No basketball invite from Obama for Durbin

Despite championing him along the campaign trail, Sen. Dick Durbin hasn’t managed to snag an invite to shoot hoops with President Obama.

The Illinois Democrat wasn’t among the players at Obama’s traditional Election Day pickup basketball game last week. Former Chicago Bulls stars Scottie Pippen and Randy Brown joined in on the match in the Windy City, along with Obama’s go-to teammates, ex-body man and b-ball player Reggie Love, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and former Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.

When asked Tuesday by radio station WDWS 1400 if he was invited to the Election Day hoops showdown, Durbin laughed, “Have you seen me lately? Do I look like I can play basketball?”

The senator doesn’t exactly see eye to eye with the commander in chief in terms of height — more like eye to chin. In photographs with the 6’1” president, Durbin is more than a few inches shorter than Obama.

The lawmaker continued during his radio interview, “I really like this president and I have a chance to talk to him from time to time.” He added, while letting out a big laugh, “He’s never invited me to play basketball — for obvious reasons.”