NBA teams, NFL, New York Times

A Presidential Sports Brand.

Last January, with Scott Price’s Sports Illustrated piece on then-candidate Barack Obama, we wondered if other candidates would take to sports to try and pull in the casual male voter who may not really be interested in politics but would put a guys guy in the White House. Price’s piece was followed by the now well known series of sports-themed shots and pieces about the President, while the other candidates never really looked to sports as a catalyst. John McCain golfed a bit and ventured to NASCAR races, and then-Senator Clinton never even looked to young women as a way to garner the support of young athletes. Since the election, the play with sports and the President has continued, as was outlined in the Wall Street Journal this week. Is it a smart idea? It is because it seems very genuine and not forced, and in these challenging times will probably give those on the fence on the issue of popularity a few more reasons to buy the President some time. Now he is no more of a sportsman than President Bush was, although his favorite swaps basketball for baseball. But if the President can help motivate young people to address childhood obesity and keep us all active, then maybe his legacy will be as much about healthy bodies than a healthy economy, or maybe one can lead to the other. Presidential Nike’s anyone?

Some other good reads…ESPN.com has a good analysis of the chances of the UFL…the New York Times GOAL blog has a look at the erie surroundings of quarantined stadiums during Mexican soccer play…and the LA Times’ TJ Simers has a good piece on 98 year old John Wooden.