Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2008 > October > 07 > Entry
blog: Trading Shots with Obama and Palin
Barack Obama and John McCain go at it in their second debate tonight, but the match-up I’d really like to see is Obama against Sarah Palin:
On the basketball court.
I know in these debate formats they like to keep each topic of parry short, so I’d suggest that old, quick playground staple — a game of P-I-G.
Then again, I know what happened that last time that word was brought up this election season.
So maybe the Republican pick for Vice President and the Democratic presidential nominee could just wipe off the lipstick, roll up the sleeves and square off in a game of H-O-R-S-E.
While Palin and Obama may seem far apart in so many matters, they have one thing in common — a love of hoops.
Palin — then playing under her maiden name, Sarah Heath — was the aggressive point guard of the Wasilla High basketball team that won the Alaska state title in 1982. She wore No. 22 and was nicknamed Sarah Barracuda for her tear-into-you style — an old trait she’s using every chance she gets the past few days in her speeches targeting Obama.
Obama played on the Punahou High team that won the Hawaii state title in 1979. A left handed guard who wore No. 23, he grew up with a poster of Julius Erving on his bedroom wall. His brother-in-law, Craig Robinson, is the head basketball coach at Oregon State.
Every year Obama returns to Hawaii and plays a series of 3-on-3 games on Waikiki Beach with his old high school buddies. On the election trail he’s done everything from play a full court game in an open gym session with the North Carolina Tar Heels to hit the first three pointer he attempted while talking to troops in a gymnasium Kuwait.
Palin returned to Wasilla High recently with Charlie Gibson in tow and took the ABC news anchor over to the trophy case, where they found the state title trophy. In that game, by the way, Palin hit two key free throws in what was a 50-48 win over East High of Anchorage.
Gibson told her how George Stephanopoulos had suggested to Obama that he and Palin go at it on the basketball court and she laughed and said: “That would be a blast.”
So who do I think would win?
I give the nod to Obama.
From what I can see, Palin doesn’t use the whole court. She shoots only from the deep right and would have to have someone feeding her the ball. And, lately, most of her shots have been under-handed.
If you think that sounds a little biased, well, in the words of a familiar orator:
“You Betcha!”
But I would give Palin the edge over Caitlin Upton.
Miss (wink…wink) Wasilla of 1984 would be able to handle Miss Teen ( “some people out there in our nation don’t have maps”) South Carolina of 2007.
Why?
Well, say what you want, but Palin can bury that three from beyond the arc…and… she’s got cue cards.
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Comments
By Wolverine
October 9, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
This comment shouldn’t even be in the sports section, but the other commenters have the right idea. Where is everyone getting so hard on a first term state governor’s inexperience when we have a first term senator who has led NOTHING! People are worried about what happens if Palin becomes president…What if WE elect Barack HUSSEIN Obama directly to that position? Should never happen!!!By jimmie
October 8, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
I think it would be pretty easy to shut down Obama defensively - just overplay him to his left - we all know he can’t go right!By Raoul
October 7, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
Great. Yet another DDN writer taking shots at Gov. Palin. Is there anybody at this paper that does not contribute to the avalanche of left-leaning bias? So Obama can beat Palin in a basketball game. Well, maybe if she fakes right, then drives down the center Obama will be defenseless to stop her. But no, the media will cry foul, call her out for a violiation, and give the ball back to their star player. Shooting from the left, he will then proceed to lead his team to victory, and his country to ruin.By Jack
October 7, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
Hey, another political column where one should not be…great. Seriously, can we leave politics to the people who actually make a living doing this? We read this blog for sports, not your stupid poltical thoughts. And before you ask, I would have said the exact same thing if you took the other side. Every other commercial on TV, radio, web ads, SNL, just wish we could find some areas that this is not discussed…and I thought this would actually be one place. You have lost a very loyal reader, not for your particular beliefs, but for bringing it up where it should not be. Your blog, your topic choices, that I understand, but just not where I would expect it to be.By Dave
October 7, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this
If there wasn’t such rancor in the campaign, that could be a wonderful charity event. It could do a lot to heal wounds in the American political system while raising a lot of money for folks in need. It’s a shame it will never happen….