Court sessions aid governor

Basketball at dawn time to talk shop, get exercise

Gov. Asa Hutchinson defends the ball against Hunter Hatcher, outreach coordinator for the Arkansas treasurer’s office. In back are former Razorback basketball player Blake Eddins (left) and Arkansas Economic Development Director Mike Preston.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson defends the ball against Hunter Hatcher, outreach coordinator for the Arkansas treasurer’s office. In back are former Razorback basketball player Blake Eddins (left) and Arkansas Economic Development Director Mike Preston.

With a few days remaining until an Arkansas delegation attended the Paris Air Show, Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Arkansas Economic Development Commission Executive Director Mike Preston talked through some last-minute details.

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Special to the Democrat-Gazette

Rep. Charles Blake (left) and Zac Harper, regulatory liaison at the governor’s office, try to stop Gov. Asa Hutchinson from making a shot.

Attending the show and touting businesses that the state had to offer was a priority for both men. Aerospace products are, by dollar amount, the state's top export and Hutchinson and Preston wanted to make sure they had fine-tuned their pitches for selling Arkansas and its businesses.

Their meeting prior to the June event took place not at the state Capitol or in Preston's office, but on the basketball court at Episcopal Collegiate School. It's become a popular, though somewhat unlikely, weekly meeting spot for the two to talk shop.

"If we have pressing issues we'll definitely talk, especially as we're warming up and getting loose" Preston said. "When we get in the game we're pretty focused on the game, but when there's a pressing issue we'll get it out of the way and then play ball. It's a good time to catch up if it's been a couple days and I need to fill him in on a project. We talked a lot about the Paris trip."

Weekly, early-morning basketball games became a regular part of Hutchinson's schedule shortly after he was elected. A hectic and demanding gubernatorial campaign left very little time for staying in shape. Hutchinson told Rett Hatcher, his director of legislative affairs, they had to find time to get more exercise.

"The next day he said he'd found 10 guys and a gym, I just needed to tell him when," Hutchinson said. "We've been doing it ever since."

Hutchinson, who also enjoys golf and tennis, pushed for the games to be full court to get as much exercise as possible. The 64-year-old said his staff, some roughly half his age, seemed surprised that the governor wanted to play full court.

Games are played to 10, with baskets worth 1 and 2 points. Hutchinson scored 6 of his team's 10 points, grabbing 3 rebounds and setting screens to free up teammates for other baskets in one recent victory.

Episcopal coach Micah Marsh, a point guard for Arkansas State University from 1994-98, began opening up the gym for Hutchinson and others shortly after the governor's inauguration. During a Sept. 4 game, Marsh was on a team with Preston; the governor's chief spokesman J.R. Davis; and governor's office staff members Robert Moery and Charlie Spakes.

Hutchinson played with his regulatory liaison Zac Harper, Hatcher, chief legal counsel Justin Tate and Episcopal Collegiate assistant coach Brandon Friedel.

Marsh noted that Hutchinson had a particularly good day during an early September game. Hutchinson spent much of his time down low, using his 6-foot-2 height to score over shorter players. Hutchinson, who twice dove for loose balls, scored just once in the final game, a loss against the team led by Preston.

"He came out hot," Marsh said. "He maybe ran out of steam in the end. His legs ran out on him, but he gets after it. He rebounds. He knows how to play a little bit. He knows how to play. Everybody does. That's what makes it enjoyable."

Preston, who played in high school, joined the pickup games shortly after he arrived in the state in April. The former head of Enterprise Florida Inc., a public-private partnership between that state's business and government leaders, said he learned of the weekly games sometime during his interview with Hutchinson, Hatcher and Chief of Staff Michael Lamoureux.

Weekly games were something the 31-year-old Preston enjoyed in Florida, particularly when the Legislature was in session in Tallahassee.

"I don't remember how it came up, but the governor mentioned he liked to play and we started taking basketball," Preston said. "I told him I was interested in playing and that if I get a good jump I can dunk. I still haven't dunked in a game here. Once you get over 30 it's a little harder to get up in the air. I can usually do it in warm-ups."

As with any pickup game there is a bit of trash talking among players. In a decisive fifth game on Sept. 4 there was partisan discord over a late foul called by Marsh. Complaints from the opposing team led to the line of the day from Marsh, an all-Sun Belt Conference player at ASU in 1998.

"There's politicians in here. I'm not going to lie," Marsh said cracking a smile.

Marsh's line drew a laugh from the other players, including Hutchinson. That sort of friendly back-and-forth is what he envisioned when suggesting his staff find time to play and exercise.

Hutchinson also appreciates the fact that it provides a more relaxed environment to talk shop when necessary. During the most recent game, he said he and Preston touched base on a forthcoming economic development announcement. Episcopal Collegiate's campus is about 1 1/2 miles from the Capitol, the dome of which is visible from the school.

Location makes Episcopal convenient for the early-morning games and the view is a good reminder of the work that awaits those who play.

During the legislative session, Hutchinson said several lawmakers joined. A mix of Democrats and Republicans played, Hutchinson said, and the games, while competitive, never got heated along party lines.

"I see everybody from my office quite a bit, but this is a good chance for Mike and I to check in on what's happening at AEDC before we play," Hutchinson said. "There are legislators who have played with us, particularly during the session. We had Democrats, Republicans. That was particularly nice for me."

SundayMonday Business on 09/13/2015

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