“Here is a place,” Obama told HBO, “where black was not a disadvantage.”

Now, it’s a place for a break from the campaign.

Dribbling a ball during warmups on the court in Pittsburgh, Obama said he and his pals played the day of the Iowa caucuses. “We won the caucuses, then came New Hampshire and we didn’t play. We were too busy,” he said. “That won’t happen again. I am superstitious.”

Obama picked the teams in Pittsburgh, giving himself five of the best players and two of the worst (the reporters) and immediately took charge of the play, bringing the ball up court and dishing soft bounce passes.

He kept score and called fouls, including one on himself.

Obama is extremely confident with his game, for good reason. He glides more than runs, high and soft on the balls of his feet and with graceful strides that put enough space between himself and his opponents to launch a solid jump shot. Obama, who usually plays with younger men, says he’s a step too fast for most his age.

“They’re better off testing my jumper,” he told HBO.

In the first of four games, Obama lost the ball out of bounds. “My bad,” he told teammates. “I’m sorry.”

Not everybody is so honest. When an opposing player dribbled the ball off his own leg and called a cheap foul, one of Obama’s teammates said sarcastically, “Hey, man, nice move.”

Typical trash talk. But it struck Obama as funny. Over-the-top funny. Falling to his knees, the senator giggled uncontrollably, holding his head in his hands and writhing. He wiped tears from his eyes while getting up.

You don’t realize how skinny Obama is until you’re banging against him beneath the rim, his bony hips giving easily to brawnier competitors. But despite his size, the left-handed Obama took every opportunity to move recklessly through the lane with his signature move:

Fake right and drive hard to the left.

A political statement? Nah,” he said with a wan and sweaty smile, “I just love to play this game.”

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