Obama Talks Jeremy Lin, College Football Playoff On Bill Simmons Podcast

-- President Barack Obama gives his seal of approval to a college football playoff, plans to welcome his hometown Chicago Bulls to the White House as NBA champions sometime in the next "five years" and says he's "been on the Jeremy Lin bandwagon for a while."

In an interview at the White House set to be posted as a podcast Thursday on Grantland.com, Obama was asked how often he hoped to welcome the Bulls as NBA champions.

"Every year," Obama said. "And it hasn't happened yet, but it will happen."

Asked if that was meant as a guarantee, Obama replied: "Well, I've got another five years here," causing interviewer Bill Simmons to note the implied guarantee that Obama would be re-elected in November.

Called on it, the president laughed and said: "Somewhere along the line, my Bulls are going to come through here. Absolutely."

The President also said he would prefer to see an eight-team major college football playoff rather than the four-team one that is being considered, but called four "a good place to start."

As for Lin, Obama says Secretary of Education Arne Duncan tipped him off while the two played basketball together.

"He said, `I'm telling you, we've got this terrific guard named Jeremy Lin at Harvard,'" said Obama, himself a Harvard alum.

"And then one of my best friends, his son is a freshman at Harvard, and so when he went for a recruiting trip he saw Lin in action. So I've been on the Jeremy Lin bandwagon for a while."

Comments

[plansmaker]

02:10 PM on 03/01/2012

If President is such of fan of Linsanity then how come, he done nothing to help Jeremy Lin to secure a spot with Chicago Bulls? One phone call will do the trick...just sayin.

[plansmaker]

02:05 PM on 03/01/2012

If POTUS has been on Linsanity Bandwagon, how come he did nothing to help Jeremy Lin to secure a spot with BULLS?...He can do it easily by one phone call...

[mem1951]

08:42 AM on 03/01/2012

I am a Republican and, by the rules of politics, I must disagree with our President. While I am in favor of a College Football Playoff and agree that four teams are a good place to start, I have to confess that a 16-team would be my preference, with each conference champion and wild card teams (independents and best records) rounding out the 16 teams. This would give a better representation of all College Football teams and build toward an equality of athletic programs. With each team having the possibility of reaching the "big game" and getting media attention, their recruiting should improve.

As for the Bulls, Lin and, dare I say it, Tebow, only time will tell.

Re-election? Chances are I will vote against him. But, if he didn't think he could be re-elected, he shouldn't run. Confident, witty, and a Sports fan. Not bad personality traits.

By the way, Stormtrooper (see below), everyone deserves some time off, especially to talk football. And, who is interviewer Bill Simmons anyway? Lighten up, and enjoy life.

Have a great day!!

[LzyStormtrooper]

07:14 AM on 03/01/2012

cue the "why isn't he doing his job?" complaints and declarations from republicans that they are now done with Bill Simmons