WASHINGTON -- Saying they had touched him in a powerful and personal way, President Barack Obama awarded the nation's highest civilian honor to 21 groundbreaking actors, musicians, athletes and others during a ceremony Tuesday at the White House. "These are folks who have helped make me who I am,'' Obama said as the celebration concluded in the White House East Room.
The awards had a major sports component, with Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Vin Scully all among those recognized with the highest American civilian honor.
That led to plenty of sports moments at the ceremony Tuesday, including President Obama noting that "MJ is more than just a logo.