Win McNamee/Getty Images(Useless Press Incorporated, December 1, 2008 - Chicago, IL)
In a wide-ranging interview with reporters from three local Chicago television stations, President-elect Barack Obama once again displayed his deep passion for sports related issues, renewing his call recently mentioned on "60 Minutes" for a college football playoff championship series. In the 42 minute, 38 second interview, he also discussed a number of other sports related topics pertaining to the NBA, blogs, and second chances for Michael Vick and Stephon Marbury.
"If we didn't have one minute to waste with all the other profound economic, social, and military challenges left to me by my predecessor", said Obama, "I would be much more vigorous in my advocacy of a college football playoff series. I'm a huge fan of college basketball's March Madness, and I think you certainly could find a way for football teams to playoff for the championship, as opposed to what we have today. There's a chance, for example, for an undefeated team--Ball State--to have to play an also ran Big Ten school--probably Minnesota--in the Motor City Bowl. Although they would be underdogs in playing anyone better, say a USC or Texas Tech, or even Northwestern, the fact they are undefeated should allow them to compete in a playoff system, to see just how far they could go."
When asked about the outsourcing of news--particularly sports journalism--to unpaid bloggers, Obama replied "it's a sad day for everyone who loves sports that we can't find an economic model to support these great writers who have spent years honing their craft. However, with change comes great opportunity, and I find some of these blogs very entertaining, if not informative. I would simply say to these enterprising folks, that if they want to be more respected, they should use proper terminology. For example, in a bunch of NBA related blogs I've seen the use of the term "lead guard" in describing NBA point guards. Now, "lead guard" is a term more suited to high school, college or even YMCA league basketball. It has no place in the NBA vernacular. To think a "2" guard, for example, could be a "lead guard" on a NBA professional team, well, maybe they should be writing about European basketball instead. The proper terminology for a NBA point guard is either point guard or combo guard."
Obama ended the interview with a sincere hope that Vick--former quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, arrested on dog fighting charges--and Marbury--petulant point guard for a number of NBA teams--would be able to rejoin society in a meaningful way. "Michael's situation is much more serious than Stephon's naturally, and, while it is entirely true that their own actions have caused much pain and sorrow to themselves and people around them, if they are willing to be truly repentant, or in Stephon's case play in Italy, then I think part of the change that I'm talking about for us all is the ability to forgive, and not be so angry. As you can see, I have forgiven Hillary--and Bill--for all the nasty things they did and said to me on the campaign trail. As a result, I have a place for her in my cabinet. We should all be ready to move on, when the time is right."
In a wide-ranging interview with reporters from three local Chicago television stations, President-elect Barack Obama once again displayed his deep passion for sports related issues, renewing his call recently mentioned on "60 Minutes" for a college football playoff championship series. In the 42 minute, 38 second interview, he also discussed a number of other sports related topics pertaining to the NBA, blogs, and second chances for Michael Vick and Stephon Marbury.
"If we didn't have one minute to waste with all the other profound economic, social, and military challenges left to me by my predecessor", said Obama, "I would be much more vigorous in my advocacy of a college football playoff series. I'm a huge fan of college basketball's March Madness, and I think you certainly could find a way for football teams to playoff for the championship, as opposed to what we have today. There's a chance, for example, for an undefeated team--Ball State--to have to play an also ran Big Ten school--probably Minnesota--in the Motor City Bowl. Although they would be underdogs in playing anyone better, say a USC or Texas Tech, or even Northwestern, the fact they are undefeated should allow them to compete in a playoff system, to see just how far they could go."
When asked about the outsourcing of news--particularly sports journalism--to unpaid bloggers, Obama replied "it's a sad day for everyone who loves sports that we can't find an economic model to support these great writers who have spent years honing their craft. However, with change comes great opportunity, and I find some of these blogs very entertaining, if not informative. I would simply say to these enterprising folks, that if they want to be more respected, they should use proper terminology. For example, in a bunch of NBA related blogs I've seen the use of the term "lead guard" in describing NBA point guards. Now, "lead guard" is a term more suited to high school, college or even YMCA league basketball. It has no place in the NBA vernacular. To think a "2" guard, for example, could be a "lead guard" on a NBA professional team, well, maybe they should be writing about European basketball instead. The proper terminology for a NBA point guard is either point guard or combo guard."
Obama ended the interview with a sincere hope that Vick--former quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, arrested on dog fighting charges--and Marbury--petulant point guard for a number of NBA teams--would be able to rejoin society in a meaningful way. "Michael's situation is much more serious than Stephon's naturally, and, while it is entirely true that their own actions have caused much pain and sorrow to themselves and people around them, if they are willing to be truly repentant, or in Stephon's case play in Italy, then I think part of the change that I'm talking about for us all is the ability to forgive, and not be so angry. As you can see, I have forgiven Hillary--and Bill--for all the nasty things they did and said to me on the campaign trail. As a result, I have a place for her in my cabinet. We should all be ready to move on, when the time is right."
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2 comments:
Brilliant
Of course, Ball State lost to Buffalo, so there goes any chance of David playing a Goliath, or even Minnesota.
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