Obama has the home-court advantage

During coverage of Tuesday’s inauguration of President Barack Obama, ABC senior White House correspondent Jake Tapper ran into Magic Johnson. The conversation went this way:

Johnson: “Well, President Obama said he’s going to change the bowling alley to a basketball court. And if I get that invitation, I’m going to be there and we’ll throw some elbows at each other and play some hoop and just have fun. It would be my honor and pleasure to go and play basketball with him. And I’m sure Michael Jordan and Larry Bird and everybody else would love it too.”

Tapper: “But you’d have to take it easy on him a little bit though, right? You’re a big guy, you know, you’re not going to hurt, you’re not going to foul him?”

Johnson: “I would only take it easy if he’d take it easy on my taxes.”

Trivia time

Jockeys Bill Shoemaker, Julie Krone, Eddie Arcaro, Johnny Longden, John Sellers, Steve Cauthen, Bill Hartack and Robyn Smith have one thing in common. What is it?

Out of bounds

Brad Dickson, writing in the Omaha World-Herald, said John Daly’s suspension from the PGA Tour must be “part of the tough new PGA ‘3,000 strikes and you’re out’ policy.”

Very vocal

The Australian Open has reignited the debate over players who grunt and groan.

“Screaming women tennis players are a blight on the big tournaments,” Chris Rattue wrote in the New Zealand Herald. “It’s a pity the tennis rule makers can’t find a way to silence the shouters.

“Moaning Monica Seles was once told to belt up before a Wimbledon final . . . which proves it can be done. But try telling Serena Williams what to do and she’d probably pack up her diamonds and high-tail it back to the celebrity circuit.”

Trivia answer

They are the only eight jockeys to have appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated.

And finally

Comedy writer Jerry Perisho, on LeBron James’ being on the cover of the February issue of GQ magazine: “Meanwhile, NFL star Plaxico Burress will be on the cover of Guns & Ammo.”