The U N Security Council turned up at the Madison Square Garden to watch the New York Knicks play the San Antonio Spurs. It was a welcome change for the diplomats specially those from Iran, Sudan, Israel and Palestine. The U S Ambassador to the U N, John Bolton played the host.

Bolton rooted for the Knicks since their were the “home team”. He said being against the Texas team, which San Antonio Spurs are, could be a little dangerous for a Bush administration official.

David Stern, the NBA commissioner, handed out caps from both teams to the visiting ambassadors. He said that the NBA thinks that basketball is a universal language and brings people together.

The fourth quarter had the council members on their feet cheering for the teams. Bolton mentioned that the game was like negotiating in the Security Council. China U N Ambassador Wang Guangya was accompanied by his wife. He wanted to invite Yao Ming to New York for this game but the Houston Rockets’ center was busy and could not come.

Argentina’s U N Ambassador Cesar Mayoral was delighted that the Spurs won since they have two Argentine players; Fabricio Oberto and Manu Ginobili. The Russian Ambassador to U N was on his first visit to Madison Square Gardens and used to be a basketball player in high school.

The only woman in the 15 member council was Denmark’s U N Ambassador, Ellen Margrethe Loj. She was given a crash course in February 2006 on how to play basketball by NBA’s Senior Vice President for Player Development, Mike Bantom. Bantom is a former NBA player.