Larsen

But now Larsen, who played a “few times” during his senior year of high school will be shooting hoops again President Obama tonight at the White House.

“We’ll just have some time to give the president some time off to clear his head before he has to get back to work this evening,” Larsen said of the game.

Larsen, who represents the 2nd Congressional District, which includes all of Whatcom County, says he’s not concerned that the Secret Service will be on hand watching the game and the president’s well-being.

“I’m willing to foul anybody who has a clear path to the basket who’s not on my team,” the congressman said. “It’s about winning.”

Larsen is among 11 members of Congress who have been invited to the game tonight. Those members are ones provided to the White House by Larsen himself a few months ago. The list of those playing tonight includes Reps. Michael Arcuri (D-N.Y.), John Boccieri (D-Ohio), Brad Ellsworth (D-Ind.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), Baron Hill (D-Ind.), Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), Frank Kratovil (D-Md.), Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.), John Shimkus (R-Ill.) and Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), as well as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

Larsen said he’s played with the members of Congress before. And he’s been stumping for the pick-up game with Obama for nearly a year and a half now.

When he endorsed Obama for president back in May 2008, Larsen mentioned basketball then, too.

“There’s a short list of members of Congress who can go up and down the basketball court, and he should call me,” Larsen said at the time.

And call they have.

The congressman played basketball from grade school through high school, and played varsity his senior year. He admits, though, that the other boys “ended up getting taller and bigger than me, so I was the 13th man on a 12-man bench.”

Larsen said it’s unlikely that any policy will be discussed tonight during the game.

“I doubt very much there will be many issues brought up except why didn’t you pass me the ball,” he said.

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