The Brackets
And now for a completely different kind of March Madness
2009-03-19
By Melody Hoffman
In these sobering times, sports more than ever serves as an escape from the realities of our economy. If you love–even like–basketball, March Madness is the best time of the year, only rivaled by the NBA Finals. With the convergence of emotion, team allegiance, buzzer beaters and early round upsets, even our country’s Chief is not immune to the craziness.
The opening of the NCAA basketball tournament starts today and President Barack Obama joined the rest of the country in completing a bracket.
Selecting his tournament picks alongside ESPN’s Andy Katz, Obama’s Final Four includes three No. 1 seeds Louisville, Pittsburgh, and North Carolina and No. 2 seed Memphis. After some deliberation, the First Hoops Fan inked that the Tar Heels will beat Louisville in the national championship.
Click here to see President Obama's bracket
Obama proved he is knowledgeable about more than the economy and health care reform. It was clear the president chose as a fan and not a politician, but his picks reflect his governing style: First seeded squads have successful track records, play as a team, and work hard all season–they don’t just squeak into the tournament.
“Here’s what I like about Carolina,” he told Katz, “experience and balance.”
Likewise, in his first 100 days, he’s filled his bench with key players, drawn up tricky game plans and, if pressed, could, no doubt back them up with clutch shots.
As for his forecasted upset (he has the West Regional No. 1 seed UConn losing to Memphis), perhaps Obama sees himself in the championship-less Memphis program going against the Connecticut powerhouse, knowing in the end only the strong survive and emerge to win key states.
Obama says he went with the Tigers because they are a “very athletic team. “I think they’ve got a good shot.”
Obama, who chose North Carolina to win it all last season too, finished with a parting shot: “Now, for all the Tar Heels who are watching, I picked you last year — you let me down,” Obama said. “This year, don’t embarrass me in front of the nation, all right? I’m counting on you. I still got those sneakers you guys gave me.”
Melody Hoffman is staff sports writer for Jet magazine.
