LOS ANGELES (AP) — Politicians have long sought to project vitality, youth, and a common touch by staging photo shoots highlighting their athletic prowess. The latest politician to discover that well-intentioned jump shots can lead to online ridicule is California Governor .
During a visit to China, the two-term Democrat took a break from his official meetings on climate change to join a group of Beijing schoolkids for a game of basketball. However, things didn’t go as planned when he accidentally collided with one of the grade-school players and ended up on the ground.
Newsom now joins a long list of politicians whose attempts at athletic glamour shots have backfired. For example, former British politician Boris Johnson knocked down a 10-year-old boy during a friendly game of rugby in Japan. Bill Clinton and Al Gore were mocked for their photos jogging in tight shorts. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry’s windsurfing pictures were used to belittle him as an opportunistic candidate. Even George W. Bush’s mountain biking adventures often ended with him falling.
A video circulating online shows Newsom, wearing formal attire, playing basketball with the schoolchildren. He performs a spin move towards the basket, but accidentally collides with one of the students. Despite the fall, both Newsom and the student are seen smiling, and the governor even gives the boy a pat on the back.
As expected, the incident received sarcastic comments online. Fox News tweeted, “Flagrant foul. Newsom destroys kid during basketball game in China,” while TMZ called it a “diplomatic victory for America.” Other comments ranged from curiosity to amusement.
Newsom’s stumble provided a light-hearted, albeit embarrassing moment during his trip that included a surprise meeting with Xi Jinping and a display of cordiality in a strained China-U.S. relationship.
It seems that Newsom’s basketball mishap garnered more attention than any other aspect of his visit.
Newsom, who was once an accomplished athlete in his student days, played basketball and baseball in high school and even received a partial baseball scholarship to Santa Clara University before a career-ending injury.
In a lighthearted interview with Fox News Los Angeles, Newsom jokingly admitted that he needs to work on his balance.
