"Change" is in the air
Swinging for the Fences
Matt Watson
Issue date: 1/21/09 Section: Sports
When Barack Obama took the oath to become the United States' first black president, swearing on the Bible of Abraham Lincoln, the writer of the Emancipation Proclamation, and then addressed the nation for the first time, I think there was one thing on every American's mind.
Playoffs.
I want to talk about playoffs.
Before President Obama was first serenaded with "Hail to the Chief," he called for the establishment of a playoff system in college football and the scrapping of the Bowl Championship Series.
The day before Obama was elected leader of the free world, an interview of the former Illinois Senator with ESPN's Chris Berman aired during Monday Night Football during which Obama said the one thing he would change about sports would be the creation of a postseason tournament in NCAA football.
The people have spoken.
Is it a coincidence that the day after Obama advocated getting rid of the BCS, he was elected president?
I don't think so. Sports and the oval office have long gone hand-in-hand.
Outgoing President George W. Bush? Former co-owner of the Texas Rangers and probably has the best arm of any President.
President George Bush Sr. captained the Yale baseball team back in the '40s.
President Gerald Ford led the Michigan Wolverines to two national titles on the gridiron, playing offense and defense as the star of the team.
Countless presidents took to the golf course to escape the demands of the nation's most scrutinized position, and President Nixon was an avid bowler, dominating the lanes in the White House basement (trust me, I looked it up).
So it's not like these guys don't know what they're talking about. Obama has his reasons and has made the case for a playoff more than once or twice.
In a 60 Minutes interview last November, Obama laid out his three-round, eight-team, win-or-go-home national championship tournament. He said he was tired of computers ruling the sport.
"I don't know any serious fan of college football who has disagreed with me on this," he said.
Earlier this month, Obama reiterated his point in the very same press conference he announced his appointments for head of the CIA and Director of National Intelligence.
"I have to point out, if I'm Utah or if I'm USC, if I'm Texas, I may still have some quibbles. You've heard my pitch. That's why we need a playoff," Obama said.
Obama won the presidency under the slogan, "Change we can believe in." (Gramatically corrected, "Change in which we can believe.")
We'll see if the president delivers.
"I'm gonna throw my weight around a little bit. I think it's the right thing to do," Obama said.
So do I, Mr. President.
Matt Watson is the assistant sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler.
Playoffs.
I want to talk about playoffs.
Before President Obama was first serenaded with "Hail to the Chief," he called for the establishment of a playoff system in college football and the scrapping of the Bowl Championship Series.
The day before Obama was elected leader of the free world, an interview of the former Illinois Senator with ESPN's Chris Berman aired during Monday Night Football during which Obama said the one thing he would change about sports would be the creation of a postseason tournament in NCAA football.
The people have spoken.
Is it a coincidence that the day after Obama advocated getting rid of the BCS, he was elected president?
I don't think so. Sports and the oval office have long gone hand-in-hand.
Outgoing President George W. Bush? Former co-owner of the Texas Rangers and probably has the best arm of any President.
President George Bush Sr. captained the Yale baseball team back in the '40s.
President Gerald Ford led the Michigan Wolverines to two national titles on the gridiron, playing offense and defense as the star of the team.
Countless presidents took to the golf course to escape the demands of the nation's most scrutinized position, and President Nixon was an avid bowler, dominating the lanes in the White House basement (trust me, I looked it up).
So it's not like these guys don't know what they're talking about. Obama has his reasons and has made the case for a playoff more than once or twice.
In a 60 Minutes interview last November, Obama laid out his three-round, eight-team, win-or-go-home national championship tournament. He said he was tired of computers ruling the sport.
"I don't know any serious fan of college football who has disagreed with me on this," he said.
Earlier this month, Obama reiterated his point in the very same press conference he announced his appointments for head of the CIA and Director of National Intelligence.
"I have to point out, if I'm Utah or if I'm USC, if I'm Texas, I may still have some quibbles. You've heard my pitch. That's why we need a playoff," Obama said.
Obama won the presidency under the slogan, "Change we can believe in." (Gramatically corrected, "Change in which we can believe.")
We'll see if the president delivers.
"I'm gonna throw my weight around a little bit. I think it's the right thing to do," Obama said.
So do I, Mr. President.
Matt Watson is the assistant sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
David
posted 1/20/09 @ 11:09 PM CST
Seriously? Not even 24 hours after he is sworn into office, you start criticizing this guy. Can't believe you tried to correct his grammar. First you bash Tebow and now you bash the President. (Continued…)
SCrain
David
posted 1/20/09 @ 11:19 PM CST
Seriously? You did it again. You took one of the best individual in America and tried to bring him down again. Can't believe you criticized his slogan with a bs grammatical error. (Continued…)
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