March Madness is in full force here in North Carolina and everyone is talking about their brackets and office pools, and Tar Heel fans like me are fretting about our point guard Ty Lawson's hurt toe and trying to figure out how to leave work early for the Heels' first game on Thursday afternoon.
I have to say, seeing President Obama's bracket makes me very happy! I haven't finished filling my bracket out yet but I'm going to pick UNC to go all the way too. :)
Go Heels!
Presidential Pick 'Em At the White House (story and photo from ESPN)
"The most powerful person in the world is like many of you: He predicts the Tar Heels will be cutting down the nets in Detroit.
"I'm going with experience, and I think that Lawson is going to be healthy. I think having an experienced point guard who can control the game and make free throws at the end, that's going to be the difference," Obama said.
The commander in chief then turned to an ESPN camera, offering this pep talk for coach Roy Williams' crew:
"Now, for the Tar Heels who are watching, I picked you all last year -- you let me down. This year, don't embarrass me in front of the nation, all right? I'm counting on you. I still got those sneakers you guys gave me."
I love his little pep talk! I guess the Tar Heels gave him some sneakers when he played ball with them during the campaign. His bracket looks pretty good!
And in other Hoops news, Forbes Magazine also ranks the Tar Heels Number One: The Most Valuable College Basketball Team
If you're scratching your head about what I'm talking about, here you go: :)
Comments (19)
Oh, oh - someone has already succumbed to the March madness:-) IF the BC Eagles are eliminated, I'll cheer for your tarheels, ok?
Posted by menehune | March 18, 2009 4:06 PM
Posted on March 18, 2009 16:06
Hi M, sounds like a plan. :) I've got BC winning one game and then losing to Michigan St. :)
Posted by Annie | March 18, 2009 4:17 PM
Posted on March 18, 2009 16:17
So sorry our Seminoles beat UNC in the ACC game. On to bigger and better things for both teams. Good luck at the Big Dance.
Posted by jgk | March 18, 2009 4:24 PM
Posted on March 18, 2009 16:24
Annie, I enjoyed reading this post even thought I don't follow sports anymore. Watched the ESPN video. Barack-Etology? Love it!
Posted by María I. | March 18, 2009 7:24 PM
Posted on March 18, 2009 19:24
Jan, I didn't know you were an FSU fan! I was pulling for you guys to beat Dook last weekend, oh well. Good luck in the tourney!
Maria, they were talking about Baracketology on the ABC national news tonight, it was cracking me up!
Posted by Annie | March 18, 2009 8:42 PM
Posted on March 18, 2009 20:42
Very interesting, I wondered where the nickname Tar Heels came from. And a wonderful pep talk from the prez himself!
Posted by sandrac | March 18, 2009 9:47 PM
Posted on March 18, 2009 21:47
I saw something in the internet this morning on Obama making picks but didn't have time to read it because I had to leave for work. I checked your blog at lunch and had to laugh. I didn't have time to comment though since I have a short lunch on Wednesdays.
I am now home watching the news and the ABC Baracketology clip is on literally as I am typing this!! Love what he said about why he had to pick Duke but that no way will the go all the way. Woohoo!!! Tar Heels to win!! He is cracking me up. Go Tar Heels!! Please keep us up on this (for those of us not following this closely).
Posted by girasoli | March 18, 2009 11:54 PM
Posted on March 18, 2009 23:54
Sandra, "Obama Picks the Heels" was the headline in our local paper today too!
Girasoli, I thought he was funny too. I liked listening to his rationale for his picks. He's a serious fan! I hope my Heels don't let him down. :)
Posted by Annie | March 19, 2009 8:19 AM
Posted on March 19, 2009 08:19
Hi Annie, great post! And it is very cool how Obama picked your Tar Heels to win. From reading the article, he really knows the game and the teams very well! Go Heels!
Posted by Kathy (Trekcapri) | March 19, 2009 9:01 AM
Posted on March 19, 2009 09:01
Thanks Kathy. He's really into it, I could tell by his comments too. I hope he's right about the Heels!
Posted by Annie | March 19, 2009 2:44 PM
Posted on March 19, 2009 14:44
Annie, I am going with the Tar Heels too, even though I grew up in Michigan, outside of Detroit.
Posted by candi | March 19, 2009 4:27 PM
Posted on March 19, 2009 16:27
Hi Candi, so who did you pull for when you lived there...Michigan or Michigan St.?
Posted by Annie | March 19, 2009 6:02 PM
Posted on March 19, 2009 18:02
Great post,Annie. Hope they go all the way!
Posted by sheri | March 19, 2009 10:18 PM
Posted on March 19, 2009 22:18
Annie,
I was married (way back when) to a guy who went to UNC, and we visited the Chapel Hill campus together - I love it there!
Anyway, I have been a UNC fan all thru the Dean Smith years - he was a great coach and a real gentleman.
Posted by nancyhol | March 20, 2009 12:46 AM
Posted on March 20, 2009 00:46
Sheri, thanks!
Nancy, that is so cool that you've been to UNC! I hope to go over there sometime this spring and take some pictures and do a blog post about that beautiful campus.
And Dean Smith is one of my all-time heroes - I love him!
Posted by Annie | March 20, 2009 7:43 AM
Posted on March 20, 2009 07:43
Guess he didn't do so well betting against my UCLA, oh well for him. I can't get into it this year for some reason.
Posted by Marcia | March 20, 2009 2:46 PM
Posted on March 20, 2009 14:46
I am clueless about sports but if both my friend Annie and my wannabe friend the president pick this team, I will root for them!
Posted by Chiocciola | March 20, 2009 11:44 PM
Posted on March 20, 2009 23:44
Annie, Michigan of course:)
I am a Go Blue girl all the way. More of a football than basketball fan though. Although, my team has been having rough couple years after being oh just so good.
Maybe this year,they'll pull through for me.
Posted by candi | March 21, 2009 1:30 AM
Posted on March 21, 2009 01:30
Marcia, I entered his bracket into my office pool and he's doing okay but not great. :)
Chiocciola, okay you are officially a Tar Heel fan now!
Candi, I'm definitely more a hoops fan than a football fan, but I pull for Carolina in both. Hope your team has a good year.
Jan and Menehune, sorry to see that your teams are out. It's pretty amazing how quickly this tourney goes from 64 to 16 teams. I hope my Heels will make it into the Sweet Sixteen this afternoon.
Posted by Annie | March 21, 2009 10:38 AM
Posted on March 21, 2009 10:38