We’ve got an answer! According to Wonkette reader “Brian M.,” the beloved Barack Obama basketball picture comes from an August 2006 visit to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, where the “combined joint task force” is stationed.

Says our operative: “It’s Barack playing basketball with American troops stationed in Africa during his trip there in 2006, when that OTHER photo was taken.” MORE »

Here’s something you people will like: It’s a picture of presidential heartthrob Barack Obama, being gracefully athletic as he wins the Basketball Championship somewhere. It looks pretty realistic, this photograph! There is probably quite a story behind it — unfortunately, our tipster just sent us the picture. But you don’t care, you with your hands already up your own skirt.

UPDATE: We know where this photograph was taken … in Africa!

Last week John Amaechi, a former NBA player, came out of the closet and began promoting a new book about being a closeted NBA player; several days of current NBA players saying, “Sure … I think it’d be OK … to have a gay teammate … as long as they don’t put that gayness on me” while looking profoundly uncomfortable ensued. But then former NBA point guard Tim Hardaway decided to just let rip: MORE »

We thank our beloved Wonkette tipster near the North Pole for this Roller Derby Cat Fight photo featuring Alaska’s new governor! (She’s on the right.) MORE »

* Jenna and Barbara Bush were secret participants in the Monument Avenue 10K run. [Richmond Times-Dispatch] MORE »

* Hillary isn’t the only one who’s running. Participate in the Cherry Blossom 10-miler, either as a runner (if you’ve pre-registered) or a volunteer. [Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run] MORE »

Washingtonians enjoy watching basketball, especially given George Mason’s recent success. But they also enjoy playing it. A reader offers this report about last night’s Congressional Basketball Game: MORE »

* Yes, it’s that time of year: cherry blossom season. The festivities kick off tomorrow. [WP; National Cherry Blossom Festival] MORE »

This Sunday’s shows undertook a major military operation. Between the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and “Operation Swarmer,” talking heads all but saluted. Russ Feingold managed to grab some of the spotlight, and his motion to censure President Bush gave Bill Kristol another chance to rock Chris Wallace’s world: Feingold “is smarter than the Democratic congressional leadership” and “deserves credit for taking a principled stand, and I honestly think he’s winning this debate.” That sound you heard is Nancy Pelosi’s head exploding. Dick Cheney did “Face the Nation” but did not make much news beyond the world’s most awesome Freudian slip: “Most of my predecessors spent a good part of their time as President–Vice President running for President.

Also, debuting this week on ABCNews.com was “The Green Room,” a brave attempt to wring every possible bit of hot air from the “This Week” panel while they stand around uncomfortably after the show wraps in the nondescript, motel-ish decor of ABC’s DeSale St. digs. Personally, I have always found pre-show green room chatter more interesting (everyone’s trying out their lines) and the whole thing strikes me as an empty attempt to show us another side of people who are basically one-dimensional, but I applaud this Taylorite approach to news content and hope that less practiced pundits do something stupid and/or inspired backstage in the future.

Top topics: Iraq, Feingold’s censure motion and by extension the NSA wiretap program.

One-hit wonders: Boston College’s Sweet Sixteen chances (”Meet the Press”); Joey Cheek, humanitarian (”This Week”); Mark McClellan, TREKKIE (”Fox News Sunday”)

Quotes to live by:
• Dick Cheney admits that shooting someone in the face is “one of those situations that’s difficult, that generates controversy.”
• Chris Wallace, SUPER GENIUS: “It seems to me that the Senators who are most critical of [the NSA wiretapping] program are the ones who know the least about it.”
• George Will lays it out: “We need to define victory down.”
• Sam Donaldson is totally high: “Russ Feingold threw the long ball… but it might connect, as the Washington Redskins learned in the mid-70s.”

Also, Shorter Chris Matthews Show: David Gregory observed that “George Bush is the George Clooney of Washington… but that’s a little bit of a patina.” Wha?

Full rundown appears after the jump.

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Poor Howard Dean! Republicans paint the DNC Chairman as out-of-touch, a loose cannon of the left — in a nutshell, crazy. Meanwhile, Dean can’t get no respect from his own party, with Nancy Pelosi et al. constantly second-guessing his decisions.

What’s a guy to do? Why, what any American male with a nagging wife would do: immerse himself in college basketball!

Dean appears to be quite the NCAA enthusiast, with not one but two entries in the DNC’s office betting pool. And even if his leadership skills are open to question, his basketball prognostication skills aren’t half-bad.

Find out how your favorite DNC staffers are doing in the office NCAA pool, by checking out the full standings — after the jump.

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