Obama Earns Hoops Vote of Confidence
BY DAVE HOLLANDER,
AOL
Posted: 2008-03-28 10:59:25
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?
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.
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.
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
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self poses with students in Boys Town, Neb., Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Self, who visited Boys Town before appearing at an Omaha sports banquet in the evening, said he'll have no idea what the roster for the defending NCAA champions will look like until after June's NBA draft. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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Kansas basketball coach Bill Self, center, jokes during a visit to Boys Town, Neb., Wednesday, May 7, 2008, as he stands near Boys Town Executive Director Steve Boes, left. said he'll have no idea what the roster for the defending NCAA champions will look like until after June's NBA draft. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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Kansas basketball coach Bill Self, left, takes questions from students during a visit to Boys Town, Neb., Wednesday, May 7, 2008. Self, who was in Omaha for a sports banquet, said he'll have no idea what the roster for the defending NCAA championship team will look like until after June's NBA draft. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
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** FILE ** In this Jan. 9, 2008 file photo, LSU's Garrett Temple (14) knocks the ball away from Mississippi State's Ben Hansbrough, right, and Temple eventually ends up with the ball during the first half of a college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La. Hansbrough, who helped Mississippi State advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament last month, is transferring to Notre Dame. (AP Photo/Bill Feig, File)
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Memphis head coach John Calipari smiles as he answers a question at a news conference at the college basketball Final Four in this April 6, 2008 file photo, in San Antonio. Calipari has signed a contract extension through the 2012-13 season that includes an annual raise of $500,000. Calipari will make $2.35 million per year and will receive a $5 million bonus if he stays through the end of the deal, athletic director R.C. Johnson announced Saturday, April 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
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** FILE ** This March 27, 2008 file photo shows Texas guard D.J. Augustin (14) smiling during a news conference at the NCAA South Regional basketball tournament in Houston. All-American point guard D.J. Augustin says he is leaving Texas after two seasons to turn pro. He said Wednesday April 23, 2008 that he has long dreamed of playing in the NBA and that he is "ready to start living this dream." (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
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** FILE ** In this March 22, 2008 file photo, Mississippi State guard Jamont Gordon responds to a question during a news conference at the NCAA men's basketball tournament South Regional in North Little Rock, Ark. Gordon has decided to turn pro but won't hire an agent before the NBA draft. Gordon told The Associated Press he planned to file the paperwork. In a phone interview Tuesday afternoon April 22, 2008, Gordon said he intends to go through with the draft if he remains injury free. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
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** FILE ** In this March 23, 2008 file photo, Mississippi State guard Jamont Gordon (44) takes a shot as Memphis guard Antonio Anderson (5) defends in the first half of an NCAA men's basketball second-round South Regional game in North Little Rock, Ark. Gordon has decided to turn pro but won't hire an agent before the NBA draft. Gordon told The Associated Press he planned to file the paperwork. In a phone interview Tuesday afternoon April 22, 2008, Gordon said he intends to go through with the draft if he remains injury free. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
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** FILE ** This March 19, 2006 file photo shows Bucknell basketball coach Pat Flannery pleading with an official during the first half of their NCAA tournament second-round basketball game against Memphis in Dallas. Flannery is retiring after 14 years on the bench at his alma mater. A person at the university told The Associated Press of Flannery's retirement Friday morning, April 18, 2008. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam, File)
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** FILE ** Memphis coach John Calipari talks with Memphis freshman guard Derrick Rose (23) in the first half of the NCAA South Regional basketball final in Houston in this March 30, 2008 file photo, in Houston. Rose announced on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 he was jumping to the NBA, the same day Calipari agreed in principle to a contract extension with the school. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
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