Holder: I Can't Beat Obama On Basketball Court But I Can "Hang With Him"

Holder: I Can't Beat Obama On Basketball Court But I Can "Hang With Him"

A lighter moment during Eric Holder's confirmation came early on in the proceedings, when the Attorney General nominee compared his prowess on the basketball court to the much renowned skills of the president-elect.

Asked by the Senator Herb Kohl to beat Obama in a game of one-on-one (Holder played basketball in high school), the A.G.-nominee reminded the crowd in the Russell Senate Office building that he faced a pretty large age and experience gap.

"Senator Kohl, he's ten years younger than me," said Holder. "He plays a lot more frequently than I do. Having said that, I got a New York City game. I come from the city that produced Connie Hawkins, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, and Tiny Archibald. I learned how to play ball at P.S. 127 in Queens. If you give me a little time and space to get back in shape, I think I can hang with him. I don't think I will ever be in the position to defeat him, nor do I think it would be wise to do so."

At which point, Chairman Patrick Leahy jumped in to declare: "That is the first time that question has ever been asked."

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