President Obama’s niece Leslie Robinson was threatened before last night’s Princeton-Maryland NCAA tournament women’s basketball game, USA Today reported.
College Park security was reportedly increased before the match.
According to the report, an 8-minute voicemail was received at the University of Maryland athletic department offices this afternoon in which a woman said a man was driving on campus with a Glock handgun in his possession.
The caller linked the man’s appearance on campus to last night’s game and Leslie Robinson, the daughter of Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama’s brother, who is a freshman forward at Princeton. Leslie Robinson was not told of the threat, but Princeton coach Courtney Banghart was aware of it.
In addition to normal game security, undercover security officers were near the Princeton bench. Secret Service officers also were in the arena due to the presence of Supreme Court justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
Barack Obama attended first-round game between Princeton and Wisconsin-Green Bay on March 21, but was not at last night’s game.
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President Barack Obama cheered at the Princeton against Wisconsin-Green Bay women’s college basketball game in the first round of the NCAA tournament in College Park, Maryland, March 21.
Barack Obama’s niece Leslie Robinson plays for Princeton.
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Charlie Sheen took to Twitter on March 19 to vent his frustration with President Barack Obama’s appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter.
Barack Obama was engaging in his annual tradition of filling out the NCAA tourney bracket on live television.
The Two and a Half Men star tweeted: “Barry Satera Kenya u won’t attend a soldier’s funeral uhkros da street that u kild yet u hav time 4 brackets? s a d c.”
Barack Obama has an annual tradition of participating in March Madness, an issue that has irked conservatives who also routinely criticize the president for playing golf.
Tucson police shot pepper spray at several hundred fans who took to the streets and threw beer bottles and firecrackers at officers after Arizona’s overtime loss to Wisconsin in the NCAA tournament on Saturday night.
There were no reports of injuries to fans or officers, but 15 people were arrested for offenses such as resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and unlawful assembly, Tucson police Sgt. Pete Dugan said. Of those arrested, 14 were released, and one was sent to Pima County jail.
Tucson police shot pepper spray at several hundred fans who took to the streets after Arizona’s overtime loss (photo AP)
Pete Dugan said those advancing on officers were arrested. The street was clear and the crowd was gone by late Saturday.
He said crowds leaving bars and restaurants near campus after the game filled University Boulevard and wouldn’t leave despite urging through a PA system and social media declaring it an unlawful assembly.
Police brought in cruisers and a unit of officers with batons, helmets and face masks to block the street when people started tossing beer bottles, cans and firecrackers, hitting police vehicles and endangering officers.
Officers fired pepper spray, pepper canisters and pepper balls, which disperse into the air when they hit, Pete Dugan said. No tear gas was used despite some reports.
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An emotional Kevin Ware was speaking out in his first round of television interviews for the first time since his injury on Sunday night, thanking fans for their support and promised he would do his best to return to the court.
Kevin Ware, 20, said he will travel to the Final Four on his crutches and expects to be a big presence for the Cardinals on the team bench as they take on Wichita State on Saturday.
Cleared by doctors to accompany the team to Atlanta, the Louisville guard said he plans to be a full participant in the team’s preparation for the game.
Kevin Ware admitted to a gaggle of reporters at the university that he did not know Louisville had gone on to win the game until he woke up on Monday morning, with the NCAA trophy by his side.
Kevin Ware admitted to a gaggle of reporters at the university that he did not know Louisville had gone on to win the game until he woke up on Monday morning, with the NCAA trophy by his side
Speaking of the moment of the injury, he told ESPN: “I honestly didn’t feel pain. It was more shock. I’ve never felt anything like that.”
Donning a “Win it for Kevin” team shirt, Kevin Ware said the overwhelming support he has received has helped him maintain his spirits and strengthened his confidence of a full recovery.
He hopes by next season to be helping the Cardinals defend the national championship he believes they’ll win this weekend.
The normally reserved Kevin Ware calmly recalled how he felt when he suffered the devastating injury, saying he doesn’t think Louisville would be in the Final Four if he had lost his composure.
Kevin Ware told reporters during a press conference that he had no prior problems with his leg before the horrific injury, which forced six inches of his leg bone to break through his skin.
He told reporters: “When I went to contest the shot, it was like I always do. I guess I just landed wrong and I didn’t see where I was landing.”
While the injury may have gotten Kevin Ware worldwide attention – and more than 100,000 new Twitter followers – he says he never stopped thinking about his fellow Cardinals.
“Nothing like seeing my teammates. We’re brothers and I wouldn’t trade these guys in for anything in the world.”
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