What Happened to Our Basketballer-in-Chief?

Obama has traded basketball for golf
By Emily Rauhala,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 24, 2009 11:07 AM CST
What Happened to Our Basketballer-in-Chief?
President Obama takes practices his game at Mink Meadows Golf Club in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts.   (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

The old Obama played hoops—and he did it quite well. So why do we keep seeing him on golf courses? Since he took office, the one-time "Baller-in-Chief" has played basketball about seven times, compared to 25 rounds of golf. The White House has remained mum on what's behind the change, and won't say why the televised games on the court have turned into secretive, no-press-allowed sessions on the course—but that hasn't stopped critics from analyzing, and bashing, his game.

"Let me put it in language you might be better able to understand, Mr. President," a sports columnist wrote recently: "Basketball? Yes, you can. Golf? No, you can't." Political adviser David Axelrod told the Wall Street Journal Obama's score was a matter of "national security." And, a pro shop worker that saw him play described the presidential swing as "Eh, not so much." His advice?' The president "ought to play a little more basketball."





(More Barack Obama stories.)

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