Baller-in-Chief

From a piece on Politico.com:

When we tracked down Johnson at Friday’s Radio & Television Correspondents’ Dinner, we asked him not only to assess President Barack Obama’s basketball skills, but whether he thinks he could school Obama on the court.

The answer?

Editor’s Note: Is big skunkitude wise?  Are there not many ways to skunk, and be skunked?  Who is the Skunker-in-Chief?  Does not he who skunks last, skunk best?

By Claude Johnson

In my opinion the recent comments by Kevin Johnson about how he would “skunk” Barack Obama in a game of basketball make him seem arrogant, selfish, and insecure.

He’s trying to show his competitive side, and I get that.  But without charm nor diplomacy he may not get very far in achieving his bigger, more important goals.

With these comments it’s as if Johnson is overcompensating.  It raises questions.

Instead, he could have taken a coaching-style approach.

“We could play, and I would likely beat him because my skills are still very good, after all I was a professional, an All Star, at a whole different level than a pickup player,” Johnson could have said.  “But what I’d rather do is work with him on some of the skills he wants to improve, and maybe in return for that he’ll look favorably on Sacramento.”

K.J., you were one of my favorite N.B.A. players.  But do you see how that sounds quite different but gets the same point across AND serves your city?