America awaits the results of Election day to see whether Obama has earned a Second Term or Mitt Romney becomes the 45th President of the United States. The NOC Entertainment Channel have made a series of humorous videos with Presidential lookalikes competing in events ranging from Hide-and-Seek, Breakdancing and even a Street Fight.
The video below is a game of 'PIG' on the famed New York playground 'The Cage' on West 4th
VIDEO: The NOC Episode 3 - Obama VS Romney play 'PIG'
The Real Barack Obama is arguably the most powerful basketball fan in the world, he famously converted Richard Nixon's White House bowling alley into a Basketball Court. Interestingly Obama, nicknamed Barry O'Bomber in his playing days might not be the most accomplished basketball player in Politics, that title could go to Sarah Palin. That said, there is no doubt Basketball and sports in general has benefited from the 44th President's interest and support as an engaged fan.
President Obama trying to shut down the competition
Proving President Obama's love for the game his campaign have organised 'B-Ballers for Barack' to appeal to his Hoopshead supporters. The President is often seen playing hoops during media events and has laced it up against the cream of NBA Talent (Lebron, Wade, Melo, Rose etc) in a fundraiser for the troops.
After delivering the go-ahead point the game previous, Jeremy Lin hits the game-winner to defeat the Raptors. So for now we are still living in Jeremy Lin's dream. If you follow social media there is a rebellion of "haters" who are trying to convince the masses we are in a Matrix created by the Hype machine. I'm zen about it, I'm just gonna live in the moment.
Doug Gottlieb sums up my sentiments on the Lin hoopla:
Lin-sanity: 'The Herd' with Colin Cowherd (Feb 10) GOTTLIEB: The NBA's marketing machine is behind Jeremy Lin... They have a Jeremy Lin rap song out... and within it brings up "Maybe its just for the moment but enjoy it while it lasts"
I've always felt this way about one-hit wonders, we always make fun of one-hit wonders... but here's the thing, are you a half-empty or a half-full guy? If you're a half-full guy you say "You know what, it was only a one-hit wonder... but they had that one hit!". Do you know how many people never had a hit? Do you know how many great musicians went their whole lives and never had a hit. Nothing!
... Will it be the Macarena? Probably. Don't feel bad about buying a Linsanity shirt, you may wanna pump the breaks on the MVP chants at the Garden. Little much, too soon, probably? On the other hand just like one-hit wonders, have any of you ever had 20 and 10 at an NBA game? I haven't. Enjoy it while it lasts.
The reality is sports is all about narratives and marketing. Sportsmen make themselves relevant through their play and the media weaves a larger meaning for the consumer to accept according to their value systems. However the same light that shines is the same light that burns, just ask LeBron. Shortsightedness is a two way street, haters materialise just as suddenly as the bandwagon jumpers. The beauty of sport is that unlike a dream the athletes living it have the ability to control their destiny. The question is will they accept the nightmare we've created or can they wake us all up?
*Gasp* Look what Linsanity the Hype Machine has created so far. Not to mention the hype Lin has created for himself - TheJLin7 (YouTube Channel)
Miami Heat’s LeBron James reigns over all this season "He has created that problem for himself," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was saying before Tuesday night’s game here. "That consistent greatness. How can he top himself each night?" "This isn’t a normal MVP year he is having."
...It is so natural to take for granted, to under-appreciate or at least to under-express that, and we must try to make an exception to that human nature.
This is a player who lives up to whatever feeling of awestruck he sends coursing across arenas. This is a player having a season that simply begs better adjectives, even if his night was merely very good.
The TNT broadcast team of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley had a hilarious exchange at the expense of new recruit Shaquille O'Neal. Shaq coined a nickname for Spanish sensation Ricky Rubio but unfortunately he got his origin confused with another European country.
Sacramento Kings VS Minnesota Timberwolves (Jan16 TNT Broadcast) O'NEAL: I'm giving Ricky Rubio a name right now SMITH: What's that? SHAQ: The "Italian Pete Maravich"
crosstalk with some laughter: "woah woah" , "even though he's Spanish", "come on now"
BARKLEY: You're getting a little out of hand. Do you know how great Pete Maravich was? JOHNSON: There's not a whole lot of folks that can follow that nickname BARKLEY: First of all you called the brother from the wrong country SMITH: You've started an international incident BARKLEY: He's not from Italy Ernie. He's from Spain. O'NEAL: Italy, Spain... BARKLEY: People from Italy don't even know who he is
I was reading the November issue of uber-cool Turkish Mag 'XOXO' and spotted an interesting Enes Kanter interview. In Turkey, Oil wrestling (yağlı güreş) is a traditional sport but the rookie Power Forward has aspirations for another type of wrestling.
VIDEO: Enes Kanter and Pro-Wrestling
ENES KANTER: After my basketball career I want to be a professional wrestler... I watched it 4 or 5 years ago and right now I feel like [The Undertaker) him on the court.
The 'Deadman' I love it. People started calling me 'UnderKanter' 3 months ago. Right now my nickname is 'UnderKanter'.
People in Turkey have expressed how modernisation has meant the loss of their traditional culture. This is by no means an accurate illustration of that as Enes was born in Switzerland and was schooled in America but it does speak to the muddling and assimilation of global influences for the Internet generation.
VIDEO: Enes Kanter aka "The UnderKanter" - Utah/Kentucky/Turkey
Enes Kanter likes two of my favourite things - Basketball and Wrestling. Cool!
I had the pleasure of observing Young Turks training at the İstanbul Güreş İhtisas Kulübü by Aksaray in Istanbul. I was accompanying a French running mate who was photographing a story for a magazine. After the session, kids started shooting hoops but unfortunately I had left the scene.
