue, right down the road from the White House.
To many, it seems odd that Howard, a known Obama supporter, would switch parties for Gingrich, an accused racist and advocate of child labor. It is payback-Howard owes Gingrich for lending him a dollar at a vending machine in a Houston Sheraton.
When asked why he would cross party lines for such a small favor, Howard replied with resignation, “I…don’t know. He’s amazing at guilting people into things. I looked at those puppy dog eyes and pleading lips, and I just…couldn’t say no. I really have no idea why I’m doing this.”
Howard is the latest to join the game, after Gingrich persuaded Bulls point guard Derrick Rose and Boardwalk Empire star Michael Pitt to come aboard last week. Sources say that Gingrich held Rose’s place in a line at a Seattle Coffee Bean while Rose used the restroom, and signed for an important postal package at Pitt’s Brooklyn apartment while Pitt was on set.
Gingrich is currently in talks with the Lopez brothers to play for him. He got their cat out of a tree while they were at Stanford.
Tickets to the Gingrich Obligational cost $100 for loge, $300 for mezzanine, and $750 for courtside seats. They can be purchased here.
THIS IS THE SPORTS 
