11/05/24
March 19, 2011
President Obama's Bracket Goes 29-3: President Obama has picked 29 of 32 games correctly on his NCAA basketball tournament bracket, missing only on Morehead State beating Louisville, UCLA defeating Michigan State and VCU stunning Georgetown. Fifteen of his Sweet Sixteen selections are alive (all but Louisville).
posted by rcade to basketball at 09:21 AM - 17 comments
Yeah, he's getting a lot of heat for taking the time to fill out a bracket.
Well, if his workday is anything like that of some past presidents, he is more or less scheduled in 12 minute increments, with events proceeding in rapid sequence virtually nonstop.
A chief executive who is able to navigate such a schedule and maintain his alertness, focus, and sanity should be able to find the time to scribble out some tournament selections at some point in a 24 hour day.
Never heard anyone complain about how much time President Clinton spent voraciously reading books during the Balkan crisis.
The less attention that the media pays to this matter, the better. It's just going to be used as an attack point.
(Following historical precedent, the city of Richmond is likely once again angry at the occupant of the White House, but if President Obama had gone with VCU over Georgetown, the furor would have been even more intense, and in much closer proximity.)
posted by beaverboard at 10:31 AM on March 19, 2011
He did much better than anyone in our SpoFi bracket. One of the overall leaders on Yahoo actually picked Morehead State over Louisville. WTF.
posted by bperk at 11:27 AM on March 19, 2011
Obama's bracket has lost some luster after an insane end to the Pittsburgh/Butler game.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 09:28 PM on March 19, 2011
ILLEGAL BLACK PRESIDENT WASTES TIME WHILE MEXICANS STEAL YOUR JOBS
No, it'd be more like KENYAN USURPER USES SHARIA LAW TO RUIN TOURNAMENT
posted by cjets at 10:19 PM on March 19, 2011
ILLEGAL BLACK PRESIDENT WASTES TIME WHILE MEXICANS STEAL YOUR JOBS
Or
BLACK PRESIDENT WASTES TIME WHILE ILLEGAL MEXICANS STEAL YOUR JOBS
posted by bdaddy at 10:51 PM on March 19, 2011
The less attention that the media pays to this matter, the better. It's just going to be used as an attack point.
When almost everything you do is used as an attack point -- such as Michelle Obama's call for kids to exercise -- you might as well have some fun. President Obama likes March Madness. Bush 43 liked baseball. Clinton liked, uh, other activities. Presidents deserve their hobbies.
posted by rcade at 07:38 AM on March 20, 2011
The only problem I have with him filling out a bracket is the same problem I have when anyone puts all four number one seeds into the final four. Really going out on a limb with those picks.
posted by dyams at 10:54 AM on March 20, 2011
Really going out on a limb with those picks.
I've never really understood that as a negative for making picks. Some system has determined that the #1 seeds are the best in their bracket. Therefore, the person picking all the #1s to go to the final four may be using the same logic to determine that they are in fact the best in their brackets and WILL beat everyone else.
Now, if EVERY single one of his picks for EVERY single round was the better seed beating the worse seed, then I could understand the concern that he's not really putting any effort into it.
posted by grum@work at 02:40 PM on March 20, 2011
I've never really understood that as a negative for making picks.
Only because all four number ones have made it to the final four one time. 3 number ones have made it to the final four three times. You basically have to look for upsets, and which number ones will be knocked off. Picking all four number ones, then watching as they are knocked out, has made me feel dumb in the past because half the fun is trying to pick where the upsets will be.
posted by dyams at 03:19 PM on March 20, 2011
Picking the wrong upsets is even worse. It's a killer.
posted by bperk at 04:47 PM on March 20, 2011
Maybe he is in the ESPN pool and is trying to win some money to cover all his overspending. Kinda like the broke guy that takes his last 100 bucks into a casino and bets it on one spin of the roulette wheel.
posted by Debo270 at 10:45 AM on March 21, 2011
When almost everything you do is used as an attack point -- such as Michelle Obama's call for kids to exercise -- you might as well have some fun.
This. It's almost humorous the amount of time the right is spending on attacking Obama for this.
Maybe he is in the ESPN pool and is trying to win some money to cover all his overspending.
Considering he's been in office a little over 2 years and the previous 'conservative' president spent 8 years over-spending and expanding the government I'd say you're reaching.
posted by justgary at 02:54 PM on March 21, 2011
that is ridiculos, on one bracket, i chose syracuse to go all the way
posted by qredsox at 04:33 PM on March 21, 2011
Obama isn't the first president to fill out the bracket. Presidents have been doing this for years. And, really, how is this a waste of time? No worse than visiting a school or hosting a national championship team or a group of gold medal winners. The right wing is just looking for another attack point.
On topic: Well done on the picks, I wish my bracket looked like that. Mine looks more like Michael Bay movie at this point.
posted by pettym at 04:34 PM on March 21, 2011
Considering he's been in office a little over 2 years and the previous 'conservative' president spent 8 years over-spending and expanding the government I'd say you're reaching
I was joking. Should have said the deficit, not his overspending.
posted by Debo270 at 10:20 AM on March 22, 2011
It's almost humorous the amount of time the right is spending on attacking Obama for this
No more, or less, than what the left spent attacking Bush anytime he went golfing or took in a baseball game. It seems to be that everyone expects the President to be focused on matters of vital importance 100% of the time. This actually got very little press compared to most distractions.
As to the spending, Congress controls the purse strings, Presidents take far too much credit/blame for financial matters. All of them, Bush and Obama.
As to picking #1 seeds, odds are against all of them making it to the Final 4, however, at least one always makes it in (only twice have they not), so you have to favor them a bit. Especially given that number #1 seeds make it to the Sweet 16 on a 94-14 ratio. Have to pick some upsets, but if you don't have a clue going with the #1's makes more sense than blindly guessing at upsets. Poor Obama knows he's going to be second guessed regardless, so going with the favorites at least gives him that excuse.
posted by dviking at 05:39 PM on March 23, 2011
Or your headline on FOXNews:
ILLEGAL BLACK PRESIDENT WASTES TIME WHILE MEXICANS STEAL YOUR JOBS