Me and OBAMA
And a few announcements
I have the best possible news for you all. The NBA Previews have started to come in, and they will begin on Monday. The plan is to run them two-a-day, one from the East, one from the West. I’m not committing to any order of teams. That will be based on what’s been turned in, and also what should be held back. For example, we should probably wait on Phoenix, just in case something big happens. So, get ready to read about BASKETBALL, the kind that’s played on a court and everything.
Some announcements/items:
You should notice that our homepage has a few additions. The all-new PUNKS section, which is all High School basketball all the time, and there is a survey. If you don’t care for High School basketball, the most interesting part is that we have vintage feature stories from SLAM on there, so you can go back and relive what it was like when LeBron or Amare were in High School.
Also, if you have ever dreamed of seeing a SLAM writer carry the Olympic Torch (The FLAME OF PROMETHEUS for you God of War or Greek mythology fans), then you can go here to vote for Alan Paul.
And now, a little anecdote for which this post is titled. Last night, I was down in the NYU area and it turns out so was a huge Barack Obama rally. So, I watched Obama speak for a while amongst thousands and thousands of NYU kids. I prefer not to talk publicly about politics, mainly because once you put yourself out there like that and it’s clear what side you are on, people have a nice easy way of labeling you as one specific thing, and everything you say will be seen through that prism. Also, it’s an abuse of power of the public forum, moreso than writing about the Mets or Heroes on a basketball site.
But I will say that as an event, it was like a huge rock concert. Obama was the star on stage in front of thousands of young NYU girls, all there to see him. The temptation has to be insane, as a politician is supposed to maintain a front of moral righteousness in front of their adoring masses. Groupies are a big no no. This being a basketball site, I’ll say it’s a lot like the life of a happily married NBA player. Sometimes they have to protect the image of being a nice, marketable, family man. But the temptation must drive them crazy and they all cave in eventually. So I left the rally thinking that Obama really is a rock star. Then I read this just now. There was an after party for a political rally at the 40/40 club. That’s about right.
I got home and told my girlfriend about the whole politician as a rock star thing, and the first words out of her mouth were “It is a huge turn on.” She graduated from GW University, home to famous alumni such as Ben Osborne. Going to college in D.C., she has been to a million of these types of rallies. Suspicious. Very suspicious…
Alright. Busy FRI-DAY! Enjoy the weekend everyone. I have the audacity to hope that the Mets will win one more game than the Phillies and make the playoffs, but it’s just hope. Not confidence. New York has a better shot to win Sunday Night’s Giants-Eagles war.
45 Responses to “Me and OBAMA”
Sep.28 at 8:33 am
white hot eboy says:
Sam, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for the Metsie’s.
Sep.28 at 8:41 am
DeVontae Palmer aka The WONDER BOY says:
love the high school thing you guys got on. Finally I don’t have to go to rivals all the time to get my high school information. play wit it.
Sep.28 at 8:49 am
Keith says:
Hands up who’s relieved basketball is coming back to Slam..
Sep.28 at 8:54 am
white hot eboy says:
Hand up.
Sep.28 at 9:04 am
Dan says:
I would think that “they all cave eventually” is a rather bold generalization, but maybe you deserve it, considering your girlfriend is turned on by 50+-year-old men who preach for acceptance.
Sep.28 at 9:06 am
Cheryl says:
’bout time, it’s been a crazy summer. And Sam, love the “Audacity of Hope” reference you snuck in. I know you like Obama, admit it.
Sep.28 at 9:16 am
K22C says:
I wouldn’t let your wife attend anymore rallies.
Sep.28 at 9:16 am
Ryan Jones says:
There is substantial evidence that Obama is easily the best basketball player among all presidental candidates. Why wouldn’t we like him?
Sep.28 at 9:18 am
Sam Rubenstein says:
Not wife. Girlfriend. But my hand is up higher than anyone elses. I know before I worked here I would rarely come to this site over the offseason. Now that basketball is coming back, our bloggers will have lots of material to write original posts about.
Sep.28 at 9:28 am
white hot eboy says:
Things of Summer of ‘07. The discovery of Ping Ping, Kobe-gate, Vick-gate, Marion-gate, Gorillaface-gate, the discovery of a SLAM staffer that has anorexic tendencies, the emergence of Holly Mackenzie, Sam’s Met’s rage, the startup of dozens of SLAM commentors blogs, anything else?ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Sep.28 at 9:29 am
Lang Whitaker says:
Boy, Sam was fast to clear that wife/girlfriend thing up.
Sep.28 at 9:33 am
mutoni says:
no kidding, lang. that was quicker than the mets’ demise last night.
Sep.28 at 9:43 am
nic says:
oh, mr. ping ping - we hardly knew ye!
Sep.28 at 9:54 am
Captain America says:
Not a donk, but I do like that Obama is energizing the yuths. Personally, the wife has the back bone.
Sep.28 at 10:14 am
Sam Rubenstein says:
just trying to avoid any “YOU GOT MARRIED AND DIDN’T TELL ME!” emails from people reading this. And the Mets went down last night quicker’n Al Bundy.
Good news is that my fall football league starts Sunday, so I can physically take my aggression out on others.
Sep.28 at 10:19 am
white hot eboy says:
I would have said Kelly Bundy, Sam, but’s it’s your world.
Sep.28 at 10:52 am
jbn74sb says:
Things could be worse, Sam. You could be a Braves/ Falcons/ Hawks fan.
Sep.28 at 10:53 am
Ryan Jones says:
Aneroxic Tendencies is my second-favorite ’80s era L.A. hardcore band.
Sep.28 at 10:55 am
white hot eboy says:
Poor Lang. That’s funny, Ryan, I would have pictured you more as a Butthole Surfer’s fan.
Sep.28 at 11:00 am
H to the izzo says:
This is a BASKETBALL site?!I’m leaving.
Sep.28 at 11:15 am
Sam Rubenstein says:
It’s true Lang has some bad teams. Nice of the Braves to treat last night like a playoff game and fall flat on their face in true Braves fashion.
“Quicker ‘n Al Bundy” was a catchphrase from an episode of the show but I don’t remember which one.
Sep.28 at 11:19 am
white hot eboy says:
Sorry to doubt you, Watcher.
Sep.28 at 11:42 am
Ryan Jones says:
Is that what passes for cutting-edge lawyer humor these days, eboy?
Sep.28 at 11:53 am
white hot eboy says:
Ryan, I don’t know, you responded, so you tell me?
Sep.28 at 11:59 am
white hot eboy says:
Ryan, a couple of weeks has passed. Isn’t it about time for another Jones Links post? Give us something to look forward too.
Sep.28 at 12:00 pm
H to the izzo says:
Eboy:Whitesnake?
Sep.28 at 12:02 pm
white hot eboy says:
Izzo, yes, I have one, why?
Sep.28 at 12:03 pm
H to the izzo says:
Wahhaayyyy-thats good family entertainment right there
Sep.28 at 12:05 pm
white hot eboy says:
I guess that’s good old American lawyer humor. Did you even listen? Or were you just sickened by the name?
Sep.28 at 12:08 pm
H to the izzo says:
I know Whitesnake but never really liked them but I’ll give it a go since you mentioned the word blues
Sep.28 at 12:10 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
After I read this I thought to myself…are politician groupies somehow less loose than athlete groupies?? I would say NO….also, i didn’t go to the Obama rally because i had other plans but i’m sure i will attend his next NY appearance. I’m still undecided though. Hillarys’ healthcare plan intrigues me.
Sep.28 at 12:12 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
I meant Hillary’s, my bad. We’re working hard at the SlamDome today.
Sep.28 at 12:14 pm
Tariq says:
Sometimes I wish I was a long-suffering fan like Lang with the Hawks, who last won a chip when Prussia was a world superpower. I have to pick teams to root for based on the players they have that season, like the Pats because of Moss or the Celts because of KG. AOh well, at least I have Barcelona.
Sep.28 at 12:17 pm
white hot eboy says:
T, you might be doing alot of celebrating with the two teams you’re cheering for.
Sep.28 at 12:26 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Did I ever listen to you or the Butthole Sufers? And was I sickened by their name or yours? Gotta be more specific, dude.
Sep.28 at 12:28 pm
jbn74sb says:
eboy - I appreciated your Butthole Surfers crack. Nice work. Step it up Ryan.
Sep.28 at 12:29 pm
white hot eboy says:
Ryan, I wasn’t directing that comment at you, it was for the Irish mongrel. Sorry. And to be sickended by my screen name shows a lack of class. I’d expect better from you.
Sep.28 at 12:29 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I’d much rather read about politics than baseball on here.
Sep.28 at 12:33 pm
jbn74sb says:
I don’t mind reading about politics on here, as long as every post makes reference to a human humidor.
Sep.28 at 1:37 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Sorry. It’s on off day. My gout is acting up.
Sep.28 at 2:04 pm
Boing Dynasty says:
Craig T. Nelson
Sep.28 at 2:29 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
Important update, there is video of the event here: https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/eoq3matchee?match_campaign_id=3
it happens to be a donate to Obama page. I signed up to get emails from his campaign out of curiosity a while ago and they send out emails asking for money literally every single day.
Sep.28 at 4:56 pm
Tarzan Cooper says:
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ah, f#ck it
Sep.30 at 11:24 am
Slobodan Chutzpah says:
I’ve seen Obama speak and I’ll have to agree - he is a rock star. And Sam: they pretty much have to beg for that money, seeing as they are running a campaign budget rivalling the GNP of a medium-sized continent…
Oct.1 at 8:35 pm
MoMONEY says:
Barack played ball back in the day so everyone who like basketball should vote for him….. lol worth a shot