Hawks miss Obama but enjoy White House visit

By Michael Cunningham

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

D.C. Tour: The Hawks didn’t get to meet President Barack Obama during their visit to the White House on Thursday morning but enjoyed touring the East Wing.

“Very impressive,” Hawks coach Mike Woodson said. “It was my first opportunity to experience something like that. There’s a lot of history in that building.”

Obama wasn’t available to meet the team because he was in policy meetings.

“He’s got a lot on his plate,” said Hawks guard Jamal Crawford.

The Hawks did encounter “First Dog” Bo. Time prevented the team from seeing the West Wing but the Hawks toured the South Lawn and saw the basketball court installed by Obama, who is a big fan of the game.

Johnson's uncertain summer: During the Hawks’ recent visit to New York, Joe Johnson was peppered with questions about his pending free agency this summer. Reports speculated that Johnson’s history with Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni and agent Arn Tellem’s relationship with Knicks boss Donnie Walsh could lead to Johnson signing with the Knicks.

But Johnson said not to read too much into it.

“That is always going to be kind of scrutinized and everybody wants to know what’s what,” he said. “So we’ll see. I don’t know what is going to happen, to be honest with you.”

Michael Cunningham