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    Obama Earns Hoops Vote of Confidence

    BY DAVE HOLLANDER,
    AOL
    Posted: 2008-03-28 10:59:25
    Filed Under: NCAA Tournament
    Craig Robinson: Brother-in-Law, Basketball Mentor

    His basketball credentials are impeccable. Robinson, head coach of Brown University mens hoops, is the first ever two-time Ivy League Player of the Year. He helped lead the Pete Carrill-coached Princeton Tigers to two NCAA Tournament appearances during his tenure (1981 and 1983). Robinson is also Barack Obamas brother-in-law. Since we hear so much about Obama playing pick-up wherever he goes on the campaign trail, and as we stand in the midst of March Madness, we thought we might find out from someone who knows first-hand (and with solid expertise) if Obama the ballplayer is like Obama the candidate, how much game the Democratic presidential hopeful actually has and whether we may be close to having the first president who can dunk?

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    Presidential hopeful Barack Obama loves to play pick-up basketball. His go-to move is said to be a pump fake, a dribble to the right and pull up for the jumper.

    See More Photos at SI.com: Barack Obama's Basketball Respite

    DAVE HOLLANDER: Bill Bradley says you can learn a lot about person by playing pick-up basketball. What did you find about Barack Obama the first time you played pick-up?
    CRAIG ROBINSON: The first time we played, I found that he was confident without being cocky. And our circumstances for playing were a little (pauses) different. My sister had asked me to take him to play. And, Im used to playing with guys who are pros or almost pros so he was playing in a group of guys who were pretty good. What I found was that he was a real team player. He was confident in that he knew what he could do, and he would do that -- and not try to do things he couldnt do in order to impress people. Thats a tell-tale sign of a lot of people who play pick-up basketball. Also because he was playing with his girlfriends brother, he didnt pass me the ball all the time trying to suck up. I was very impressed with that.

    DH: Was this the very first time you met him?
    CR: I had met him before but I hadnt played basketball with him. You quoted Bill Bradley but my father used to say that same thing and thats why my sister asked me to take him to play. After [Michelle and Barack] met and it seemed like this was something that could last a little longer than you usual dating, she asked me to go play with him.

    DH: Did your report seal the deal with Michelle?
    CR: I dont know if it was the actual closing argument but I think it helped his cause.

    DH: Is he D-I material?
    CR: No, I would say hes your average pick-up basketball player.

    DH: No pun intended but I hear his game is all left?
    CR: Very.

    DH: Do you think if we worked on it, he could go to his right?
    CR: He can go to his right. But his strength is to his left. In pick-up basketball, left-handers have a huge advantage because most of the population is used to guarding someone who is right-handed. Even if you expect it, that move to the left is hard to stop.

    DH: Its hard to tell in a pick-up game but I think its important to ask: Can he take a charge?
    CR: Hes a good basketball player so I imagine if he ever played in a game with refs he could take a charge.

    What's Your Take?

    DH: Its often noted that hes very fit with a slender build, but is he soft?
    CR: I would never say he was soft. Hes very strong actually. Hes one of those wiry, strong type of guys. While hes slight in stature hes not weak.

    DH: If he were to assume the point position, is he more shoot first or all about distribution?
    CR: Well, hes not a point guard. Hes a forward. He has a very good outside shot. And hes unselfish but I would never call him a point guard.

    DH: What his overall court awareness?
    CR: He understands the game and the object of the game is to win. The object is also about passing and moving . He can see the court really well. Its less peripheral vision and more being able to see a step ahead of whats going on.

    DH: What says a lot about somebody is can he rebound?
    CR: Yeah, he can rebound. He can block out. Hes a good pick-up basketball. Id say 85-90% of the population plays pick-up basketball, the other 10% are Division III to Division I college players and pros. He would rank high in the pick-up group.

    DH: Can he dunk?
    CR: He can dunk on the kiddie basket in his yard but not on a 10-foot rim.

    DH: What is his signature move?
    CR: Pump fake, one dribble right, pull up jump shot.

    DH: This is important: What kind of player is he when hes behind?
    CR: Hes the kind of player who likes to win and stay on the court. As you know, in pick-up basketball, if you lose youre off. If your behind or the games close, hes going to be more focused. He plays hard and he likes to win.


    DH: Is his style run and gun or more deliberate?
    CR: Hes more of a deliberate player but when its necessary to fast break he can fast break. When youre playing pick-up once you get our of your thirties theres no more run and gun at all for anybody.

    DH: As you know basket ball is a game with 10 players but only one ball. What kind of a player is he when the ball is not in his hands?
    CR: A savvy player. Setting screens, always moving to get open and help other people get open. Hes proficient player. Ill put it this way: Hes fun to play with. Some guys you hate playing with but hes fun to play with because hes not a selfish player.

    DH: Is there a great pro or college player you can compare him to?
    CR: Oh wow, thats the first time Ive gotten that question. (pauses) Hes like a left-handed Dennis Johnson. He made shots when he had to make shots. He played good D, passed the ball. He was like a big guard-small forward. When he played for the Celtics he played sort of that hybrid wing player that they call it nowadays. Thats who I think of when I think of Baracks game.


    DH: Although Obama graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School, is he able to put all that aside and root for Brown?
    CR: Oh yeah, Browns his favorite team.

    DH: How good of a recruiting chip will it be to say, and my brother-in-laws the president?
    CR: (Laughs) I dont know because I havent been able to say it but I can tell that Brown is on more peoples radar screens than it has been in the past.

    DH: Youve played in the NCAA Tournament twice. In what ways has this Democratic primary been like March Madness?
    CR: Like any kind of competition that has a long time frame, if youre trying to make an analogy to a game, you have to break it into two halfs, four quarters what have you. The thing to remember is that theres always going to be times where youre going to have a run and the other team is going to have a run . The guy who wins the game withstands the other guys run. You have to withstand their run and stay within your game plan, which I think Barack has done tremendously well in this primary. Hes up against a formidable opponent whos coming at you with all kinds of things, and hes been able to sort of handle and stay above the fray, on message, whatever the colloquialism you want to use. Thats very much like participating in the NCAA Tournament. Each time you win youre going to have another and often harder challenge the next game. You have to be able to withstand that next teams challenge and move on.

    DH: If you had to characterize Hillary Clinton as a basketball player what type of game do you think she would have?
    CR: No comment. I can only get in trouble with that one.

    DH: Playing for Princeton in the 1983 NCCA Tournament, you upset an Oklahoma St. in the first round. There have been plenty upsets so far but do you have any insights as we look at the Sweet 16 and beyond?
    CR: I have been really impressed with Davidson. Not just this team, but year in and year out theyre always very competitive and they have terrific game plan and they play great defense. In years past theyve been overmatched athletically and I think now theyve gotten some players that have enough experience in these kinds of tournaments that they are a dangerous team a very dangerous team. But you look at North Carolina and every time I watch them play I try to figure how the heck is anyone going to beat that team.

    Dave Hollander is the author of 52 WEEKS: Interviews with Champions! Info at: www.davehollander.com





    2008 AOL LLC. All Rights Reserved.
    2008-03-24 19:07:03


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    Recent Comments

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    1 - 10 of 1636
    1636 comments

    okorieoko 01:12:14 AM Mar 28 2008

    Report This!

    Don't vote your fears. Using half-truths and outright lies some people have almost succeded in defrauding themseves of the individual who is most qualified to be the best president simply because he is only half white. Don't let your hate for a race force you to make another mistake. Black people have survived under draconian white presidencies for over two hundred years. I don't see why caucasians can't survive 4 to 8 years of a half black president.

    okorieoko 12:56:05 AM Mar 28 2008

    Report This!

    jilleebean317 04:01:13 PM Mar 27 2008

    Report This! We will NEVER see Barrack Hussein Obama as President of the United States of America.
    NEVER!
    This is a CRISIS of epidemic proportions with no way out! Left with no other choice, Americans will endure another 4 years of McBush, but will NOT be lead onto a path of hatred and segregation straight out of the 60's by this HATER, his FREAK flock and mob cohorts. It wont happen, you all KNOW it wont happen and we all had better get second jobs and brace ourselves.

    ________________________________________________

    You sound like one who is very much afraid of the choice he is about to make.
    Using lies and half-truths you have almost succeded in defrauding yourself into believing that you cannot cast your vote for the most qualified individual for president simply because he is half white.

    likethechump 11:27:54 PM Mar 27 2008

    Report This!

    So he's a mediocore ball player.
    But he will be a GREAT president :)
    OBAMA 08!!!!!!

    sokolowmus 11:27:40 PM Mar 27 2008

    Report This!

    The Obama haters can't be bothered with facts, but: Rev. Wright's church is not black only, Obama didn't say he didn't know Wright said those things (quite the contrary), and Obama didn't "throw his grandmother under a bus" in the speech, again it was the opposite: he said he loved her in spite of her occasional racist remarks. Sounds like the anti-Obama folks are repeating Fox news catch phrases, but they didn't see or hear his speech. It's so obvious. Then there are the all-out racists who talk about "nappy headed" people and "monkey games," despicable white supremacists who have no place in the American way of doing things.

    sallywieck 09:35:20 PM Mar 27 2008

    Report This!

    Why in the hell would ANYONE feel that being able to play the game on a basketball court could POSSIBLY outline a good president of the United States. And, apparently everything I have been saying about Michelle is true - if she did, in fact, ask her brother to "check out" Obama on the courts before she got too serious with him. What a yardstick to use in determining a good husband and father - AND - the president of this country !!! I think possibly Michelle needs more help than Obama - and that is a lot !!!!!!!

    pamrules4d 08:26:32 PM Mar 27 2008

    Report This!

    Barack belongs to a black church that talks about the pain in the black community. Well wake up America. If you think the Black community is equal think again. With 40% un employment amoung black men and we are only 10% of the population in the united states. I can only say maybe white america just doesnt know.
    Think about Katrina and how every person was scanned to see if they were an incarcerated person or person in the system. Thats very telling. Think about what you see in mass media. The black community has been under attack since ther reversal of affirmaitive action.

    You all didnt want companies to be given a quota so that Blacks who would normally be turned down for work becuase of racial descrimination. Had to be choosen becuase of quotas.

    You all didnt want school segration so now the police run after black children hoping they can find them in an indiscretion of youth so they can start a record to follow them and torment them through thier school lives to

    credmon551 07:57:04 PM Mar 27 2008

    Report This!

    Its a good thing some of you stupid people here don't run for office - your hateful words would always be here. You don't like what this minister said, but you don't mind spewing hatred yourselves. I don't like some of what the minister said that has been published - but he preached for over 20 years - the words published are not all he said in that time. When some of your "time comes", hopefully God will not judge you on the words you used today. You made a point, cbigwillo. I am a white grandmother who has voted for Hillary, but if Obama wins the nomination, he gets my vote in Nov.

    rrickmorriss 06:50:03 PM Mar 27 2008

    Report This!

    i bet hillary's politics aren't much differant than Ol Billy Boys and if she is voted into office it will give Billy the chance to play with more Cuban Cigars

    kailuagal77 06:34:35 PM Mar 27 2008

    Report This!

    A hui hou, Barack, Hawaii loves you!

    taxguy527 06:19:28 PM Mar 27 2008

    Report This!

    HOW CONVENIENT. OBAMA'S “TIMELY” LATE-BREAKING DENUNCIATION OF HIS PASTOR'S EXTREME BLACK-ONLY RACISM AND HATRED OF THE U.S. IS A TOTALLY TRANSPARENT ATTEMPT TO APPEASE, AND IT IS COMPLETELY BOGUS. HE HAS BASKED IN IT AND SUPPORTED IT FOR 20 YEARS. HE SHOULD WITHDRAW HIS NAME FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE. IF MCCAIN OR CLINTON WERE ASSOCIATED WITH WHITE-ONLY CHURCHES, THEY WOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN FORCED TO WITHDRAW. THIS IS BOGUS.AMERICANS, JOIN THE DEMAND FOR OBAMA TO WITHDRAW FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE. IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE CRIMINAL REZKO'S ILLEGAL MONEY FUNDING OF OBAMA'S CAMPAIGNS, OBAMA WOULD LIKELY NEVER HAVE EVEN BEEN ELECTED SENATOR, LET ALONE TRY TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

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