On Monday April 9, 2012, the First Family hosted the 134th annual White House Easter Egg Roll. This year’s theme: “Let’s Go, Let’s Play, Let’s Move” hosted more than 35,000 people on the South Lawn-including some of our beloved Major League Soccer players.

“Any time there’s something that’s emailed to you with ‘White House’ in the title, it’ll give you a double-take,” said Philadelphia Union defender Danny Califf. “To be able to do this – and take my family along – is probably one of the coolest experiences that I’ve had. I’m honored.”

MLS soccer athletes on the South Lawn included: Danny Califf, Philly teammates Brian Carroll and Zac MacMath; Kenny Cooper and Stephen Keel of the New York Red Bulls and D.C. United’s Stephen King, Robbie Russell, Chris Pontius and head coach Ben Olsen.

“How many times do you get to say you went to the White House and play with kids out on the lawn?” said Pontius, who was participating in his second Easter Egg Roll after enjoying his participation in last year’s edition. “We’re basically just getting them moving, keeping them occupied. We’re just trying to make it fun for the kids…There’s obviously a lot of kids out here that seem to enjoy the game, so it’s fun to see that. Being passionate about the game myself, it’s fun to share that passion with other people…I actually grew up in Baltimore, and even growing up here, I never had an opportunity to come out to the White House South Lawn. It’s definitely something I’ll cherish for a long time and it’s also fun to interact with the kids out here.”

Califf, Carroll and Olsen were accompanied by their own spouses and kids.

“It was an incredible experience, being on the White House lawn for such a good cause, just getting kids to live healthily and happily, and to be able to celebrate that along with my family and represent the league and the Union here,” said Carroll. “It’s something that I’ll never forget.” SOURCE

Other sports stars and celebrities who frolicked on the South Lawn included: tennis star Michael Chang, NBA studs Mitch Richmond and Daryll Dawkins, Olympians Michelle Kwan and Dominique Dawes, sports legend Chris Evert, actors Forest Whitaker and Julianne Moore…and of course, President Hot Stuff played a game of “Shoot for Strength” with a group of kids and the Harlem Globetrotters.

As always, thanks for reading~
delinda@athlebrities.com

*Note: Athlebrities™ is NOT associated with E! Entertainment Television’s on-line sports section.