Obama to Coach K: ‘I Look Forward To Him Proving Me Wrong’
EmailABC News’ Teddy Davis and Huma Khan report:
President Obama called into the "The Ed Schultz" radio show this afternoon and was asked about Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s lighthearted jab at his NCAA picks.
"I see the Duke coach doesn’t like your picks?" Asked Schultz.
"Coach K, I think, is a great coach. And you know, Reggie Love, my assistant, played for Coach K. And so it’s not surprising. I didn’t pick him to go to the finals. Look he’s a competitive guy, I just don’t think they’ve got the inside game to go all the way. But I look forward to him proving me wrong," the president said.
It all started with a small interview. Obama filled out his bracket with ESPN reporter Andy Katz this week. His Final Four picks — North Carolina, Louisville, Memphis and Pittsburgh would make it to the Final Four, with the Tar Heels winning the tournament.
"I still think that Duke, a lot of skilled parameter players, [but] they just don’t have the muscle inside. I think [Pitt's DeJuan] Blair is going to eat them up," the president said.
Responding to the president’s lack of faith in Duke — head coach Krzyzewski took a joking jab at the president yesterday, saying: "Somebody said that we’re not in president Obama’s Final Four. And as much as I respect what he’s doing, really, the economy is something that he should focus on, probably more than the brackets. Why would I care about that? I love the guy, and I think he’s gonna be great."
– Teddy Davis and Huma Khan
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In regard to professional athletes, the sports reporters always say that you shouldn’t do what Coach K. just did — make a big deal about any kind of team superiority, prior to the games — just put your effort into the next game.
The best revenge is to prove your detractors wrong on the scoreboard.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | March 19, 2009, 4:48 pm 4:48 pm
“I still think that Duke, a lot of skilled parameter players, [but] they just don’t have the muscle inside. I think [Pitt's DeJuan] Blair is going to eat them up,” the president said.
Duke hasn’t had a strong inside presence since Sheldon graduated.
Posted by: Ryan C | March 19, 2009, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm
“really, the economy is something that he should focus on, probably more than the brackets.”
Presumably The CHANGEling wants to remind anyone who’d forgotten it that he’s not only a mobster, but a MANLY mobster. Better He should leave the sports macho to Biden.
His condescending “town hall” in California sounds like He’s talking to second graders.
Everybody knows this is nowhere.
Posted by: Pants on Fire | March 19, 2009, 4:54 pm 4:54 pm
ALL YOUR OBAMA ARE BELONG TO US
Posted by: cats | March 19, 2009, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm
For Pete’s sake. We sure are learning a lot about our President’s priorities!
Someone please tell Mr. Axelrod that THEIR priorities sure do not coincide with ours!!
Posted by: PappyHappy | March 19, 2009, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
obama and his cabinet of clowns are desperate to divert attention away from this corrupt failing administration
Like the sayng goes.”caught with his hand in the money jar”
Posted by: o-DUMB-ah and his cabinet of clowns | March 19, 2009, 5:15 pm 5:15 pm
Wait until you hear more about HR 1388, mandatory volunteerism. You can read more about the civilian corps at canadafreepress.com
HR1388 is now being considered!
Read the article titled, This is the Army, Mrs. Jones.
Yet another way to take away our freedom!
Jake, when are you going to report on this? I would think the MSM would be all over this.
Posted by: Michelle | March 19, 2009, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm
The President should stay in D.C.,
do his job(fix the economy, keep us
safe) and not be so distracted by
the NCAA Tournament!
He was not elected to be Number One
Sportsfan. Get off of Jay Leno’s
show and get to work, Mr President!
Posted by: reaganfan | March 19, 2009, 5:42 pm 5:42 pm
Is Obama running a sports gambling ring or the country
Posted by: pitter BULL | March 19, 2009, 5:46 pm 5:46 pm
From the desk of Teleprompter One (“TP One”):
Obama managed to answer a few questions without my guidance today. he gave the Coach K story legs…moron….
I see the Duke coach doesn’t like your picks?” Asked Schultz.
“Coach K, I think, is a great coach. And you know, Reggie Love, my assistant, played for Coach K. And so it’s not surprising. I didn’t pick him to go to the finals. Look he’s a competitive guy, I just don’t think they’ve got the inside game to go all the way. But I look forward to him proving me wrong,” the president said.
Posted by: TP One | March 19, 2009, 5:48 pm 5:48 pm
President Obama called into the “The Ed Schultz” radio show this afternoon…
=======================================
But AIG is a distraction.
Posted by: mad | March 19, 2009, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm
He should concentrate on the economy instead? seriously, does coach K think Obama is on the net all day thinking about Duke or college basketball? Rather arrogant if you ask me if you think the president is occupying all his thoughts on you. Look at the president’s bracket, its obvious he did it in about 10 minutes. and if he wants to follow bball, why is that a problem?
Posted by: jshutsan | March 19, 2009, 5:57 pm 5:57 pm
“Yet another way to take away our freedom!
Jake, when are you going to report on this? I would think the MSM would be all over this.”
An expansion of AmeriCorp is taking away our freedoms?
Stop huffing the right wing paint.
Posted by: Ryan C | March 19, 2009, 5:58 pm 5:58 pm
Obama acts like he is playing a game.
This presidency thing is a game.
Cocktail parties and bands in the White House, flying all over the country in campaign mode, joking about AIG, going on with Leno, giving childish gifts to world leaders.
It’s offensive but predictable for a guy that never really had a steady job- and moved from one lofty goal to another stepping on people along the way.
If Obama wants respect he should grow up and do his job. Maybe hold off the parties and Leno at least until the economy starts to turn around.
Posted by: sammy | March 19, 2009, 6:00 pm 6:00 pm
Obama is making President Bush look like the best president we ever had.
Posted by: pitter BULL | March 19, 2009, 6:00 pm 6:00 pm
Coach K has had a remarkable career with notable accomplishments. What has Obama accomplished? We can only hope Obama takes Coach K’s words to heart and concentrates on the economy. Coach K got Duke to the tournament. Let us hope Obama does not blow his assignment.
Posted by: benvictor | March 19, 2009, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
Uh, Martha Stewart did not go to jail for insider trading. It was for lying about it.
Posted by: Henry | March 19, 2009, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
“What has Obama accomplished?”
1st Black President, largest stimulus bill since…..oh, you were being rhetorical.
Posted by: bpe-dsm | March 19, 2009, 6:13 pm 6:13 pm
No one should be expected to avoid entertaining a light moment of sociability in his/her day – this is just not possible… We know President Obama behaves like any other human being in many ways, but at the same time, understands the seriousness of his office responsibilities, and diligently works on it.
Posted by: César | March 19, 2009, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
LOL, you anti-obama guys crack me, what the guy cant answer a reporters question on which teams he wants to win, anymore. The funny thing was that even if he said, “no no im too busy workin on the economy” you guy would still have the same viper like attitude so gimme a break.
As for paying attention, you mean pay attention to the economy the way bush did which was to run it into the ground?
Yeah sure *wink*
Posted by: jerms | March 19, 2009, 6:22 pm 6:22 pm
Wow, a bunch of crybabies on this forum. We get it, u don’t like the president, matter of fact u hate him.Just remember this, we don’t care about what u think or how u feel about the president.
Posted by: TheOne | March 19, 2009, 6:35 pm 6:35 pm
what, no one here complaining about the First Lady’s bare arms? or how she dresses?
how liberal of you Repubs…..
yes, Obama must be taken to task, as he hasn’t cured the last 8 years of republican malfeasance and crimes in 2 months
Posted by: dewde | March 19, 2009, 7:13 pm 7:13 pm
Lighten up, guys. March Madness is a rite of spring in America and it makes sense that a basketball-loving president will participate. I personally think he was doing Coach K a favor, giving him a motivational tool to fire up the Duke players. Maybe Reggie put him up to it. *G* Of course, since I despise Coach K and Duke with a fiery passion, I have to agree with the Prez that Duke is overrated and won’t make it to the Final Four.
Posted by: moderate | March 19, 2009, 8:17 pm 8:17 pm
“”I still think that Duke, a lot of skilled parameter players, [but] they just don’t have the muscle inside. I think [Pitt's DeJuan] Blair is going to eat them up,” the president said.”
He’s hilarious. He knows this tournament field better than 95% of all bracket-holders. He’s Leadowlark Lemon and the Wingnut Right are the Washington Generals.
Posted by: Silky | March 19, 2009, 10:09 pm 10:09 pm
Obamas defense was not to deal with the substance of what he said, mainly that Obamas priorities may lie somewhere beyond the final four. he just dismisses it by saying oh he was not in my pick so thats all. No not all, I’m not a coach and I agree with coach k. Little harder to wave that off, not like he what we think anyway though.
Posted by: randy | March 20, 2009, 12:21 am 12:21 am
“He knows this tournament field better than 95% of all bracket-holders. He’s Leadowlark Lemon and the Wingnut Right are the Washington Generals.”
Conversely, 95% of the bracket-holders know more about what it takes to be President of the United States than Barry does.
Posted by: Dave | March 20, 2009, 3:34 am 3:34 am
“He should concentrate on the economy instead? seriously, does coach K think Obama is on the net all day thinking about Duke or college basketball?”
Probably. Given his performance the last 60 days what evidence is there to indicate otherwise?
Posted by: Dave | March 20, 2009, 3:37 am 3:37 am
I’d take the words of a West Point grad, Coach K, over the buffoonish Big O anyday.
Posted by: Sarge | March 20, 2009, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm
Message to The One and those of you
who think like him:
What Goes Around Comes Around!
Enjoy it while it lasts because it
won’t last long.
Posted by: reaganfan | March 20, 2009, 1:32 pm 1:32 pm
All Presidents comment on March Madness and Basketball.
Obama knows basketball.
- Last monthOn CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday, host John King sits down with basketball greats Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, Steve Nash, Grant Hill and Chris Paul to analyze the president’s b-ball skills.
-The basketball greats agreed Obama can play and know baskball!
- Some of Obama’s videos playing basketball are hits. One is almost at a million views
Posted by: Cooday | March 20, 2009, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm
“Responding to the president’s lack of faith in Duke — head coach Krzyzewski took a joking jab at the president yesterday, saying: “Somebody said that we’re not in president Obama’s Final Four. And as much as I respect what he’s doing, really, the economy is something that he should focus on, probably more than the brackets. Why would I care about that? I love the guy, and I think he’s gonna be great.”
A quick lesson in FoxNews right wing propaganda.
Above Jake has provided the whole quote.
On the FoxNews item?
“Somebody said that we’re not in President Obama’s Final Four, and as much as I respect what he’s doing, really, the economy is something that he should focus on, probably more than the brackets,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said from the Blue Devils’ first-round site in Greensboro, N.C.
Seems to change the meaning quite a bit.
Posted by: Ryan C | March 20, 2009, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm
Note to Obalhblah:
You can’t even manage a Live appearance on TV without screwing it up. You can’t dance, you shoot hoops like a skirt and you absolutely know NOTHING about running a government(except into the ground).
Keep your tips and advise to yourself.
Note to Coach K:
Pay no never mind to the no dancing, hoop shooting girly man who insults those with no recourse or voice of their own!!
Posted by: American Infidel | March 20, 2009, 7:39 pm 7:39 pm