Let's Go to POTUS for the Play-by-Play

A member of the audience at this afternoon's Duke-Georgetown college basketball game got to join the broadcast commentators in some on-air banter, musing about a possible new career.

Stepping into the three-man booth shortly after halftime, President Barack Obama took a few moments to join CBS Sports commentators Verne Lundquist and Clark Kellogg for some play-by-play.

The president offered his assessment of the game thus far:

"Listen, obviously two great teams. I have been impressed at least in the first half by the guards for Georgetown - big, strong guys. They have been able to keep [Jon] Scheyer out of, you know, out from having to shoot a lot of threes contested. They have been a little sloppy in the second half and Duke's picked up, so it will be interesting to see how things turn out."

Mr. Obama admitted that despite his passion for the sport, he can't watch a full game. "But I'll kind of tune in and out, and 'Sportscenter' keeps me posted.

"Once it gets to the Final Four, I will watch all the games at that point," he added.

"Is that right?" asked Kellogg. "You're locked in then."

"Once you get to March Madness, absolutely," he said.

Lundquist brought up an anecdote relating to Michelle Obama's brother, a former Princeton player.

"Mr. President, your brother-in-law, Craig Robinson, coaching at Oregon State, I know you got to see them play against George Washington earlier. The guy to my right here, when I mention that, he brings up the fact that 'Yeah, we played Princeton in Madison Square Garden,' right?"

"All I said was the Buckeyes prevailed and the guy wearing number 33 for the Buckeyes did a little bit of work - that's all I said, that's all I said," Kellogg replied, somewhat modestly.

(CBS Sports)

"First of all, if the Buckeyes are bragging about beating an Ivy League team, that doesn't say much," Mr. Obama said. "Number two, Clark's got a few inches on my brother-in-law. It's true that my brother-in-law, Craig Robinson, he will acknowledge that Clark had a pretty good game. I heard it from the source. I can't deny it."

"There you go!" said Kellogg. "I appreciate that, Craig."

Mr. Obama even handled some color commentary himself on a replay: "This was a terrific spin move and he didn't get any help coming back."

"That's well done," said Kellogg. "You can handle this job if you need to. Obviously, you've got one that's requiring a lot of your time and attention."

"After retirement, I'm coming after your job, partner," Mr. Obama said. "Just to let you know. You either have three more years, or seven, I'm not sure which, but you need to plan accordingly, since I'm going to do some play-by-play."

Mr. Obama was also treated to a replay of himself on the court. Let's go to the videotape: "That's heartbreak right there, oh," he sighed.

Verne Lundquist asked if the president, a left-hander, had any problems going to his right.

"I went to the Republican House Caucus just yesterday to prove that I can go to my right once in a while," he said, "but there is no doubt that I've got a stronger left hand."

Before leaving, Mr. Obama pointed out his assistant, Reggie Love ("a Duke guy") was suffering the worst case of nerves this afternoon. "He's a little stressed at the moment."

[RobAla]

Here is the play by play of the President's SOTU address:
I have finally calmed down since the Presidents State of the Union address, and I should be able to construct a coherent post. He lectured the nation on being bipartisan, and then slammed half the people in the room - including the Supreme Court. He lectured the nation about the evils of earmarks, yet this year he signed a bill with 100s of earmarks. He lectured the nation about the evil influence of lobbyist, while having lobbyists in his administration. We have a con man standing in the position of the Presidency. He continually divides the American population. In speaking of repayment of student loans during the address, he offered one deal to those who planned to work for the government and a lesser deal to those who elected to work in the private sector. He fashioned deals in health care, where unions (who politically support him) pay no additional fees on premium health care plans, and forces the fees on the rest of the nation. I find his arrogant and bias words to be sickening.

I believe a Justice of the Supreme Court knows more about one his own rulings than a President. The President was wrong. The court ruling specifically prevented foreign campaign funding. President Obama should check the facts before publicly misleading the American citizens in this manner. This is similar to the Joe Wilson outburst of "You lie." Except in that case, Wilson showed disrespect to the President. However, the President went out of his way to mislead the public that time. Wilson was right in that respect. At the time, there was nothing in the health care bill that prevented coverage of illegal aliens. Either the President shows little wisdom in shooting his mouth off without knowing the facts, or he is corruptly and intentionally attempting to mislead the American people for political purposes. At this point, I am beginning to think the latter.

[hjmaiere]

"Presidents don't have power; their job is to draw attention away from it." -- Ford Prefect, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."

Both Bush and Obama supported the bank bailouts. Neither had any problem with forcing the taxpayer to cover the bad bets of the richest people on the planet. And no, the banking crisis had nothing to do with 'deregulation.' It had everything to do with the Federal Reserve's ability to create money out of nothing, along with all the government agencies and regulations specifically designed to steer all that money into mortgages.

People are beginning to figure all this out, and the plutocracy is getting worried. That's why Obama is desperately trying to re-establish his image as a populist. That's why they're trying to distract people with the red herring of bank bonuses.

[hakori]

cidaia, if a democratic president had run the economy into a ditch as did the last republican president and "conservative" economic policy, you'd still be blaming him too...and rightfully so. You can stop with your whinning hypocrisy any day now. Frankly, we're getting pretty sick of it. This is a fact: GWB and unregulated unbridled "conservative" economic policy got us here! That's just the way it is. I know you on the right don't like to hear that, but then again you on the right never take responsibility for any our your screw ups. I mean why do that when you can always blame someone else. That may have worked for your party fairly well, but it also means you never grow as a party and you certainly never learn from your mistakes because you NEVER make any. And yes time is running out for your party. I don't know if you noticed, but Obama turned the tables on your whinning obstructionist the other day. It's now the banks, corporations and the GOP against everyone else. You're going to loose, but that means the nation may very well win. Yes, we still blame Bush. What your president and your corrupt "conservative" party has done to our country will take more than a year to fix. Yes, yes, yes we still blame Bush!!! One more thing, unless you're wealthy, why do you vote conservative? Why do you vote against your own interests? Why do you so easily fall for the conservative line of bs? Is your mind really so weak?

[r9119111]

Your comment was greatly appreciated. The GOP is a low-life oerganization that never accepts responsibiliy for their actions.

[CBSisCommunist5]

I am so gald that OBAMA fixed everything and has time to get involved in sports...

[cidaia]

This is his response to the Republican bragging "I can beat Obama at basketball!" .... Obama wants to stay manly, and wants basketball to stay his sport, but doesn't want to actually have to prove anything on the court.

Cuz, remember...the stereotype sez black guys are better at basketball, so what does it mean if it turns out Obama's basketball is no better than his bowling?

[CBSisCommunist5]

Does that mean Basketball coaches get to run the white house ?

[flsunjnky]

The Republicans wanted to privatize Social Security, and Bush said that was one of the biggest mistakes of his presidency.

Well, hind sight is better than foresight I suppose.

Too bad he didn't apply that to the Iraq war. We went in to dispose of 1 terrorist, and now, how many are there.

Great thinking!

[yaliktono]

Great! How much do you think it cost the American Taxpayers for him to go to this??????????????????????????? 10% unemployment, skyrocketing deficits, no health bill, didn't close Guantanamo, etc. etc. etc. But he's got time to golf, take vacations, play radio host, etc.? 3 more years, 3 more years, 3 more years, 3 more years. Just more evidence of how out of touch this guy is with the suffering American public. Populist my butt.............

[taylorsucram]

To "yaliktono"

As the President stated during his Q&A with the Republicans, . . . over 1.5 Million jobs lost "before he took office". GM, Chrysler, AIG house of cards destroyed "before he took office". Yet all some of you can talk about is his "minor" vacations during which he played a little golf. Former President Ronald Reagan took more time off as President of the United States than any other president in America's history. Of course Bush the "Second" bet Reagan's vacation time and set the record for generations to come. Where were your complaints then? Remember Bush was on vacation (and stayed on vacation) during "Katrina" as did Dick (I'll shoot you in the Face) Cheney, where were your complaints then. Remember the look on Bush's face when he was told New York had just been attacked by terrorist? Why am I even responding to your misinformed tripe?

You sir should garner your information from sources other than "FAUX NEWS".

[cidaia]

taylorsucram: It's been a year. You're STILL blaming Bush?

You know, YOU ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME!