President Barack Obama awarded 16 Presidential Medals of Freedom, America’s highest medal awarded to civilians.  The recipients included Nancy Goodman Brinker, Pedro José Greer, Jr., Jack Kemp, Sen. Ted Kennedy, Stephen Hawking, Billie Jean King, Rev. Joseph Lowery, Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow, Harvey Milk, Sandra Day O’Connor, Sidney Poitier, Chita Rivera, Dr. Janet Davison Rowley, Mary Robinson, Desmond Tutu, and Muhammad Yunus.

Check out the full White House report HERE.

gtruong White House Feed Barack Obama, Billie Jean King, Chita Rivera, Desmond Tutu, Dr. Janet Davison Rowley, Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow, Harvey Milk, Jack Kemp, Jr., Mary Robinson, Muhammad Yunus, Nancy Goodman Brinker, Pedro José Greer, Rev. Joseph Lowery, Sandra Day OConnor, Sen. Ted Kennedy, Sidney Poitier, Stephen Hawking

Alan Krueger and Billie Jean King

The Washington Kastles held their first annual celebrity tennis match to benefit the American Red Cross on the final night of the Washington Kastles season … and crowned Obama’s Assistant Treasury Secretary MVP. Alan Krueger joined media and political celebrities — Sen. Evan Bayh, Fox’s Bret Baier, CNN’s Ed Henry and ABC’s Jonathan Karl — coaching on the sidelines: Billie Jean King and the GEICO Caveman.

Bloomberg’s Al Hunt and Margaret Carlson called the game in a Washington version of the Wimbledon voice over. Celebrity ball kids included Patrick Henry (8), David (8) and Rachel (10) Greenberg, Betsy Fischer’s daughter Ella (8), and Jonathan Karl’s girls Anna (9) and Emily (12).

Celebrity Tennis in Washington from whcinsider on Vimeo.

lrozett Event Coverage, Washington Events Al Hunt, Alan Krueger, Billie Jean King, Bret Baier, Ed Henry, Evan Bayh, GEICO Caveman, Jonathan Karl, Margaret Carlson, Washington Kastles

After starting off the season 0-4, the Washington Kastles were a long shot for the World Team Tennis Championship. But with a late season surge, the Kastles won the Eastern Conference to face the Springfield Lasers in the WTT Championship this Sunday evening, playing to a home-court crowd.

Scott “Boom Boom” Oudesma gave the Kastles an early lead, winning Men’s Singles, and — with team mate Leander Paes — won Men’s Doubles. The Kastles led the first half 15-11 over the Lasers.

Half time got the crowd on their feet with DJ Kool hittin’ the mic with “Let Me Clear My Throat.” That had everyone, including the National’s Teddy, the GEICO Caveman, and Coach Murphy, moving to the beat.

Just when you thought the night couldn’t get more exciting (a marriage proposal for one of the Kastles cheerleaders); the Lasers tied the match during Women’s Singles. With Murphy leaping to his feet on every point, crowd favorite Olga Puchkova held off three match points from the Laser’s number one player: Vaina King. Puchkova went on to defeat King and give the Kastles the championship 23-20. Oudesma was named MVP and Puchkova was carried off on her teammates’ shoulders as “We Are the Champions” played over the stadium loudspeakers.

Kastles owner Mark Ein, WTT founder Billie Jean King, and fans celebrated the underdog’s unexpected victory on the court.

Check out the video here.

Washington Kastles Win WTT Championship from whcinsider on Vimeo.

And check out all the pictures here.

lrozett Washington Events Billie Jean King, DJ Cool, Leander Paes, Mark Ein, Olga Puchkova, Scot Oudesma, Vaina King

Alan Krueger

With Redskins superstar Darrell Green and tennis great Ilana Kloss, it was hard to imagine that a former Princeton economics professor would be the breakout star of the first annual celebrity tennis match to benefit the American Red Cross on the final night of the Washington Kastles season.

Alan Krueger, Assistant Treasury Secretary for Economic Policy, impressed his team and his media/political opponents — including Senator Evan Bayh, Fox’s Brett Baier, CNN’s Ed Henry and ABC’s Jonathan Karl. Coaching on the sidelines: Billie Jean King and the GEICO Caveman.

GEICO Caveman with Darrell Green

Bloomberg’s Al Hunt and Margaret Carlson called the game in a Washington version of the Wimbledon voice over. Celebrity ball kids included Patrick Henry (8), David (8) and Rachel (10) Greenberg, Betsy Fischer’s daughter Ella (8), and Jonathan Karl’s girls Anna (9) and Emily (12).

Insiders were disappointed that Washington fav Gene Sperling had to cancel his appearance due to meetings, but Kreuger was the tournament’s MVP. Kastles owner Mark Ein has expanded the reach of the franchise, only in their second year, and with this first-ever charity celeb match has created a new Washington tradition.

Check out all the photos …

and check back later for video highlights.

thaddad Washington Events Al Hunt, Alan Krueger, Billie Jean King, Brett Baier, Darrell Green, Ed Henry, Evan Bayh, GEICO Caveman, Ilana Kloss, Jonathan Karl, Margaret Carlson, Mark Ein

Washington has an unlikely night spot: team tennis in downtown D.C. Kastles CEO Mark Ein hosts tennis great Billie Jean King during Serena Williams debut match while some of Washington’s power players – Larry Summers, Judy Woodruff, Al Hunt, Luke Russert, Michelle Fenty, Debra Lee, and Ray and Nina Benton – look on.

Washington Kastles Tennis Match from whcinsider on Vimeo.

thaddad Event Coverage, Washington Events Al Hunt, Billie Jean King, Debra Lee, Judy Woodruff, Larry Summers, Luke Russert, Mark Ein, Michelle Fenty, Ray Benton, Serena Williams