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http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031783251452&path=%21news%21columnists&s=1045855935174 White House fouls VUU visitors MICHAEL PAUL WILLIAMS POINT OF VIEW Monday, June 13, 2005 Mr. President: I know you're busy dealing with a chaotic occupation in Iraq, a hit-and-miss economy and plummeting approval ratings. But hear me out, please. You owe the Virginia Union University basketball team an apology. What's that? Never heard of'em? Well, the VUU Panthers are the reigning NCCA Division II basketball champions. You invited them up the road from Richmond to recognize their accomplishments. As an alumnus, I can say with confidence that this was heady stuff for a tiny historically black college founded 140 years ago in a former **** jail. The VUU contingent eagerly anticipated being received and recognized at the White House. A group that included VUU President Belinda C. Anderson and Panthers coach Dave Robbins were received, all right, during what turned out to be a celebration of Black Music Month. But in a speech of nearly 800 words, you never specifically recognized them - even though the VUU players were sitting only a few feet away. You acknowledged the musicians, members of your Cabinet and Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Va., and Sen. George Allen, R-Va. I guess you assumed Allen was there because of his abiding love of gospel music. This was a personal foul of the worst kind. Instead of giving the Panthers mad props, you made them props. I'd accuse you of dropping the ball. But you cut out of the East Room before the team could present you with a commemorative basketball or personalized basketball jersey. You don't invite someone to your house without acknowledging them. If your staff left you unaware that the VUU Panthers were there - how did you miss that huge national championship trophy? - someone in your charge has some explaining to do. After all, the political ritual of greet-the-champions isn't rocket science. The athletes get the thrill of going to the White House and meeting the president. But how exciting can it be if you render them invisible? You get a nice photo op to sway black voters leery of you and the Republican Party's awkward attempts at outreach. After all, Colin and Condi alone can't offset decades of Negro-hostile politicking. But doesn't this require you to be in the photo? You weren't so camera-shy when the New England Patriots, the Boston Red Sox and the UConn Huskies came calling. But this time, you left the photo opportunities for Allen, whose pictures with the VUU contingent were displayed on his Web page and VUU's Web site. The VUU team and Robbins showed a champion's class in taking the high road. "Maybe we're a little disappointed," senior Ralph Brown told The Times-Dispatch. "I think everyone was hoping that we'd actually get a chance to sit down and talk to him. But it was still a great honor, and it's going to be a great memory - something we can tell our kids and grandkids someday. Just to be that close to him - I'll bet I was no more than 10 feet away from him. I mean, come on. That's not something that happens every day." I know you're not the kind of guy who likes to admit a mistake. But just think how thrilled Brown and his teammates would be to receive a letter of belated recognition from the president.