Bush's Hoop Dreams Fall to Earth in N. Ireland

By Dan Eggen
LONDON -- For Barack Obama, the Achilles heel is bowling. For President Bush, perhaps it's basketball.

During a visit Monday to an "integrated" Catholic and Protestant school in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Bush stopped in at a basketball program that aims to bring kids of different backgrounds together through sports.

So Bush tried his hand at a few shots on the lowered net, according to a pool report from the restricted-access event.

The president air balled the first, bounced one jump shot each off the rim and backboard, and finally tried a long jumper that bounced out.

Bush appeared to want to continue, according to the report, but the coach moved on to a new drill with the class.