Like most everyone in the United States today, the Hawks players, coaches, and staff kept tabs on the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama taking place in Washington, DC, even while preparing for tonight's game against the Chicago Bulls. Hawks VP of Public Relations Arthur Triche was kind enough to share his thoughts on this amazing day in American history and how it affected the team and everyone around them.

OBAMALAND, Chicago (Inauguration Day, Jan. 20) --- You remember with clarity the things in your life that mean a lot to you – like graduating from high school and college, the unfortunate death of a family member, your lovely wedding, the exciting birth of a child, and hopefully one day, winning a world championship.

Today, ranks as one of the greatest days in my life (and I hope it does for many, if not all of you).

I think back and remember where I was when I heard about the death of MLK, Jr., the tragedy of the shuttle Challenger, the news of Magic Johnson attaining the HIV virus, the first retirement of Michael Jordan, 9-11, again, 9-11, Hurricane Katrina, and the forever changing imagery of Doug Williams, Lenny Wilkens, John Thompson, Cito Gaston, Tiger Woods and Tony Dungy (and most recently Cullen Jones).

Now this…

President Barack Obama.  #44.

Not the number signifying my other heroes like Hank Aaron and Jerry West, but my new “Fave One” – yeah, gotta show some man love – for Barry – not Sanders or Bonds.  The man who has the power of our futures in his hands, and who brings a tremendous amount of promise, optimism, and his signature word “hope”, to our nation and the world.

The ceremonies today reflected “my America”.  A nation of inclusion, not exclusion.

And I’m proud to say your Atlanta Hawks – despite our shootaround preparation for tonight’s game against the Obama’s hometown Bulls, got to see it all, with an assist from the United Center.

Knowing we had a game tonight, I approached Woody (Hawks coach Mike Woodson) a week ago with the hopes of moving up our originally scheduled time of 11 am central practice to 9:30.  Obviously, if we would have been forced to stick with that time, we would have missed the historic ceremony, so I thought we need to move things up a bit to allow everyone a chance to see the swearing-in events.  Unfortunately, we got a late start and it appeared as if we would miss everything (@#*!)!!!  Not me, I was already planning to leave the team walking through their sets and get in a cab to return to my hotel room and watch it all.  Sorry fellas, these events outranked even you guys today – and rightly so.

But as I said the UC executive (probably with a little help from our opponents) had the big –screen videoboards shining brightly with coverage from MSNBC.  Wow!  At that moment, I was thinking of Skip Bayless’ favorite player, Terrell (Terrible) Owens and one of his great lines, “get your popcorn ready!”  It felt like we had the building to ourselves with the best TV set this side of Washington.

“We were looking LIVE!”  Brent Musberger – I apologize for stepping on your phrase, but the television view of the throng of people was completely astonishing.  I originally had plans on being there, but once the number of 5 million people was thrown out there, I said, no way (and a few other choice words) and thought that the next best thing would be to follow the team to Chicago and witness history in our new President’s hometown.

I still wish I would have gone.

But I enjoyed spending time with our players and coaches – I don’t know who was more excited, me or Woody – and it was nice to see their eyes riveted to the screen as the Obamas and Bidens were introduced with their new titles.

How many of them fully understood what was going on, I don’t know.  Some people view athletes and spoiled, pampered brats who don’t have a clue as to how the real world operates.  Well, today is not the time for that subject.  It was important for Woody to make sure we did this together as a team, and that certainly replaced my disappointment for not being in our nation’s capital.

The players stared intently at the screen and they didn’t utter any disapproval about taking extra time away from their lunch or afternoon nap.  I hope they went back to their hotel rooms and watched the rest of the day’s activities, and left ESPN, MTV or BET (and their video games) alone.

As Woody exclaimed “BARACK OBAMA” after he was sworn in as our new President, I’m sure they appreciated what their forefathers and mothers did to provide them with the opportunities we now enjoy as a people.

This was not an African-American day, this was an day for all Americans, and we should all feel proud.

As an aside, I woke up this morning like it was Christmas Day.  I was up and at ‘em at 4 AM (yikes!!) and noticed that CNN was reporting live from the Mall of Washington and people were already getting into position to view the proceedings.  I went down to the gym around 6 and my workout was spirited as I awaited the noontime events.

I haven’t stopped smiling all day, and hopefully we end the night with a Hawks victory.

Finally, I wanted to share an e-mail I wrote before I went to my workout that I sent to a few family and friends, expressing the joy I knew I would feel on this day, Tuesday, January 20^th, and hopefully you had similar thoughts…enjoy.

Enjoy the Day, My Fellow Americans

Friends,

Words can’t fully express the way I feel this morning, and I’ve been up since 4 central time (I’m in Obamaland, Chicago) waiting with tremendous anticipation of today’s historic day.

Needless to say, I never, ever, thought I would witness this day, the era, in which an African-American would earn the right to be elected to the highest office in the land.

Soon-to-be President Obama’s announcement over two years ago was viewed by many, me included, as a longshot, “never in a million years”, and I’m proud to be wrong, oh, so wrong, because it certainly proves, to borrow a line from Kevin Garnett of the hated Celtics, “Anything’s Possible!!!!”

He, and we, deserve this moment.  We certainly have a lot of work to do to improve things in this country (I’m done with the Bush bashing, and hopefully I will never have to utter his name again), and I’m proud and blessed to be alive today to witness this measure of history.  If you know of my last two years, you certainly understand.  I only wish my parents were around to see it for themselves.

I could probably go on, but I’ll stop.  You get the point.  I just felt like putting a few thoughts into words and sharing them with you, my dear friends.

My hope and prayers to brother Barack, sister Michelle, the darling kids, the Biden family, and for our nation.  May the best begin today.  For all of us.

Peace,
AT