In an interview with HBO’s Bill Simmons in GQ magazine, President Barack Obama compared how he deals with the pressure of being the leader of the free world to the way Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers manages the stresses of playing the most difficult position in sports.
Asked if he ever feels overwhelmed in his position, Obama gave Simmons a sports analogy.
“Maybe [Aaron] Rodgers in the pocket, in the sense of you can’t be distracted by what’s around you, you’ve got to be looking downfield,” Obama said. “And I think that’s a quality that I have—not getting flustered in what’s around me.”
No, playing quarterback isn’t as important as being President of the United States. If Rodgers takes a sack or throws an interception, the world goes on mostly unimpeded (just don’t tell that to the state of Wisconsin). Almost every decision President Obama makes provides a ripple effect in our global society.
But it’s easy to understand the parallels being made in the President’s comparison.
A two-time MVP of the NFL, Rodgers can often make playing quarterback look easy, despite the chaos of 300-pound defensive linemen all around him and exotic coverages specifically designed to confuse him. It takes a sense of inner calm and confidence to make important decisions with danger coming at you from all angles.
President Obama deals with similar stresses. He must make world-changing decisions every day with political enemies—both domestic and foreign—prepared to pounce on any mistake.
Essentially, President Obama is America’s starting quarterback. Some love him, some hate him, but he’s our QB1 for the time being.
An avid sports fan talking with The Sports Guy, the 44th President was just getting starting with sports references.
After Rodgers, his next mention was Michael Jordan.
“A thing that you’re reminded of, watching those old Bulls games, is Jordan had some stinker games in the playoffs. But he would get that out of his mind, and then the next moment comes and he’s right there. He could have a terrible game for the first three quarters and then suddenly go crazy the fourth. Or he might miss a free throw, and then the next play is he’s stealing the ball and hitting the game-winning shot. Part of what I try to do—not at the level that Jordan did on the basketball court, but part of what you aspire to as president or any of these positions of leadership—is to try to figure out how to be in the moment, make the best decision you can, know that you’re going to get a bunch of them right, but a bunch of times you’re also not going to get it exactly the way you want it.”
Simmons learned more. President Obama has a virtual driving range in the White House, he loves Big Break on the Golf Channel, he’d like to own an NBA team someday, he hasn’t given up on Derrick Rose and he can’t believe NFL commissioner Roger Goodell makes $44 million a year.
Oh, and he’s currently last in the Obama Power Rankings.
“There are clear rankings. Michelle. Malia and Sasha, they’re constantly wrestling for second place. I rank ahead of the dogs.”