Obama, Krzyzewski trade jokes at White House ceremony honoring Duke
Published September 9, 2015
by Renee Chou, WRAL, September 8, 2015.
President Barack Obama let the jokes fly Tuesday afternoon while honoring the Duke University men's basketball team for its 2015 NCAA title, saying in a packed White House East Room that he can relate to the program.
"It does well in the classroom, it's won twice in the last four years and it knows what it's like for people to oppose you no matter what you do," Obama said, getting a big laugh from the crowd.
Duke's basketball team traveled to the nation's capital Monday night, where players received their national championship rings during a dinner and ceremony at the National Archives.
Tuesday morning, they toured the White House before an 11:55 a.m. ceremony with Obama.
The president highlighted the efforts of freshmen Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones, Justise Winslow and Grayson Allen, along with senior Quinn Cook, while recapping Duke's 35-4 season.
"If folks didn't like this year's Blue Devils, they were just being haters. Or they lived in Chapel Hill," Obama quipped.
"The president of the U.S. knows who I am. He's a big-time basketball fan. We were joking around with him in back. He said he wanted to get his hair cut like me and Tyus," Cook said. "He just knows the game."
Jones said the experience was surreal.
"It was just so special and so awesome," he said. "You'll cherish and remember vividly for the rest of your life."
Obama also took a moment to recognize Krzyzewski for his 1,000th win, which came during the 2013-14 regular season.
"Somehow, he did it without every saying a bad word to a referee," Obama said.
"It's true, it's true," Krzyzewski said, nodding.
Before presenting Obama with a framed jersey, framed NCAA tourney bracket and Duke basketball, Krzyzewski invited him to a game at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
"We've been to your house twice, but you've never been to ours," Krzyzewski said. "We'll have to correct that."
Obama also got an official invite – and the promise of a scholarship – to attend Duke's fantasy camp, a basketball camp for men 35 and older.
"I'll dominate," Obama said.
"He's not unlike the other 80 guys who come, and they find out the truth," Krzyzewksi fired back, laughing.
In a more serious moment, Krzyzewski turned to his team, saying "I just want to tell them publicly, you know that we love them. It was was amazing. Thanks for sharing that with me."
After the ceremony, Krzyzewski said the 2014-15 Blue Devils were a special bunch.
"I've been coaching for 40 years, this will be my 41st year as a head coach. This group was amazingly special. Only had a group of eight, and 4 freshmen, for them to come together like that, they were truly brothers," he said.
