The obligatory “Obama tied to Sports” post

So we have a new president….And quite frankly,  I think the first order of business that he went through yesterday was to practically shut down the internet.  Anyone that was trying to get on CNN/MSNBC/NBC/ABC’s website pretty much had their patience put to the test.  One of my friends even turned to MLB.com (who knew?) for inauguration coverage, because the news sites were too bogged down with visitors.

But enough of that!  There are loose ties to make between the president and sports that must be made before the day ends!

In all seriousness though, everyone knows by now that our new president is a huge basketball fan, even taking to playing pick up games routinely before big events (i.e. election day).  Many of you are probably also aware that the White House does not have an indoor basketball court….but it does have the bowling alley installed under Richard Nixon’s presidency.  Obama, in his ever loving need to “Shoot the J, Shoot it!” (c) Prince is thinking about razing the bowling alley and replacing it with a B-ball court.  Of course, that has put the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of Americas’ “balls” in an uproar.    WSJ has more,

The bowling lobby is concerned that talk of removing the White House lane — which was built under the north driveway — will have a negative impact on their sport. In an effort to change the president’s mind, top bowling associations have offered to refurbish the lane with a state-of-the-art scoring system, high-tech bowling balls designed to grip the lane and a digital surround-sound system.

“It would be a sad, sad day” if Mr. Obama scrapped the bowling lane, says Jim Sturm, president of the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America and owner of two bowling centers in Charleston, W.Va. “I think his political analysts ought to take a long look at removing [it]. It could have a long-term impact on his political prospects.”

Pure comedy.  Did Jim Sturm really just imply that the BPAA has power like a union? or the teamsters?  Were the candidates out trying to pull the Bowling Vote during the primaries and I just missed it?  And was their also an implication that bowling will be negatively impacted because Obama took the bowling alley out?  Did interest in (insert Bush’s favorite sport here, because I don’t know what it is) increase because Bush liked it?  Is the White House bowling alley the difference between Bowling being equivalent to baseball or miniature golf?  I don’t think so.  Hilarious try, nonetheless, Mr. Sturm.  Well played.

As for the basketball court?  You better believe that David Stern sees it as a potential publicity opportunity for the NBA…

National Basketball Association officials have reached out to members of the transition team to offer their services in installing a regulation court at the White House.

If “there is an upgrading of the basketball facilities at the White House, you can be assured that the NBA and the players will be there,” says NBA Commissioner David Stern.

Good marketing for the NBA, obviously, I just hope that Mr. Stern doesn’t feel compelled to use Wizards players, just cause they’re close by.  That definitely sounds like a job for LeBron, Kobe, Shaq, D-Wade, etc.

So, sure, the president can make claims of ending the war in Iraq, finding new energy sources, and lowering unemployment, but can he keep the all important “10-pin” vote if he decides to run for re-election?

That still remains to be seen.

Wall Street Journal — Obama’s basketball-playing cabinet

Tags: Barack Obama, Basketball, bowling alley, David Stern, White House

Category: Basketball