Boss Hog Enjoys His Hoops Basketball Gives Clinton The Outlet He Needs To Escape Real World’s Problems

Awkwardly palming a basketball, President Clinton walked into a university gym with “Hoop Dreams” star Arthur Agee to shoot some baskets Monday when a sign on the backboard caught his eye.

“No Dunking” it said in big, black, block letters.

“No dunking?” Clinton said, feigning surprise. “That’s too bad, that’s what I wanted to do.”

Agee, an Arkansas State University basketball player whose triumphs and turmoils as a promising athlete were the subject of the documentary film, “Hoop Dreams,” showed the president some rules were made to be broken.

Taking three powerful strides toward the basket, the Chicago native burst from the floor and dunked the ball.

“Your turn, Mr. President,” a reporter said.

Clinton, in loafers, dress pants and a tie, shrugged his shoulders and said, “I did it once, when I was 16.”

The brief photo opportunity came as Clinton wrapped up three days of relaxation in his home state. The weekend, however, revolved around basketball - University of Arkansas basketball. The Razorbacks lost 89-78 Monday to UCLA for the NCAA title and Clinton planned to watch on TV with friends at a local restaurant.

He watched from a popular steakhouse Saturday night when the Hogs beat North Carolina. Clinton said the sport is valuable therapy for him.

“I have to have something else to think about,” he said before landing in Arkansas on Friday night after spending the day in Haiti. “Otherwise, I’ll go nuts.”

Clinton began his day Monday at the campus of Razorbacks rival Arkansas State, dedicating a new multimilliondollar library he helped fund while serving as the state’s governor.

After a speech in which he chastised Republicans for trying to cut education programs, Clinton attended a reception with some old Arkansas political friends, then walked to an ASU gym with Agee.

While the pair chatted a few minutes beneath the basket, Agree spun a basketball on his fingers. Clearly impressed, Clinton said, “I can’t do that.”

Clinton then slipped off his wedding ring and put it in his pocket, taking aim with his first shot. It went wide of the basket.

“Airball,” somebody shouted, just loud enough for Clinton to hear.

“Just missed,” the president corrected. “I get another shot.”

This time, Clinton’s “Hoop Dream” came true.