by Mark Silva
Barack Obama was trailing badly.
Down four points.
Then he rallied and came back to win.
2008?
Nope, March Madness at the White House.
Turns out that basketball play between the president and CBS News' Harry Smith earlier this week outside the White House wasn't the real game.
Obama also played CBS Sports' Clark Kellogg, the network's lead college basketball analyst and a onetime player for the NBA's Indiana Pacers and all-American start at Ohio State, on the White House court. Their game of H-O-R-S-E -- they called it P-O-T-U-S in honor of the host -- aired last night during the halftime of the Butler-Michigan State game in the NCAA mens' championship FInal Four series.
As they played, Kellogg asked Obama about the president's love of the game -- it's a team sport, Obama explained, which forces one to play outside of oneself -- and for his take on a tournament which busted the president's own personal bracket some time ago. (Smith had gotten Obama to admit that he plays better to his left.)
"This has been probably one of the most balanced tournaments that we've seen," Obama said. "Terrrific excitement... when you see, like a Northern Iowa, pull off a game like they did against Kansas... that makes everybody invested in the tournament. And that's what makes March Madness terrific."
In their own game, Kellogg jumped to a big lead on Obama -- the visitor had scored POTU -- but the president came from behind with shots from three-point range on home court to claim the POTUS title, which, of course, he already had.
At the start, Obama voiced some concern about getting "skunked,'' but finally concluded that Kellogg had thrown a few shots -- "before he knew he was going to lose.''
Comments
More hard news on the important issues of politics by The Swamp, our number 1 source for Obama.....
Pulitzer Prize, here we come!!!
Posted by: Bruce | April 4, 2010 10:48 AM
Happy Easter
Posted by: Mark Silva | April 4, 2010 11:10 AM
Same to you, Mr. Silva. Happy Easter to you, too. Keep up the good work, we appreciate it. Thanks.
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | April 4, 2010 11:27 AM
Soldiers are being killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, Economy in shambles, Unemployment at 10%, Millions of Americans losing their homes and president panty waist gives speeches and plays basketball.
Nothing to worry about here.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | April 4, 2010 12:29 PM
When Nero drove a chariot in the arena his days were numbered. When Commodus fought as a gladiator,the people had had enough. This constant slobbering love by the media for all things Obama is unseemly in the least and at worst reeks of Geobellism. His aping athletes during our version of the games will not end with some Praetorian gutting him with a gladius; however it will soon turn him into a political joke, a trite and passe leader. Charles B. Tiffany
Kissimmee, Flordia
Posted by: Charles B. Tiffany | April 4, 2010 12:57 PM
Happy Easter, all. You too, Bwuce. Killed any wabbits, lately, you old wascally curmudgeon?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxiv3CBMS4M
Posted by: dt☢ | April 4, 2010 2:11 PM
"This has been probably one of the most balanced tournaments that we've seen," - BO's way of saying, my bracket has been busted - not even one final four team. Do you think BO's staffer, Reggie Love - aformer Duke b-ball player, is giving his boss a little grief?
Happy Easter.
Posted by: Terry | April 4, 2010 2:29 PM
Bruce, here it is - Easter Sunday - and you still find the time to come here and whine about a non-news story.
*
Please keep it up, because the more you do it the less serious you'll be taken in the future.
Posted by: BC | April 4, 2010 2:48 PM
And the mancrush continues.
Posted by: John D | April 4, 2010 7:57 PM
There was never any doubt he could play hoops with the great and ex-great. Now all Mr. Obama has to do is give up his lust for Joe Camel and he'll be the perfect role model for every young person in America.
Posted by: Oak Park Lefty | April 5, 2010 10:22 AM