Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 at 10:00 am  |  52 responses

Obama’s Day Started With a Hoops Game, Ended in History

by Marcel Mutoni

I know that I’m supposed to talk about the news and rumors of the Association in this space, and I will. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to discuss the truly historic event that took place last night.

Barack Obama began his day on a basketball court, specifically, one made famous by Michael Jordan. And the mood in the gym, understandably, was a serious one. Evidently, some of MJ’s winning karma rubbed off on him.

Like many of you, I spent the evening glued to the television in a room full of friends, watching in near disbelief as this great man decisively took the most important office in the world, forever changing America.

Pictures were taken; hugs were given out; hope was restored for all. Oh, and did I mention that I live in Canada? That’s how significant this was. We were all witnesses to history.

I’ll now turn back my attention to the NBA, where a trip to the White House will have extra meaning for the championship teams in the next few years. Just ask Rondo.

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  • KILLIANC14 Posted: Nov.5 at 10:05 am
    first!

  • k.o. Posted: Nov.5 at 10:14 am
    a truly historic day – congratulations to all the American folk who made a difference yesterday!

  • underdog Posted: Nov.5 at 10:15 am
    44th

  • Yknot Posted: Nov.5 at 10:17 am
    Not even the Iverson trade can wipe the smile off my face today!!!!

  • Mendel Posted: Nov.5 at 10:21 am
    Yeah like youn said, do your job

  • arthur Posted: Nov.5 at 10:23 am
    Congratulations America

  • real deal Posted: Nov.5 at 10:24 am
    the question is, will he still have time to work on his game now that he busy cleaning up bush’s mess?? also is basketball now america’s/world’s sport??

  • Mo Charlo Posted: Nov.5 at 10:29 am
    He did say he was going to rip out the bowling alley in the white house and replace it with a basketball court.

  • Young Chris MP3 Posted: Nov.5 at 10:33 am
    Too bad MJ’s winning karma can’t rub off on the team that plays there most often… and in all seriousness, I just hope this is the right move for the country right now. I have been pretty vocal here on my lack of genuine support for either candidate, and while I firmly believed McCain would be the best candidate to handle certain situations (such as the ongoing wars and how to end them properly), Obama seems like a genuine person who wants to do well. My one knock on him is his ego, so I’m hoping he can humbly do the best job for the country.

  • Lz - Cphfinest3 Posted: Nov.5 at 10:54 am
    To all you Americans who voted for Obama. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You’ve made the rest of us believe in a brighter future for the US. Congratulations! Sincerly Yours Lz – Cphfinest3 (now if Stern could just stop stacking his cash and allow Allen to wear #3 everything would be swell).

  • Fredd Posted: Nov.5 at 10:58 am
    On the internet there was a vote from 212 countries , Obama winner with more than 85 % … it is so incredible … this guy has to be president of the World haha … I mean, that’s pretty dangerous too, .. to raise so many expectations … Hope he’ll do good choices.

  • overtime Posted: Nov.5 at 11:23 am
    Over here in the UK, the election stuff was on past midnight to six in the morning, and i still know heaps of people glued to the tv

  • James aka the artisst formerly known as Krayzie Bone Posted: Nov.5 at 11:25 am
    I shed tears of joy as 11 p.m. approached. I was streaming msnbc on my computer and watching CBC. I knew that as soon as the polls closed on the west coast that they were going to call it at that moment because the exit polls and polling leading up to the election showed such wide gaps in those states and because that had been the networks practice for safe states all night. When Ohio was called, that was the end of the game, but they didn’t say so, probably because it would interfere with voting in the rest of the country.

  • T. Posted: Nov.5 at 11:28 am
    That office is no longer the most important office there is… The sun is setting on America and rising in the East. Which is crappy fot you guys. So let’s see what will happen in China and focus on changes there.

  • thesubwayconnection Posted: Nov.5 at 12:00 pm
    I watched from Canada, too. I can’t say that I was surprised though. Ecstatic, yes. Surprised, no.

  • Krishan Posted: Nov.5 at 12:01 pm
    Hell, mutoni I live in the philippines and his speech nearly brought me to tears. This is a great, great event not only in american history, but possibly the entire world’s. Congratulations USA.

  • mat smith Posted: Nov.5 at 12:04 pm
    Im in UK and stayed up all night to watch, just so pleased the right decision was made!

  • BETCATS Posted: Nov.5 at 12:07 pm
    YES WE CAN!

  • B. Long Posted: Nov.5 at 12:17 pm
    Thank you, Jesus.

  • casey Posted: Nov.5 at 11:34 am
    OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES!

  • Krishan Posted: Nov.5 at 11:37 am
    I heard there was a will.i.am hologram in cnn. would anyone deny/confirm this possibly awesome occurence?

  • Khalid Salaam Posted: Nov.5 at 12:20 pm
    I’ll write a column tomorrow guys. I’m still in shock.

  • Cizzo Posted: Nov.5 at 12:25 pm
    Let’s build off this monumental event, on personal note i am proud to be an American finally, and to be apart of history nothing that ever happened in my past can live up to this moment. And President Elect Barack H. Oboma[It feels good to say that] aceptance speech was the most brilliant dispaly of public speaking I ever heard. U.S.A.

  • albie1kenobi Posted: Nov.5 at 12:27 pm
    i think world just got a little happier today. how are the world’s stock prices?

  • what Posted: Nov.5 at 12:51 pm
    Poor Spencer Hawes.

  • Holy Baller Posted: Nov.5 at 1:09 pm
    Sounds like I’m the only negative person here. I just want people to focus on the president and what he plans on doing, not on the first black president of the Unites States. Let’s get over the history. It’s like Black Pride day today. I just hope he does the right thing. Let’s hope he meant everything he said about reform.

  • Holy Baller Posted: Nov.5 at 1:10 pm
    And I’m sorry if I offended anyone, I’m not trying to be racist. I just want people to focus on the president himself and quit making eveything so racial.

  • Young Chris MP3 Posted: Nov.5 at 1:13 pm
    In other news, google “anti-christ” in the news section and it’s pretty awful how quickly some media can spin this thing.

  • kadavour Posted: Nov.5 at 1:38 pm
    okay T., remind us to be ecstatic when China elects it’s first black president or dragon king or whatever the hell they have over there

  • albie1kenobi Posted: Nov.5 at 2:04 pm
    i think more people are happy that a competent president who share our ideals is elected, rather than happy about a “historical” president. maybe using the word competent is jumping the gun, but i believe in this person a lot more than the guy who’s on his way out of the oval office.

  • albie1kenobi Posted: Nov.5 at 2:08 pm
    put it in basketball term, i’m sure more people are happy about a somewhat unproven new coach/GM stepping in when the last coach/GM has monumentally screwed up the team’s chemistry/personnel/finance. it offers hope and different direction. will it always pan out? no, but hope is a powerful thing that can make things happen.
    unless it’s d’anotoni/walsh replacing isiah…

  • remo williams Posted: Nov.5 at 2:38 pm
    YO Krishan!!
    check it:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deoOTqT-SMI help us Obama Wan Kenobi… you’re our only hope.

  • Froggiestyle Posted: Nov.5 at 4:04 pm
    Obama – a lock for 2 terms – ya heard it here first brothers – we all bros with brer obama

  • Allenp Posted: Nov.5 at 4:13 pm
    Holy Baller
    Obama’s win is so special because he is black. That’s it.
    People who don’t grasp how amazing the achievement of electing a black president is for this entire country are really missing out. By trying remove race from this historic day, they are cheapening the accomplishments of this country.
    People who read this website know I have shown cynicsm in the past, but his is truly an amazing day for America. Look, it says something that so many people of so many different races and beliefs supported a black man to be the symbol of this country. Despite all the issues I still have with this country, this is a time of rejoicing for how much we have truly progressed.
    Americans did something Tuesday that we have never EVER done before. That’s a reason for joy. Yet, if we don’t deal with why this moment is special, the fact that Obama is black, how can we really appreciate it?

  • Froggiestyle Posted: Nov.5 at 4:21 pm
    Allen – today we can respectfully agree to disagree. Barack is a world citizen – and everyone gets to claim a piece. Trust me. The Muslim brothers here in france see themselves in him. African americans see themselves in him. There’s a party hosted by casts from the Congo for Barack this weekend here in the S. of France. Indonesians see themselves in him. Followers of muhamed the world over feel the same. And REAL americans whose ancestors came to the country with little or nothing also feel the same way. Its way bigger than any one group – he’s truly a citizen of the world and the world is testifying right now. But we can all share – that’s for sure.

  • That Dude Posted: Nov.5 at 4:50 pm
    Well said Froggiestyle What an amazing day in history

  • Young Chris MP3 Posted: Nov.5 at 5:08 pm
    I think Froggiestyle just jumped the gun a little bit. Maybe there is something to this “Obama as the Messiah” thing, after all

  • Hursty Posted: Nov.5 at 5:25 pm
    This is one great, big, massive leap forward for the world. People were cheering and shouting in the classroom when we found out the Obama was going to win. Some people evern started crying.
    I dont think people really realise how much it means to all the people outside of the US that the right bloke got chosen this time around. Regardless of race (which is also super important) the right man got chosen yesterday.

  • Allenp Posted: Nov.5 at 5:26 pm
    Froggie
    You are right about the world citizen thing. Good point.
    I was just discouraged that so many people are upset about the racial angle of many of the discussions about Obama’s victory.
    It would not be as big a deal around the world if John Edwards was standing where Obama is standing. It might be if Hillary Clinton was there, but maybe not.
    It’s such a big deal to so many people because Obama looks so different from the people who have typcially been elected president in this country. So his race is important.

  • Hursty Posted: Nov.5 at 5:29 pm
    *that

  • Jess Posted: Nov.5 at 5:29 pm
    I was watching in Canada too. It is amazing how much interest there was to the people around the world that couldnt even cast their vote. I was so glad that I witnessed history last night – and extremely proud that America made the right decision – thank you. Change we can believe in.

  • Hursty Posted: Nov.5 at 5:30 pm
    True Allenp.

  • Young Chris MP3 Posted: Nov.5 at 5:55 pm
    I believe that, with the right group of advisers, Obama can be a great president for this country. His inexperience and apparent ego throw up warning signs for sure, but if he surrounds himself with a solid, experienced cabinet (which I’m reading he is in the process of doing as he is looking at hiring more than a few of President Clinton’s advisers), and if he can put the country’s interests first, then he very possibly can get things done. President Obama has made many promises over the past year and a half now since beginning his run to the White House, hopefully he can understand that not everything will get done, and for the things that he will accomplish, patience is a virtue.

  • Young Chris MP3 Posted: Nov.5 at 6:00 pm
    I really hope he keeps the Clintons involved, at least during his first term as he gets a handle on things. World dictators and terrorist leaders surely are licking their chops with the election’s outcome, as Obama is perhaps the greenest elect in history (although JFK very well can be considered the same) and in this time where we are not only in two wars, but have so many fragile relationships, our leader needs to be fearless and prepared to do the job at hand. Even Biden has gone on record to say that Obama needs to be prepared to take on a major terrorist threat within his first six months in office.

  • LA Huey Posted: Nov.5 at 6:25 pm
    I want to thank SLAM for acknowledging the amazing event even though this isn’t a political forum. It is historical and inspiring. The first President (well, I don’t know for sure) to whom basketball is his favorite sport. I believe there’s an extra bonus to winning the ’09 chip.

  • balla Posted: Nov.5 at 7:34 pm
    on tv someone said obama’s only weakness is that he cant shoot with his left hand.

  • Scotnasty Posted: Nov.6 at 5:07 am
    For those who worry about Obama’s lack of experience…it could have been worse. McCain could have won, and not made it through the first term (Not even to the starting line).
    But does anyone remember that the only two elections Abraham Lincoln ever won were the 1860 and 1864 presidential elections? If memory serves, I believe he had some major crises to handle…

  • jay Posted: Nov.6 at 8:48 am
    plasticman!

  • LexaB Posted: Nov.6 at 9:17 am
    Just one thing. Marcel wrote : “This great man decisively took the most important office in the world”. As much as I love Obama and the US, I’m just sick and tired of all those “most important office in the world” talks!!!! Just go spend some months in China, like I did, and you’ll realize the White House really is the second most important office in the world. Down there, there’s a man called Hu Jintao who runs a country of 1.3 billion people all ready to follow every words he says, to goi any direction he points at!!! All that in a land where economy’s still growing at some unbelievable rates!!!! Thats real power, folks. Horrible power, yes, terrible power, yes, power that don’t make you want to live there for any reason, yes, but still lot more than US president’s power!!! Sad reality but… reality.

  • Young Chris MP3 Posted: Nov.6 at 12:04 pm
    LexaB: America is the most powerful and richest country in the world. THAT is why this is the most important office in the world.

  • LexaB Posted: Nov.6 at 3:23 pm
    @Young Chris MP3 : I kinda agree man. America is the most powerful and richest country in the world… RIGHT NOW. But when you’ve seen Beijing, how that city grows, and when you saw what the Chinese are willing to do for Hu Jintao (basically… anything, including going nearly all to war if he asks them), you understand power is not always weapons and money!! And you realize that when they’ll have weapons and money, who’s gonna mess with China??? Nobody. Ever. Even right now. American politicians know that for a fact. But dont misunderstand me : the US of A are the biggest and most powerful democracy in the world and nobody with some brains could make an argument about living in the repressive country that is China over living in America. But that doesnt mean we have to be blind. China grows more huge every f*cking day and that wont stop soon!!!

  • LexaB Posted: Nov.6 at 3:24 pm
    But enough with those political considerations… lets talk b’ball bros!!!

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