Even if you are not a sports fan, you should know the name Shaquille O’Neal. Shaq is 7-foot-1 and weighs 325 pounds. His size and athleticism made him one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He played on teams that won four world championships.
Shaq also displays a joyful attitude and infectious smile that have made him a prominent pitchman for a wide variety of products. This is a man who can walk into just about any place and have doors open for him.
One day a few years ago he decided to put his celebrity status to the test. Shaq knew that President Obama loved basketball and so he decided to visit the White House unannounced and uninvited. He said that he didn’t try to use any of his political or law enforcement connections. He just put on his best suit, got in a cab and got dropped off at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Shaq went up to the gate and said, “Hey, I’m in town, I would like to see the President.” Guess what happened? The White House guards turned him away. Later that day he tweeted, “The White House wouldn’t let me in, whyyyyyyyy?”
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J. E. Skeets, “Shaq rejected at White House,” Yahoo Sports Blog , July 27, 2009