Obama's bracket a lot like yours (and mine)
Posted: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 12:37 PM
Filed Under:
March Madness, Brackets
President Obama isn’t much different from me, and a good number of other hoops fans – at least when it comes to filling out his NCAA tournament bracket.
Obama, a dedicated hoops fan and former player, picked a few first-round upsets but stuck with the chalk, advancing three No. 1 seeds and a 2 seed to the Final Four.
Compare his picks with users in our tournament challenge. Only 1 or 2 games are different. And most users are going to have 2 or 3 top seeds in their Final Fours. It's a given. In that sense, he's a man of the people.
Personal note: When I post my bracket later tonight, it'll contain six of Obama's Elite Eight, and the same title-game matchup. Doubt this makes me presidential material though...
His pick to win? North Carolina (he also picked UNC last year).
When every bracket pool is closed Thursday, I'd guess that Carolina will be the pick to win it all in more brackets around the country than any other team. It's good news when the president can predict what the country thinks (at least a during March Madness).
The Heels (28-4) do have plenty to like. Vegas installed them as the early favorite, while Obama says their “experience and balance” is hard to overlook. Then again, Ty Lawson’s nagging toe injury is an issue.
And, there’s the pressure factor. When the president calls you out, that probably makes your stomach clinch into a little ball.
“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.”
The good news for Carolina is it gets to play right down the road in Greensboro, N.C., for the opening weekend. UNC has never lost a first- or second-round game in Greensboro. After that, perhaps Lawson’s toe will be a little bit better. One doesn’t want to disappoint the president.
Obama made his picks during a televised segment Wednesday on ESPN. It was no surprise to see him cool and collected. (Especially with Andy Katz’s random questions.)
He knew which teams have been playing well, which have been struggling and – like anyone who’s ever filled out a bracket – clearly struggled with some picks. Doesn’t everyone second-guess themselves on something like this?
Of course, not everyone agreed with his picks – or that he even took the time to fill out a bracket.
There’s no pleasing everyone. I’d be mad if he didn’t fill out a bracket. How else would he be plugged in to what the nation is focused on this week?
