Obama fills out his brackets

Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2008 10:58 AM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan and NBC's Mark Murray
If there's one thing outside of politics that can steal a candidate's attention -- especially the hoops enthusiast Obama -- it's March Madness, which begins in the next hour or two.

Obama has his money on the University of North Carolina to win the NCAA tournament this year beating out UCLA in the final.

His top bracket picks include: UNC in the East, Kansas in the Midwest, Pittsburgh in the South, and UCLA in the West. Some of those picks don't seem to be by accident, at least according to our political eyes: UNC is the flagship university in North Carolina (which has its primary on May 6), Pittsburgh is in Pennsylvania (which goes on April 22); and Kansas is where his mother's family hailed from.

Obama is a huge basketball fan, and was even caught pondering over his bracket when sitting in an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper. He joked that he was focusing on what was "important."

Obama was the last person to submit his bracket to the friendly staff-only betting pool. (Entry was $10.) Hotline reported this morning that Obama spokesmen "Bill Burton and Dan Pfeiffer both have Georgetown in the championship, but UCLA winning. Speechwriter Jon Favreau and Ben Finkenbinder have Kansas. Strategist David Axelrod and policy dir Heather Higginbottom picked UNC."

Asked why he was taking so long filling out his own bracket, Obama said: "I'm taking this very seriously. It's a science."

Obama has been playing basketball since he was in high school. He regularly finds a way to sneak some court time in on the campaign trail, shooting hoops with secret service, staff and just yesterday the troops from Fort Bragg.

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Comments

HP from Boston; HA! I finally know your true identity. You ended your rant with "SO". Ok Dick you've been outted.

PhilVietVet, Pearblossom, CA (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 12:52 PM)

USC VS UCLA in a rubber match with USC winning it all in a stunning triple over time thriller. *chuckle*

Steven, Highlands Ranch, CO (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 12:52 PM)

Oh wow! MSNBC's sexism is unsurprising.
Why don't you do a POLITICAL survey on Obama's and other mens choice of MEN'S underwear?

Alise, PA (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 12:58 PM)

The guys at First Read love them some Obama!
Check the pics at the top of page - there are only men "reporters" at First Read - no women.

Frank, SC (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:00 PM)

Some things are just obvious, and I've posted this before... Why don't we use a good game of basketball between the candidates...and the last one standing after the game wins. LOL Who do you think has the stamina? Who will get all the rebounds? Who will be gentle with the older and female players? Barack has it all - stamina, ability, height and supporters too.

JM08 - Iowa (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:00 PM)

GO MEMPHIS Tigers.. I am telling you all the way.. Yes we came up short against TN. But I know we can win..

Ann (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:01 PM)

Wonder if McCain would know they no longer use peach baskets as the hoops?

Bob Lucas, Pittsburgh, PA (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:02 PM)

great idea Chuck! it's such a long way to go till PA that it's good to see one light hearted day as people from both sides of the aisle and all three campaigns GET ALONG....by the way i have them Heels losing out to Butler and Butler losing to UCLA in the final....the other 2 sopts of the final 4 are Georgetown and Pitt 2 big east teams......we can get back to ripping each other's throats out tomorrow,..thanx again Chuck

Howard Trout Creek, NY (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:04 PM)

I have USC, UCLA, Memphis, and UNC in my Final Four with UCLA beating UNC in the championship. Maybe I reached a little with the USC appearance but hey it's March MADNESS!

C.K. Steele Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:07 PM)

I know why he picked UNC to win, because he is looking for the N carolina vote.

I am just kidding. I picked UNC too!

Nolawi (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:15 PM)

You guys are funny! Most of you are going crazy because he picked a basketball bracket sheet last after the Republican candidate just submitted his bracket days ago. Oh yeah did you happen to catch the colbert report last night. Looks like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robinson did about the same thing right after 911 stating that the country was being punished by god for its gays and lesbians and abortions and that is why we were attacked. The republican nominee disowned the statements just to change his view towards the right wing conservative preacher recently in order to gain more conservative votes. Ironic isn't it!

Vincent Henderson, Mississippi (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:16 PM)

Looks like it will be a landslide victory for John McCain. With Obama discredited - Democrats will nominate Hillary - Blacks will abstain from voting - White men will migrate to McCain.

M, Seth (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:16 PM)

Looks like it will be a landslide victory for John McCain. With Obama discredited - Democrats will nominate Hillary - Blacks will abstain from voting - White men will migrate to McCain.

M, Seth, NY (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:21 PM)

I am confused why the sudden turn against Sen. Obama? He is not the one that said anything. Oh this is guilt by association, now I see. has anyone actually taken the time to really think about the who Rev Wright matter. Now if Sen. Obama has been around Rev Wright over 20yrs and has been elected all the way to the Senate how come none of this came out during those times or addressed? Why now out of the clear blue sky that all of sudden this is an issue? Something just doesn't fit here because I smell a rat in this matter. I just hope the media sniffs this one out.

Anthony, San Diego, Ca (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:34 PM)

Obama is COOL!

Now it is time for Bill and Hillary to say he has a gambling problem, or suggest he is not ready to be Pres because he is focused on basketball too much.

Go Obama!!!

Mike, Dallas (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:35 PM)

Some of you are way to intense. This post was meant to lighten all our our political moods.

Jeez! There are other things going on in the U.S. besides the Democratic Primaries.

Basketball and baseball are American Pasttimes. Relax a bit.

Ready and Willing to Form a More Perfect Union, Chicago, Illinois (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:40 PM)

Finally, a real human being for a president, rather that a political bobble head robot (HRC) or an older gentleman past his time or our current talk from the side of his mouth prez.

I have The Big "O" winning my bracket, gang!

MWM Viet Vet, Tampa, FL (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:43 PM)

Just Can't Wait Until the Election? Vote in Our
2008 Presidential Election Weekly Poll
http://www.votenic.com

Our Poll is Reset Every Week to Give You The Most Accurate, Up-to-Date Poll Possible!

votenic (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:44 PM)

When I get home tonight, I am going to teach my daughter what the word "pandering" means by showing her Barack Obama's NCAA brackett. Pittsburg in the final 4. Suuuuuuuuuuuuuure.

Trev (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:50 PM)

When I get home tonight, I am going to teach my daughter what the word "pandering" means by showing her Barack Obama's NCAA brackett. Pittsburg in the final 4. Suuuuuuuuuuuuuure.

Trev (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:50 PM)

Wow! Give the guy some slack. All work and no play makes Obama a "no fun" presidential candidate. I wouldn't like a prez that's political 100% of the time. He has family, he has friends, he has hobbies, he enjoys sports. If he wants to fill out a bracket, let him do it! He's not doing anything wrong, he's just having fun. Some of the comments on here are lame and I already see that you have no sense of humor or fun in you whatsoever. In the long run, no one will want a robot if you can have a REAL person instead.

Let him loose!

Reggie C, Columbus, OH (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:52 PM)

Cool. Obama In 08!

Mary, Manhattan, New York (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 1:52 PM)

Actually this is important...since sports is a multi-billion dollar industry....Showing an interest in sports and being a 'regular guy'...Hey does this just not contribute to more political spin....In politics...IMAGE IS EVERTYHING!!!

Julie Carrigan (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 2:15 PM)

I think all of us political junkies could use a break.

Blake, Denver, CO (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 2:16 PM)

This is why we love sports ... it makes "friendly" enemies of us all!! Hope all your teams come in first! ;-)

Nice meeting the light side of you ... (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 2:19 PM)

Who cares! The speech of someones minister I know too many that have said dumb and unpatriotic things I still respect them. Now march madness, well this is madness. Hey economics is my concern, health care, this war, social sucurity, education not the dog and pony show of late. Please I don't care where was Hillary was when Bill was running around the white house don't know and don't care. If I wanted to see this I would turn on the Soap channel.

Kirt Kansas City Mo (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 2:21 PM)

In 1-2 weeks the media has done a great job in destroying any progress made in closing the great racial divide with their exhaustive day-in-day-out, 24-7 coverage of Rev. Wright's comments.
Blacks who may have been shocked by his comments, or who could have simply overlooked and ignored them are now being made so angry by the media's character assassination of Obama, his wife, Michelle and yes, even Rev. Wright, that the very anger you heard from Rev. Wright is now being aroused in the younger black generation who previously did not have the anger carried over from the civil rights days.
Angry whites because of Rev. Wright's comments? Well, now you have many more angry blacks than you ever had in the one man of Rev. Wright.

Black people hear the hate-filled comments of the evangelical conservatives and their Rush Limbaugh's and Bill Orielly's everyday. (O’Reillys comment about getting a lynching party together for Michelle Obama, only days after the now President gave a speech talking about the destructive use of the word.) Where was the day-in day-out outrage coverage on that? It was just as offensive in the black community! That kind of tolerated hate language from whites is partially where Rev. Wright’s anger is derived!

The audacity of white people to be so angered and charged by a few snippets of one black preacher with a long history of doing much greater good!!

Dare to be fair and show the totality of the man's life, before it's too late for the damage to be undone!!

Can Barack put it behind him is not the question…can the media put it behind them?
I think not!!

Great job MSNBC, you've done a great service to the people of this country!

Gotta go pick up my Rev.Wright book order!! Thanks for the referral!!

Barack was wrong! This country will not change!

cn (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 2:24 PM)

There is no sexism or favoritism or pandering. This is a fun article relating to a candidate and March Madness. Take it for what it is, and quit being so angry all the time.

A little suggestion for your brackets...USC will make another run

Go Trojans

Andrew, San Diego (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 2:30 PM)

this is a lighter note. refreshing to see the media concentrating on things other than race:)

minneapolis (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 2:33 PM)

Next Clinton Memo: OBAMA IMPLICATED IN ILLEGAL GAMBLING RACKET

Steve, Albuquerque, NM (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 2:44 PM)

obame is to prfect to us presedent .he is more understanding then other polition in you .and way smart then bush and hillry .and mccen.

dut canada (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:41 PM)

Don't forget the Cardinals of Lousville!
Rick Pitino is going to bring it home!!

Darren, Obamaland (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 3:53 PM)

Vincent Henderson wrote:

You guys are funny! Most of you are going crazy because he picked a basketball bracket sheet last after the Republican candidate just submitted his bracket days ago. Oh yeah did you happen to catch the colbert report last night. Looks like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robinson did about the same thing right after 911 stating that the country was being punished by god for its gays and lesbians and abortions and that is why we were attacked. The republican nominee disowned the statements just to change his view towards the right wing conservative preacher recently in order to gain more conservative votes. Ironic isn't it!

_______

Another irony is Colbert showed the video of McCain denouncing and then undenouncing the ministers as well as the ministers in their own words. Bet you won't see that in an endless loop on the MSM.

Come one MSM do your job.

Cheryl, NJ (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 4:00 PM)

So he IS bringing us together.....sports is the ultimate "melting pot". Wonder if HRC picked Temple?

sal, gloucester, nj (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 4:02 PM)

Some people just dont like to see a peson doing well. Obama has a life as well. I'm tried of everyone coming down on him. He one of the most intelligent men ever to walk the face of the earth. Get a life! Go read a book! He has no control over the action or words of others. He is a loyal man. GOSH

Danielle Smith, St. Louis, MO (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 4:03 PM)

Final 4:
McCain (-300) over Huckabee
Clinton (+120) over Obama

Championship:
Clinton (-115) over McCain

Bill C, NYC (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 4:05 PM)

WHY DOESN'T ANYONE THINK OR WRITE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE FACT THAT THE STORIES ABOUT THE MINISTER CAME FROM THE CLINTON CAMP? REMEMBER, THEY ARE GOING TO WIN BY ANY MEANS POSSIBLE!

IRENE, BALTIMORE, MD (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 4:09 PM)

What is everyone's problem?
We have a government that lied and sent over 4000 american soldiers to die. You have senators that have sent american soldiers to die for a lie, and you are not outraged, but you have a person say God damm America--saying it not doing it-- and you are so outraged?
Where is your head and your values? You say you want the truth but you want to hear hipocrisis. You want lies.

voter, sonoma, CA. (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 4:13 PM)

craig from ct.
every now and then you need time away from your job. the country watches march madness. its the their superbowl. relax!!!

deb taylor (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 4:13 PM)

TO ALL,
OFF TOPIC:
AFTER LISTENING AND WATCHING THE MANY PROGRAMS ABOUT REV. WRIGHT. YES WHAT HE SAID WAS WRONG. BUT I THOUGHT WE ARE A COUNTRY WHO FORGIVES. GOD SENT HIS ONLY SON TO THE WORLD FOR OUR SINS. WHO ARE WE NOT TO FORGIVE REV. WRIGHT. AND WHY ARE WE TRYING TO HOLD OBAMA RESPONSIBLE. AS I THINK ABOUT THIS MESS I SAY TO MY SELF WE ALL FALL SHORT BEFORE THE GLORY OF GOD. WHO ARE WE TO CRITIZE OR JUDGE WHEN WE OUR SELVES PROBLABY HAVE SAID THINGS WE ARE NOT PROUD OF. WHEN ANN COULTER TALK BADLY ABOUT THE WIDOWS OF 911 DID THE MEDIA SAY ANYTHING HARSHLY ABOUT HER. HOW LONG JOE SCORBOURGH DID IT TAKE HER TO INSULT THOSE WOMAN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WORSE A MAN LIGHT REV. WRIGHT OR A MAN LIKE BUSH WHO INVADED A COUNTRY AND AS A RESULT OF THAT MANY 18-25 YEAR OLD KIDS DIED AND MANY MORE WERE WOUNDED. AND HE LIED TO COVER EVERYTHING UP. SO LETS PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE. YOU GUYS MAKE ME SICK WITH ALL OF THIS NONSENSE. KNOW WONDER THE TERRIOST WANTS TO KILL US LOOK HOW WE ACT AND TREAT ONE ANOTHER.

PATRICIA

PATRICIA WARD (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 4:27 PM)

Nice attempt at humor, guess it's much easier to report fluff pieces like this than to tackle the real issues like respectable journalists are supposed to do.

Brooke, San Diego CA (Sent Thursday, March 20, 2008 4:31 PM)

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