Oregon, Announcers Delayed From Arriving at UCLA for Men's Basketball Game By Presidential Motorcade

Politics and hoops collided Saturday in Los Angeles.

Presidents have an eventful—if brief—history with the game of basketball.

In 1994, Bill Clinton posed in full Arkansas regalia for the cover of this magazine. Barack Obama is an avid Chicago Bulls fan. Donald Trump feuded with both Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and then-Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James during his presidency.

Now, Joe Biden has joined the list in unusual fashion. According to ESPN announcer Roxy Bernstein, Biden's motorcade in Los Angeles delayed Oregon from arriving at Pauley Pavilion Saturday evening for its game against UCLA.

"So this is a first…we are less than an hour from tip and (Oregon) is not here at Pauley Pavilion. They are stuck at their hotel and not moving because of Presidential motorcade," Bernstein wrote.

So this is a first…we are less than an hour from tip and @OregonMBB is not here at Pauley Pavilion. They are stuck at their hotel and not moving because of Presidential motorcade.

— Roxy Bernstein (@roxybernstein) February 4, 2024

Bernstein then posted a picture of a largely empty arena, noting that the motorcade was impacting fans' arrivals as well.

We’re here!!!

But visiting team isn’t and we are half hour until tip. Plus a lot of crowd can’t get here because of Presidential motorcade https://t.co/1OmpK2j1Sj pic.twitter.com/AZpjuJ2GJk

— Roxy Bernstein (@roxybernstein) February 4, 2024

Finally, 29 minutes before tip-off, the Ducks turned up.

Oregon just arrived at Pauley Pavilion at 6:31pm. https://t.co/Ku3b57F9CD pic.twitter.com/0QA8UzjYQ5

— Roxy Bernstein (@roxybernstein) February 4, 2024

When a presidential motorcade is threatening to delay one of your games, it might not be your academic year as a conference.