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President Barack Obama needed 12 stitches in
his upper lip after taking an errant elbow during a pickup
basketball game Friday morning with family and friends visiting for
the Thanksgiving holiday, the White House said.
      

First word of the injury came in a statement from press
secretary Robert Gibbs nearly three hours after the incident.


      The White House did not initially name the person who caused the
injury, but identified him later Friday as Rey Decerega, director
of programs for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.


      Obama received the stitches under local anesthesia in the
doctor's office on the ground floor of the White House after
returning home. Doctors used a smaller filament than typically
used, which increases the number of stitches but makes a tighter
stitch and leaves a smaller scar.
     

 The president had gone to nearby Fort McNair to indulge in a
game of basketball, one of his favorite athletic pursuits. It was a
five-on-five contest involving family and friends. 


Among the
players were Obama's nephew, Avery Robinson, Education Secretary
Arne Duncan and Reggie Love, Obama's personal assistant, who played
at Duke University.
     

 The White House said the injury happened during their fifth and
final game when Decerega turned to take a shot and hit Obama, who
was playing defense, in the mouth with his elbow.


      Obama emerged from the building after about 90 minutes of play,
wearing a short-sleeve T-shirt and gym pants, and was seen dabbing
at his mouth with what appeared to be a wad of gauze. 


A few hours
later, reporters who had gathered on the White House driveway for
the arrival of the Christmas tree saw the president in an upstairs
window, pressing an ice pack against his mouth before he stood and
walked away.


      "After being inadvertently hit with an opposing player's elbow
in the lip while playing basketball with friends and family, the
president received 12 stitches today administered by the White
House Medical Unit," Gibbs said.


      Decerega issued a statement through the White House late Friday.
He did not immediately respond to an e-mail request from The
Associated Press for independent comment.


      "I learned today the president is both a tough competitor and a
good sport," the statement said. "I enjoyed playing basketball
with him this morning. I'm sure he'll be back out on the court
again soon."

      Obama's motorcade obeyed all traffic stops, the custom for
nonofficial trips, during the return to the White House.


      In February, Obama, 49, was deemed to be in excellent health and
fit for duty after his first medical checkup as president. Doctors
reported then that Obama had yet to kick a smoking habit, takes
anti-inflammatory medication to relieve chronic tendinitis in his
left knee and should make dietary changes to reduce his cholesterol
levels.


      Obama was told to return for another physical exam in August
2011, after he turns 50. In addition to regular pickup basketball
games, Obama is also an avid golfer.


      Obama had no public events scheduled during the long holiday
weekend.


      His stitched lip, however, could make for some interesting small
talk on Tuesday, when Obama is to meet with the congressional
leadership. The session originally was announced for Nov. 18, but
was delayed after Republicans, who will control the House and
increase their numbers in the Senate come January, said they
couldn't accommodate the president.


      Medical help is always nearby for U.S. presidents. A doctor or
nurse is stationed at the White House around the clock and
accompanies the president in his motorcade and aboard Air Force
One.


      Recent presidents have had a number of medical scares.


      George W. Bush choked on a pretzel and briefly lost
consciousness, falling and hurting his head. Bill Clinton had
surgery and used crutches for months for a torn tendon in his knee
when he stumbled on steps at the Florida home of golf pro Greg
Norman.


      The elder Bush, George H.W. Bush, was hospitalized for an
erratic heartbeat while jogging at Camp David, a problem later
diagnosed as a thyroid ailment. The senior Bush also collapsed at a
state dinner in Tokyo, which the White House blamed on an
intestinal flu.


      Jimmy Carter fainted briefly while jogging near Camp David.
Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest in a 1981 assassination
attempt.


      Former Vice President Dick Cheney, 69, has had five heart
attacks since age 37. He had surgery this year to install a pump to
help his heart work. Cheney said he has congestive heart failure.

Gallery

Politics and Government News

President Barack Obama needed 12 stitches in
his lip after taking an errant elbow during a pickup basketball
game Friday with a group of family and friends visiting for the
Thanksgiving holiday, the White House said.

Obama hurt playing hoops, gets 12 stitches in his lip

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