the kicker

B-Team Barack Now Bringing A-Game!

Per the Associated Press: Confined to the bench back in his high school basketball days, Barack Obama felt the fierce urgency of now….[But] Obama found himself...
June 17, 2008

Per the Associated Press:

Confined to the bench back in his high school basketball days, Barack Obama felt the fierce urgency of now….[But] Obama found himself stuck behind a couple of veteran forwards.

Thirty years later, as the presidential campaign went into motion, another team stocked with veterans stepped up to compete. Obama resolved to stay off the bench, and his hard-charging ways paid off with victory in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Put him in, America; he’s ready to play! He used to ride the pine; will he soon ride Air Force One? From JV to MVP (and choosing a VP)! From wanna-be baller to gonna-be Decider? From second string to first among equals? From warming the bench to appointing to the bench?

Liz Cox Barrett is a writer at CJR.