Kobe Bryant Talks Trash to the President

Kobe backs down from nobody, not even the Commander and Chief

How big is Kobe Bryant?

Big enough to talk some smack to the Commander and Chief of the most powerful nation in the world without the Secret Service wrestling him to the ground with weapons drawn, apparently.

Monday the Lakers met up with Barack Obama at the traditional NBA-champion-meets-the-president event. Except this one was anything but traditional -- the meeting took place at the Boys & Girls Club of Washington where the Lakers worked with 100 youth to write letters and prepare care packages for soldiers stationed overseas for the holidays.

Who was the most popular Laker with the kids? Lamar Odom, because they all knew him from "Keeping up with the Kardashians." Ron Artest was the Laker who best related to the children, but we should have seen that coming.

Kobe was talking with Chicago-native and Bulls fan Obama, who he has met several times before. Kobe (and Derek Fisher) had been out to the White House this summer for a star-studded pickup game. (Kobe attended but didn't play due to knee surgery rehab.)

Kobe and the president are tight enough to be talking a little smack to each other, as reported by Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles.

"Derrick Rose may have your number," President Obama lightheartedly jabbed at Kobe Bryant as the team posed for a photograph after presenting the president with an autographed replica 2009-10 championship banner, like the one that hangs at Staples Center.

"I said, 'If he calls that number, I'll be sure to pick up after the fifth ring,'" Bryant quipped back -- referring, naturally, to the five championship rings he has….

"I want to congratulate coach Phil Jackson on earning his 11th NBA championship ring," President Obama said. "It was his fifth championship ring with the Lakers, which I should point out is still one behind the six he won with the Chicago Bulls."

As the president stood on stage with the team behind him, he heard a voice interject, "Not for long."

"Kobe said, 'Not for long,'" the president said with a laugh.

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Love that.

Not many people talk smack to the president. With impunity. And you don't get to be president without the, um, huevos to stand your ground. Those two totally sound like they should go hang out and have a beer together.

The only question: Which one has more bodyguards? It's probably closer than you think.

Kurt Helin lives in Long Beach and is the Blogger-in-Chief of NBC's NBA blog Pro Basketball Talk (which you can also follow in twitter).

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