Obama: Sports Fandom and Political Opportunity

Is Obama channeling Marty McFly and his sports almanac, or are his sports bona fides just very strong? It's likely the latter for the former athlete, who is taking First Fandom to another level.

Most former presidents had some type of athletic background, but only a couple of examples parallel Obama's involvement with sports during his administration. President Nixon allegedly helped convince the Washington Redskins to run a reverse. Reacting to the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan, President Carter boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Former President Bush promoted America's pastime by creating the White House Tee Ball initiative in 2001.

President Clinton's role (and vexation) in the 1994 Major League Baseball strike may provide the most important cautionary tale for Obama as the NFL and NBA's collective bargaining agreements approach their expiration in 2011. Neither sport wants to face a lockout or strike, but both have failed to conjure up any solutions.

As a fan and opportunistic politician gearing up for reelection, Obama may consider stepping in to bridge any large gaps, even with Clinton's underachieving precedent. He may not have the power to mend a situation on the spot (this isn't the UN, after all), but any involvement in and recognition of the proceedings could pose benefits. The risk/reward potential would be great given the vast amounts of money and emotion invested in the NFL, NBA, college football, and other American sporting leagues.

Obama hasn't resisted joining such debates before. Halfway through the college football season and even before the election, Obama called for a playoff system to decide the BCS national champion, a proposal which actually made its way to Congress in May.

Obama's nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor has a ties in with sports as well. One of her court decisions ended the aforementioned MLB strike of 1994, which would be nice experience to count on should her Supreme Court nomination be confirmed.

Usually, the only time the president and sports collide is when athletes are invited to the White House to celebrate a recent accomplishment, but the political intrigue of sports is growing along with the power of its corporate sponsors, governing organizations, high-profile players' unions, and vocal fans. As both a fan and shrewd politician, President Obama is likely to engage in current and future clashes in the athletic realm.

Here's hoping his new fellow Democrat Arlen Specter passes along some advice -- or stays far, far away.