On scene as Celtics visit White House to celebrate NBA championship

Tess and JD attended the Boston Celtics' White House celebration for winning the NBA championship, encountering multiple security checkpoints and witnessing the event on the White House lawn due to a large number of attendees. Despite some initial scheduling hiccups, the experience was deemed worthwhile, with highlights including the Marine Corps band, a glimpse of President Biden, and sightseeing around Washington D.C.

White House Security

• 00:00:20 The White House security was described as 'interesting', involving five checkpoints including ID scans, a dog sniffing procedure, and an X-ray machine. The security process was thorough and included multiple Secret Service personnel and military personnel. The authors were impressed with the security measures and the politeness of the personnel involved.

Celtics Celebration

• 00:02:00 The Celtics' celebration was held outside on the White House lawn, due to the large number of attendees, rather than inside as the Warriors' celebration was. Joe Biden attended and spoke to the attendees, and Mike Zarren mentioned that Biden noted the Celtics' offensive rating record. The authors noted hundreds of fans attending the celebration.

Washington D.C. Sightseeing

• 00:06:00 JD and Tess had ample time to explore Washington D.C. before the event, finding it a 'fun city' and enjoying sightseeing around the city. They visited landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol Building, and the Treasury Building. They also found a free payphone in the airport, which they used to call home.

Media and Celtics Interaction

• 00:03:16 The Celtics had originally planned to meet with media representatives, but scheduling issues prevented this from happening, causing some frustration amongst waiting media. However, Celtics part-owner Steve Pagliuca addressed the media afterwards. This scheduling change was noted by the authors.

Travel Logistics

• 00:07:30 The travel to and from Washington D.C. involved a Southwest Airlines flight, which JD and Tess found surprisingly uneventful. There was some anxiety leading up to the flight, but once on the plane, the authors found it quite satisfactory. The authors were relieved and happy that the flight went smoothly, and they highlighted that they saved money on their flight by booking with Southwest.