Michael Jordan to Headline a Barack Obama Fundraising Event

NBA folks — past and current — have helped out U.S. President Barack Obama by taking part fundraising events throughout the years, and as the 2012 election draws closer, some of the big guns are coming out in support of the Prez yet again. Michael Jordan (who has been notoriously apolitical throughout his basketball life) will headline a fundraiser for Obama later on this month. Per the AP: “The Obama campaign is planning a fundraising ‘shoot-around’ and dinner in New York on Aug. 22 featuring several NBA stars, including Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks, Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics, John Wall of the Washington Wizards and others. Jordan, who played for the Chicago Bulls, Obama’s favorite NBA team, and NBA Commissioner David Stern are co-hosting a $20,000-per person fundraising dinner with the president later in the day. […] The campaign is holding a ‘shoot-around’ with players at New York’s Chelsea Piers sports complex, including Anthony, Rondo, Wall, Paul Pierce, Kyrie Irving, Joe Johnson and former NBA centers Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning. WNBA stars Sheryl Swoopes and Dawn Staley are also participating in the event, which will cost $5,000 for a parent and child or two people to have a ‘shoot-around skills session’ with the players. A $250 donation provides an autograph session with the players. Obama’s campaign plans to raffle off the chance for grass-roots supporters to attend the events.”