U.S. Ambassador Bolton joined by reps from Iran, China, Russia, Sudan
The New York Knicks are not at crisis level yet despite three straight losses, but the U.N. Security Council showed up anyway at Madison Square Garden. U.S. Ambassador John Bolton played the role of host Monday night when the San Antonio Spurs beat the Knicks 105-93. It was the second time in eight months Bolton brought the group to the Garden, a welcome change for the diplomats from Iran, Sudan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Bolton admittedly took a political risk in rooting for the Knicks. You have to root for the home team; San Antonio is a Texas team, Bolton said. This is a little dangerous for a Bush administration official to be against the Texas team.
NBA commissioner David Stern, no stranger to diplomacy, handed out caps from both teams to the ambassadors. We think that basketball is the international language, he said, It brings people together.
When the game tightened in the fourth quarter, the council members were on their feet cheering with the rest of the crowd. It was so close, Bolton said. Its like negotiating in the Security Council.
Chinas U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya Wang brought his wife to the game. Since we are in New York we would like to see the Knicks picking up, he said. They lost momentum. But its fun for two or three hours we think of nothing but sport.
Wang said he wanted to bring Yao Ming to New York for the evening, but the Houston Rockets center was busy. Wang said Yao is an icon in China. He said American basketball teams have been a great sensation among Chinese young people for many years.
Former Knicks star Allan Houston was excited at getting to meet members of the U.N.s most powerful body these people who change the world.
Russias U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin played basketball in high school, and this was his first trip to the Garden. It is historic for me, he said.
At least one Security Council member, Argentinas U.N. Ambassador Cesar Mayoral, was delighted the Spurs won. The Spurs feature two Argentine players Fabricio Oberto and Manu Ginobili.
In February, Denmarks U.N. Ambassador Ellen Margrethe Loj, the only woman on the 15-member council, got a crash course on how to play basketball from former NBA player Mike Bantom now the NBAs senior vice president for player development. When she arrived in the VIP skybox, Bantom remembered her. Last time, I asked stupid questions, she joked. This time, I know more. Dont ask me what!
Don't miss the photo of Bolton getting wild with his fellow party animals during halftime! 
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