GOT GAME? CBS4 News sports anchor Vic Lombardi played a chance pickup game of basketball with Barack Obama last May at the Denver Athletic Club when the candidate was stumping in Denver.

Who knew lightning would strike twice? On Thursday, less than 12 hours before Obama was skedded to make his historic speech in front of 75,000 folks at Invesco Field, the dueling duo met again on battlefield basketball court at the DAC.

"(Obama's) personal assistant, Reggie Love, called me this morning to alert me they were headed over to the DAC for another game," Lombardi said in an e-mail. "The gym was full of Obama's basketball buddies - guys he normally hoops with in Chicago, as well as a couple members of his old high school team . . . and me."

The senator sat this one out on the sidelines and shot around as the rest of the b-ballers ran up and down the court. "I did ask him if he was asking for a little redemption after our last encounter," Lombardi said. "He laughed and referred to his boys as the 'Redeem Team.'

"He also thanked me for not revealing our final score from the last go-round. And for that, he allowed me another picture. I told him if he does, indeed, build a basketball court in the White House, I hope to get an invitation to play some pickup."

PEPSI CENTER PEEPS: The stars were all over Invesco Field Thursday, but quite a few shone inside the Pepsi Center on Wednesday, as well. Among the brightest:

* Angela Bassett pulling up to the VIP entrance with seven people crammed into a golf cart. The actress was riding on someone's lap. Even though the crammed golf cart looked like a clown car, Bassett was, "insanely gorgeous," according to my spy.

* Muhammad Ali had the biggest entourage of the night.

* The Rev. Jesse Jackson, working the crowd with the greatest of ease. "The man loves a camera," my spy said.

* Ben Affleck, sporting a beard, seemed totally relaxed.

* Forest Whitaker, on the other hand, seemed tense and "borderline panicked" on the Club level. Didn't seem cool with the mob scene.

HITCHHIKE: Chevy Chase and his wife, Jayni Luke, arrived Wednesday at the Pepsi Center in Gov. Bill Ritter's car. How's that? Apparently, the good guv and first lady Jeannie were together at an earlier event and got to chatting with the couple. Turns out Luke is hugely involved with a sustainable education charity, and the Chase-Lukes and Ritters hit it off. The Ritters graciously offered the comedian and his spouse a lift. "How meet-cute is that?" my spy said.

RACINES SCENE: The Early Show will broadcast live (Eastern time) from 5 to 7 this morning at Racines, 650 Sherman St. The segment will air from 7 to 9 a.m. MST.

BRAVO: Larry DiPasquale and his band of merry men and women catered the Voto Latino event Wednesday at Vinyl nightclub - one of 72 parties the company catered during the DNC.

Seen sampling Epi's fare: Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Benny Medina, Wilmer Valderrama, Jessica Alba and Rosario Dawson, who founded the organization. Favorite nibble and nosh? Mini-carrot cakes and red velvet cupcakes.

SNOW JOB: It's long gone now, but Cooper Mountain set up a promotion in front of the Curtis Hotel, 14th and Curtis streets, Thursday. The fast-melting "Obama-nable Snowman" carried the message, "No snowman left behind."

BARACK BLOCK: Guenther Vogt, co-owner of Bouquets flower shop with partner BJ Dyer, grew tired of battling the DNC vehicles that kept blocking the LoDo delivery entrance.

"We got more and more frustrated every time we opened our garage door to see another DNC-related vehicle blocking our exit or entry," Vogt said. "On Wednesday morning I finally gave in and posted a sign on our always signless garage door." The sign said: "Do not Barack garage."

"It has helped and continues to add a little humor to a stressful situation," Vogt said.

THE SEEN: Singer Sheryl Crow having breakfast at Second Home in the J.W. Marriott on Thursday. Google founder Larry Page also noshing at Second Home on Thursday.

Bradley Cooper (Alias, Kitchen Confidential, Wedding Crashers) lunching with Justin Bartha (Failure to Launch) at City Grille Thursday.

Andrew Shue, Billy on Melrose Place, dining at Capital Grille on Wednesday.

Jean Paul DeLoria at La Rumba Wednesday.

Sean Penn at Scott Coors' private party late Wednesday.

At the Starz Green Room for the showing of the Bobby Kennedy Remembered film were Elisabeth Shue, Andrew Shue and Fran Drescher; an Inconvenient Truth director Davis Guggenheim.

Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Kirsten Dunst and Whitaker at 5 Degrees on Wednesday.

Malia and Sasha Obama "striking" at Lucky Strike Lanes on Wednesday along with several Obama nieces and nephews.

EAVESDROPPING on a man at Capital Grille: "If Tent State University had a football team, they wouldn't have an offense. Nobody showed up."

Penny Parker's column appears Tuesday through Saturday. Listen to her on the Caplis and Silverman radio show between 4 and 5 p.m. Fridays on KHOW-AM (630). Call her at 303-954-5224 or e-mail parkerp@RockyMountainNews.com.