Second thoughts

President Barack Obama sent a handwritten note to a Wyoming man praising his support for the local basketball team after hearing the man’s story from Sen. Mike Enzi.
President Barack Obama sent a handwritten note to a Wyoming man praising his support for the local basketball team after hearing the man’s story from Sen. Mike Enzi.

Nice surprise: Three cheers from Obama

You just never know who might be paying attention.

James Grabrick has been a fixture at local sporting events in Gillette, Wyo., since graduating from Campbell County High School in 2002.

Grabrick, 31, competes in Special Olympics, but he is probably better known around town for his support of local athletic teams. His booming voice is often heard at Gillette College basketball games as he waves his arms in the air, encouraging fans to join him in showing support for the athletes. Local fans respond in kind by clapping their hands and stomping their feet.

It was during a recent Gillette College basketball game that Grabrick caught the attention of Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., who took notice of Grabrick’s enthusiasm.

The two began talking, and during their conversation Grabrick told the senator to mention his name to President Barack Obama the next time he was in Washington, D.C.

Enzi didn’t forget. He brought up Grabrick’s name during dinner at the White House and told his story to Obama.

Grabrick didn’t know what to expect when a manila envelope arrived April 12. He carefully broke the seal and discovered a note and an autographed photograph of Enzi, but the real surprise was a handwritten note on a menu place card from the president.

“James, all the best,” the note read. “I hear you do a great job cheering for your team. From your fellow basketball fan, President Obama.”

Grabrick and his family were floored. Phil Grabrick, James’ father who serves as the Area 4 coordinator for Special Olympics, said the gesture shows a side of the president most people don’t get to see.

“He really does care about people,” Phil Grabrick told the Gillette News Record. “He made an effort to recognize a young man in Special Olympics in Gillette, Wyo.”

It’s something James Grabrick never expected, and something he’ll never forget.

“I never thought anything like this could happen,” he said.

That’s a bonus

Miami Heat forward Shane Battier told Dan LeBatard of The Miami Herald that playing in Miami comes with its share of perks.

“I’ve never had beautiful women calling my name from the stands before,” Battier said. “It has always been over 55 years old or 10and under, but now it is beautiful women.”

Boys of summer?

The New York Mets and Colorado Rockies played in 28-degree weather Thursday in Denver.

“How cold was it?” asked Dwight Perry of The Seattle Times.

“All the players wore No. 99 in honor of Wayne Gretzky.”

Pot, meet kettle

A Florida state senator is calling for an investigation of the NCAA.

“This is a new low for the NCAA,” writes Brad Dickson in the Omaha World-Herald. “It’s considered shady by Florida politics standards.”

Amen

President Barack Obama recognized the University of Alabama on Monday for winning the Bowl Championship Series national championship.

“It followed official observances for Passover, Easter, Ramadan and Persian new year,” comedian Argus Hamilton noted. “He hopes everyone will get off his back now that he’s honored every major religion in America.”

Quote of the day

“I think we’re in a great position where a lot of people in the world of college football, maybe in the outside world, don’t think a lot about Arkansas right now, but I guarantee you they will in short fashion.” Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema

Sports, Pages 26 on 04/21/2013

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