Delonte West barred from White House
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is beginning the week by hosting the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks at the White House.Delonte West, signed by the Mavs prior to this season, will not be able to join the team because of a criminal record that did not pass the White House's background check, the Mavs confirmed Sunday.
Obama, who roots regularly for the Chicago Bulls in his adopted home town, will congratulate the Mavericks for winning the 2011 championship title. He also will recognize the team's support for the men and women of the U.S. military forces.
But West, who in 2009 was arrested after being pulled over riding a three-wheel motorcycle, will instead visit his home, which is located near the White House. West is from the D.C. area.
"That's what happens when you make bad decisions in your life," West said over the weekend, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "You can't go to the White House.''
During the 2009 incident, police found three guns stashed in a guitar case he was carrying. He later pleaded guilty to weapons and traffic charges.
Obama's East Room tribute for the Mavericks follows a private meeting he'll have earlier in the day with his senior advisers at the White House.
"I've been there 100 times in my lifetime,'' West said, according to the Star-Telegram. "I live right around the corner. I live in D.C.
"It's going to be a shame the President isn't going to get a chance to meet me," West added jokingly. "I'm the president of my house.''
A lower back injury may keep Jason Kidd from playing on the Mavericks' upcoming two-game road trip, but it won't keep him from making the White House trip.
The rest of the team will be present, too, including the other eight remaining players from the title team. The six players who did not return will not be present.
Kidd was on the practice floor Sunday, but only watched as he continues to rehab a back injury sustained Thursday night that he termed as back spasms.
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He said the injury occurred as he battled San Antonio Spurs center DeJuan Blair for position to corral a rebound. Kidd was waking stiffly and said he hopes to be ready for Friday's game when the Mavs return home to play the Milwaukee Bucks.
Kidd will return to Dallas after the White House visit while the team heads to Detroit.
The Mavs left for Washington D.C. after Sunday's practice.
The NBA did not schedule the Mavs to play at the Washington Wizards. The White House carved out availability Monday, before the team plays at Detroit on Tuesday and at Boston on Wednesday, to honor the Mavs as champions, an American sports tradition that dates back more than 100 years.
On the court, West has arguably been the most consistent player among the team's three key newcomers that include Lamar Odom and Vince Carter.
Brought in to back up Kidd at point guard, West moved into the starting lineup at shooting guard in the second game of the season.
Coach Rick Carlisle praised West's work, calling him the team's best defender. West is averaging 8.0 points and 3.1 assists in nine games.
Information from ESPNDallas.com's Jeff Caplan and The Associated Press was used in this report.
http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/_/id/7441460/dallas-mavericks-delonte-west-fails-background-check-visit-white-house
1/9/2012 2:57 PM
