WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama awarded the nations highest civilian honor to 21 groundbreaking actors, musicians, athletes and innovators who inspired him over the years and helped make me who I am.Everybody on this stage has touched me in a very powerful, personal way, in ways that they probably couldnt imagine, Obama said in concluding an hour-long ceremony Tuesday in the White House East Room.The Presidential Medal of Freedom recognizes especially meritorious contributions to the national interests of the United States, its security and its culture. Obama called the 2016 group a particularly impressive class.In the film world, Obama honored Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Robert Redford and Cicely Tyson.Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, two of the greatest basketball players ever, were also among the honorees. Obama noted how Jordans name is synonymous with excellence.There is a reason you call somebody `the Michael Jordan of, Obama said. The Michael Jordan of neurosurgery, or the Michael Jordan of rabbis, or the Michael Jordan of outrigger canoeing. Everyone knows what youre talking about.Bruce Springsteen and Diana Ross were recognized for their music. Of The Boss, he said Springsteen crafted anthems of our America, the reality of who we are and the reverie of who we want to be.Other honorees included philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates, comedian Ellen DeGeneres and broadcaster Vin Scully. Of DeGeneres, Obama said she has a way of making people laugh at something rather than someone, except when I danced on her show. He said its also easy to forget that she had risked her career nearly 20 years ago when she came out as gay.What an incredible burden that was to bear, to risk her career like that. People dont do that very often, and then to have the hopes of millions on your shoulders, Obama said.The diverse group seemed to enjoy themselves at the White House, participating in a mannequin challenge before the ceremony, trying not to move as they were recorded on video.Obama said the people receiving the medal helped push America forward and inspired millions around the world. The White House said the president and his staff spend time considering a variety of candidates for the award, but ultimately, its the presidents decision.Posthumous honors went to Native American advocate Elouise Cobell and Rear Adm. Grace Hopper.Others receiving the award included:- Richard Garwin, an inventor and polymath physicist who made pioneering contributions to the nations defense.- Frank Gehry, one of the worlds leading architects.- Margaret H. Hamilton, a mathematician and computer scientist.- Maya Lin, the designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.- Lorne Michaels, producer of Saturday Night Live- Newton Minow, a former Federal Communications Commission chairman devoted to numerous public and charitable causes.- Eduardo Padron, president of Miami Dade College.----On Twitter, reach Kevin Freking at https://twitter.com/APkfrekingNike Air Force 1 Clearance . PETERSBURG, Fla. Balenciaga Triple s Cheap .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. http://www.brandshoescheaponline.com/wholesale-nike-air-vapormax-china.html .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. Fake Air Force 1 For Sale . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Cheap Air Jordans From China . Now, with Game 6 set for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to advance to the World Series. DENVER -- A quick start and timely baskets down the stretch ended Detroits early season woes on the road.Tobias Harris scored 19 points, Marcus Morris had 17 and the Pistons beat the Denver Nuggets 106-95 on Saturday night for their first win of the season away from home.Without a doubt, everyone in this locker room was really focused out there to get this `W today and we came out and accomplished it, Harris said. Its not the road trip we wanted, but we learned a lot from this road trip.Detroit, unbeaten in four home games, had lost five straight on the road before fashioning the wire-to-wire win in Denver, the final stop on a four-game road trip.Thats why this was huge because we have to know how to win on the road, guard Ish Smith said. Its a new year, and were 5-5 and feel good about it.Andre Drummond and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 14 points apiece for the Pistons, who also snapped a seven-game losing streak in Denver a week after beating the Nuggets in their first meeting in Detroit.Emmanuel Mudiay scored 19 points for Denver, which was done in by another slow start after being outscored 36-21 in the first quarter. The Pistons never trailed in the contest and also benefited from 16 Denver turnovers leading to 17 points.It is the same old story, Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. We outscored them 74-70 in quarters two, three and four. But when you spot them a 15-point lead in the first quarter. And we threw the ball over. Our turnovers are an epidemic.Danilo Gallinari added 18 points for the Nuggets, who remained winless in three games at home this season.Gallinaris mid-range jumper pulled Denver to 97-93 with 3:02 left but Drummond came right back to sink a hook shot for Detroit. Harris jumper with 1:07 left stretched Detroits lead to eight points.dddddddddddd.Denver fell behind by as many as 17 points early on but used an 18-6 run late in the second quarter to get back in the game, pulling to 57-49 at halftime.TIP-INSPistons: Drummond added 12 rebounds to complete his seventh double-double of the season. ... Caldwell-Pope has scored in double figures in six of his last seven games. ... Detroit also never trailed in its first win this season against Denver.Nuggets: F Darrell Arthur (left knee soreness) and F Will Barton (left ankle sprain) remain sidelined. Arthur and Barton have each missed the past six games. ... F Wilson Chandler was back in action after missing the previous two games with a sore left hamstring. ... Gallinari has scored 10 or more points in each of the first nine games.SECOND THOUGHTSMalone conceded an experimental switch to power forward from his natural position of center has not been working out well for second-year pro Nikola Jokic. The Nuggets coach said he plans to give Jokic more time at the 5 spot going forward. He had an unbelievable rookie year playing the 5, Malone said. I told him I feel like Ive done him a disservice almost, exploring playing big. There are some good things with that, but I took a kid who had a great year last year, changed his position on him and it hasnt been easy for him. So my hope is to try to get him more minutes at 5. He will play some 4 at times but we need to get Nikola back.UP NEXTPistons: Return home from a four-game road trip to play Oklahoma City on Monday night.Nuggets: Travel to Portland to play the Trail Blazers on Sunday night. ' ' '