Trash Talk Par for Course? Of Course: MJ vs. Obama

November 7, 2014 @ admin → No Comments

Friday fun: A little trash talk (maybe more than a little) has been one of the more entertaining parts of Michael Jordan’s persona — on and off a basketball court. His most recent target was President Barack Obama. More precisely, Obama’s golf game. His Airness recently told Ahmad Rashad in an interview Obama is a “shitty golfer.”

A photo of Michael Jordan or Barack Obama golfing? We prefer Blair O’Neal.

On a Wisconsin radio show Monday, Obama was asked about that characterization. “Mike and I, we know each other, but I’ve never played golf with him,” he said. “Michael wasn’t very well-informed about this. I think he might’ve just been trying to give Ahmad an extra ratings boost on his show. But there is no doubt that Michael is a better golfer than I am. Of course, if I was playing twice a day for the last 15 years, then that might not be the case.”

And furthermore: “He might want to spend more time thinking about the Bobcats … or the Hornets.” Or whatever the Charlotte franchise is called these days. At last look, it is Hornets. As in the 2-3 Hornets, who are two games behind the Chicago Bulls who are tied for first at 4-1 in the Eastern Conference. Regardless of nickname, the Charlotte franchise under MJ’s ownership generally includes the adjective “struggling.”

* Speaking of the Bulls, they play Friday at Philadelphia and Saturday at home against the Boston Celtics. In that the 76ers are the only winless team in the Eastern Conference (at 0-5), you’d think the Bulls could rest Derrick Rose whether center Joakim Noah is healthy or not. The thought of Rose playing back-to-back games on bad ankles (or even if it’s merely one bad ankle) is painful to process. Literally, figuratively, any way you want to look at it.

* Speaking of painful, some (if not most or all) Cubs fans were feeling some pain (as in anguish) that Los Angeles’ Adrian Gonzalez and not the Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo was named the Silver Slugger Award winner at first base for the National League. Yes, Rizzo had a better batting average (.286 6o .276) and a better on-base percentage (.386 to .335, thanks to more walks — 73 to 56) in fewer at-bats (523 to 596 for Gonzalez). Not to mention Rizzo had more home runs (32 to 27). But Gonzalez drove in more runs (116 to 78). Gonzalez also had more doubles (41 to 28). Run production would seem a major factor.

* Speaking of overlooked Cubs, shortstop Starlin Castro led NL players at that position with a .292 batting average. He also had 65 runs batted in and 14 home runs. The Silver Slugger Award winner? Washington’s Ian Desmond (.255 batting average, 24 homers, 91 RBI).

* Speaking of Silver Slugger Awards, the White Sox had two in the American League: first baseman Jose Abreu and shortstop Alexei Ramirez. Meaning the Sox continue to lead the Cubs in postseason awards (thanks in no small part to Abreu and his continuing rookie of the year honors), while the Cubs lead the Sox in media coverage.

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Here is where to go for non-gratuitous video (thanks to the energized efforts of the video departments at ElliottHarris.com):