Melania Trump praises LeBron James following President's insult
Washington, Aug 5 : US First Lady Melania Trump praised NBA superstar LeBron James for his charity work, a day after her husband, President Donald Trump, attacked the Los Angeles Lakers players intelligence.
The First Lady's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham on Saturday said Melania Trump was supportive of James' work with children.
"It looks like LeBron James is working to do good things on behalf of our next generation and just as she always has, the First Lady encourages everyone to have an open dialogue about issues facing children today," Grisham told CNN.
"As you know, Mrs. Trump has travelled the country and world talking to children about their well-being, healthy living, and the importance of responsible online behaviour with her 'Be Best' initiative."
The spokeswoman also said that the First Lady may even consider visiting the school that James opened last week in Ohio.
Grisham's statement came after President Trump posted a scathing tweet questioning James' intellectual capacity in response to an interview the basketball player gave to CNN which aired on Friday night.
In the interview, the NBA superstar said the President was using athletics and athletes to split up the country and would not sit down across from Trump if he were given the opportunity.
Following the airing of the interview, the President insulted James and interviewer Don Lemon in a series of tweets.
"Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon," he said. "He made Lebron look smart, which isn't easy to do."
This is not the first time Melania Trump has publicly expressed views or taken action that demonstrated an independent streak, CNN reported.
In January, as news broke about the President's alleged dalliance with porn star Stormy Daniels something which he denies, Melania Trump broke with tradition and took a separate motorcade to the President's State of the Union address on Capitol Hill instead of riding with him.
A month later, she opted to go solo prior to departing for a trip with her husband.
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Marsh, Markram score half-centuries as LSG make 203/8 against MI
Lucknow, Apr 4 (PTI): Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya scalped his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 cricket in an inspiring bowling performance but Lucknow Super Giants rode on superb half-centuries from Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram to post 203 for 8 in an Indian Premier League match here on Friday.
Pandya returned with magnificent figures of 5/36, taking the wickets of Markram (53 off 38 balls), Nicholas Pooran (12), Rishabh Pant (2), David Miller (27) and Akash Deep (0), putting brakes on LSG's innings after the home team was put in to bat.
LSG were off to a great start with opener Marsh hitting his third half-century in four matches. His 60 came off just 31 balls and was studded with nine fours and two sixes.
With the other opener Markram also in good nick, LSG were 69 for no loss at the end of power play. But MI came back after that with Pandya making crucial bowling changes.
Left-arm wrist spinner Vignesh Puthur, who had starred in MI's win over Chennai Super Kings, was introduced in the seventh over and he gave the breakthrough immediately. He had Marsh caught and bowled, breaking the dangerous-looking opening stand of 76 runs.
Pandya then brought himself into action and had Pooran in the ninth over before getting the prized wicket of LSG captain Pant (2) who got out cheaply once again.
Substitute fielder Corbin Bosch took a fine catch at the mid-off after Pant failed to negotiate a slower ball off Pandya. Pant, who faced six balls, continued his poor form, having scored 0, 15, 2 in his three earlier innings.
LSG were 107 for 3 in 10.4 overs when Pant was out.
Markram, who had been ordinary so far, stood up for his team and held one end together till he was out in the 18th over.
Earlier, Deepak Chahar gave away 15 runs in the second over with Marsh hitting two fours and Markram getting a boundary.
Marsh was on fire as he punished Trent Boult with two clean hits -- one yielding a six and another a four.
The Australian did not spare Mitchell Santner, hitting two fours off the Kiwi bowler and then gave young Indian left-arm pacer Ashwani Kumar, who had starred in MI's previous match, the same treatment.
He hit Kumar for a six and a four in consecutive balls in the sixth over to reach to his fifty off just 27 balls. Kumar bled 23 runs in that over.
MI stalwart and India captain Rohit Sharma, who had struggled in the three matches he had played so far, missed out the match as he was hit on knees at the nets.
Brief scores:
Lucknow Super Giants: 203 for 8 in 20 overs (Mitchell Marsh 60, Aiden Markram 53, Ayush Badoni 30, David Miller 27; Hardik Pandya 5/36).
