Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski was asked about President Obama's NCAA picks yesterday and his comments are drawing criticism from the left and the right over what he really meant.
(KRTPHOTOS/NEWSCOM)Photos (1 of 1)
Is Duke’s Coach K really upset with President Obama?
By Jimmy Orr | 03.19.09
So is Coach K really criticizing President Obama?
Well, depending on what website you go to this morning, you could sure read it that way.
The right side of the web is pointing to comments Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski made yesterday as kind of a slap-down on the president.
They’re saying that the coach was being critical of the president’s interest in the tournament when there are more pressing matters at hand.
Fun?
Is it that or was Coach K having some fun because the Big O didn’t select Duke to go deep? Further, he picked Duke’s nemesis, the University of North Carolina, to win it all.
FOX News played it up with this headline: “Duke coach to Obama: Worry about the economy, not NCAA picks”
And they reported the coach’s comments this way:
“Somebody said that we’re not in President Obama’s Final Four, and as much as I respect what he’s doing, really, the economy is something that he should focus on, probably more than the brackets,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said from the Blue Devils’ first-round site in Greensboro, N.C.
Gray Lady
The New York Times captured the same quote but called it a “lighthearted moment.”
But since they have zero cred with the right, we’ll dismiss them for now.
Media Matters
The guys over at Media Matters, admittedly a watchdog for the left, say media outlets are leaving something out — like what the coach said next.
They write:
“But Krzyzewski was smiling as he said that, and his very next words — not reported by the AP or Fox — were ‘Why would i care about that? I love the guy, and I think he’s gonna be great.’”
Video
Media Matters has no credibility with the right either. And FOX News has no credibility with the left. So who’s right?
You gotta watch the video. Our verdict is that the coach was just having some fun.
UPDATE:
President Obama was asked about Coach K’s remarks today in an interview with radio talk show host, Ed Schultz. The Atlantic reports that Obama wasn’t surprised that Duke’s coach didn’t like his NCAA picks.
<< Obama: It’s like AIG has a bomb strapped to them | Main“Coach K, I think, is a great coach, and you know Reggie Love, my assistant, played for Coack K, and so, you know, it’s not surprising–I didn’t take them to go to the finals. Look, you know, he’s a competitive guy. I just don’t think they’ve got the inside game to go all the way, but I look forward to him proving me wrong.”
Comments
3. otay | 03.19.09
President BO has opened his koolaid stand for March Madness. Economy…for which team does he play?
4. switzerland | 03.19.09
Does it matter? The pundits on each side will take it as best suits their spin. Coach K is one of the premeir basketball coaches , at any level. He may use this to motivate his team or dismiss it for what it truly is, a media event.
5. zenphobic | 03.19.09
oh, okay. obama caused the bank collapse. he’s had a couple months and bush had 8 years. six of which he has detained people with no reresentation. but liberals are against free speach. typical conservative just making things up as you go. i wish republicans would just sit back and let liberals fix things. you will be able to mess up the country again in 8 years.
6. switzerland | 03.19.09
as for the sailor…Obama inherited this mess…he did not create it but then again, you probably believe that he led us into Iraq without provocation
9. OldGuy | 03.19.09
If O’Bummer picks his teams the same way he is trying to fix the
economy, I figure Duke will win it all!
11. Go Duke | 03.19.09
Hey, Zenphobic, your right, Bush did detain people at gitmo…but lets not forget they are enemy combatants (i know i know, to strong of language for liberals) and they conspired to blow up buildings and kill 3,000 Americans. (again, i know i know, facts and logic, too complicated for liberals)
12. OldSailor | 03.19.09
Boy, Fox Fiction Network sure is playful with context these days:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv0ge6ltyLA
The context:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7CRDSZ3Pl4
13. Go Duke | 03.19.09
Hey switzerland, Obama wanted this mess, he did ask to be the democratic candidate correct? So quit crying about it.
15. Paul | 03.19.09
Parties at the white house, trips in air force one at 600000 at least a trip just to scare the people, the dude doesn’t have the time to pick brackets.
16. Mark Dalgren | 03.19.09
Bush created the banking debacle? Someone needs to explain how lowering taxes on the wealthy and business caused banks to fail.
On the other hand, Frank and Dodd were WARNED over and over again by McCain and the Bush administration that the banks were being forced to make loans that were highly probable to not be repaid.
Banks and big business didn’t fail because of the Iraq war, afghanistan or lower taxes. They failed due to the liberal democrats (and HUGE recipients of AIG and other money - # 1 being Dodd, #2 being Obama) forcing Freddie and Fannie, among others, to grant risky loans.
The president doesn’t create or pass legislation. He can simply veto the same when under 66% of the congress is not unified to overturn his veto.
Bush was not perfect and made many mistakes. But to try and blame the banking issue on Bush or his administration is ridiculous and shows one is uninformed. The proof is in the liberal Bush haters above bringing up the issue of the war, etc in regards to the banking failure.
Obama needs to follow through on what he promised. Actually read the legislation he signs, post it online 5 days in advance and to bring the transparency he promised. The TARP bailout is screwed up because he, and his dem friends, pushed through the passing of the legislation without reading the damn bill. On top of this, the dems who crafted this legislation weren’t bright enough to consider bonuses, salaries, etc in their financial package.
We want these same people controlling healthcare? Fire Geithner and lets move onto someone with credibility.
Mark
17. Matt | 03.19.09
sailor: Umm…Exactly where do you see anyone (liberal or otherwise) challenging his right to free speech here? All I see are arguments over whether this was a condemnation of Obama or a light-hearted remark.
18. This Guy | 03.19.09
No one said Obama created the mess, but he is making a bigger mess! He has backed out on all the promises he made. When did Obama read them stimulous line by line, when did the public get 5 days to critique it, Iraq war well that turned into longer. The list goes on. Liberals dont fix anything!
19. Deniro11 | 03.19.09
lets see russia starting trouble-china giving are navy ships trouble-Iran and its nuclear program -unrest in Pakistan-unemployment-soaring prices-spending are future -hiring income tax cheats in his cabinet -a treasury Sec in bed with AIG and other big banks-not to forget the extra ($13) bucks Americans get and this Idiot is worried about the (NCAA)he has no clue
20. Jason in Winnipeg | 03.19.09
Duke still sucks.
Glad to see you guys have a human president. One that is allowed to make NCAA picks if he wants.
The people telling him to concentrate on the economy are idiots.
22. Joel | 03.19.09
President Bush spent 40% of his presidency away from the White House, often clearing brush or riding a bicycle around. 40%! We were AT WAR AT THE TIME…but no one on the right was complaining about Bush needing to focus more on al-Qaida. I mean, he gave up golf to support the troops what a stand up guy.
23. bpe-dsm | 03.19.09
- Obama is making a mess of the economy -
Remember how great the economy was before he took office?
no? me either. This revisionist time travel where the economy tanked because of Obama but also predates or occurs simultaneously with the inauguration is some great sci-fi, but hardly factual.
24. Randy | 03.19.09
“Hope and Change” was a marketing ploy that worked. It meant something different to every person who heard it. It addressed all fears and issues in words, but nothing in actuality.
Obama has already spent, in his first sixty days, 12 times what the ENTIRE Iraq War cost.
He has not even come close to keeping his word.
Read all legislation? Whoops!
Post perspective legilation online for the public to read? Whoops.
Wait, am I for or against Prop 8? Gay Marriage?
Am I for or against Stem Cell research?
He is so speech/teleprompter oriented that it’s scary. Yesterday he thanked himself! Today he said he’s going to be on Letterman, but it’s Leno. Then he visited 57 states! If Bush had made these statements, the media would have been ALL over what an idiot he was. Just as they were about Bush’s education, until his transcripts were released and he had a higher GPA than Kerry at the same University in virtually the same years.
Liberal ideas tend to work and look great on paper. They want control how others live their lives. Set the laws, the protocol, the norm. Problem is, the don’t agree with anyone but about the population bases of six or seven cities in America.
The last two months have been a disaster and it’s only getting worse. At least we have the “outside the beltway” change Obama promised in Holder, Biden, Clinton, Panetta, etc. Sure Obama, their new to Washington.
Lie as much as necessary to get elected by the people uninformed enough to believe you.
Randy
25. Laker | 03.19.09
coach K is a lot more intelligent than to let something like this get to him. Have fun people. It’s only a game. The sun will still rise in the east no matter who wins or loses, even if Duke goes out in the first round (LOL)
26. Mark Dalgren | 03.19.09
The day Obama was elected, the market crashed. The day he was inaugurated, the market crashed. The day he announced his bailout plan, the market crashed.
Big business and investors have NO confidence in Obama.
Community leaders who couldn’t even make it to congress to vote, or didn’t have the guts to vote anything but “present”, aren’t what this country leads.
Let alone one who won’t release his college transcripts. What does he have to hide?
Mark
27. john | 03.19.09
If only K will give some of that big money he makes for doing nothing. While some some of his players has nothing, thats another slave labor by ncaa and K, these players has to be paid, that money should go around, its about time, so K if you so much care about the country, take a pay cut or shot up.
28. kvc | 03.19.09
I like how the right is not a supporter of freedom of speech. If someone disagreed with the Bush Admin in the early years they were considered TRAITORS.
Personally, I think it’s cool that Pres. Obama made his picks. I think Coach K made a light comment and for Faux News to make more of it than necessary is irresponsible journalism. But face it…are we really that surprised?
As for the Bush Admin and the current economic issues. His administration did deregulate the financial industry so that there was a “anything goes” mentality. It was all about short term gain, and this administration encouraged a take-all-you-can attitude.
29. Karl from Florida | 03.19.09
Faux News?
Most people who call it that have never watched it.
Have you seen the MULTIPLE credible studies by top universities (UCLA, George Mason, Stanford) which ALL indicated that Fox News was the least biased?
How about Dan Rather reporting un-vetted information about President Bush on the even of the 2004 election? Well, at least he lost his job over it. How about MSNBC?
Just because Fox addresses new differently than the common liberal media, does not mean it’s “faux” news.
On the other hand, Fox News, just like Limbaugh on the radio and Hannity and OReilly on both, CRUSH the opponents because the vast majority of the public LIKES the way the represent the news at Fox.
I certainly would not call “kvc” a liar, as a concept is not a lie if one believes it. But certainly, Fox News viewership and the independent studies show ‘kvc” is not accurate in his opinion. Now if he’d stop expressing his opinion as if it’s accepted fact, he might even be believable.
Karl
30. OldSailor | 03.19.09
Hey Karl f/FL, how’s about instead of trying to CRUSH their ideological opponents, Faux News tries to report news accurately? Or would that be too BORING for people like you who just like to YELL?
31. Amorphous | 03.20.09
Attention: Bush didn’t create the current crisis. Fact. Clinton may have laid the final groundwork with the repealment of Glass-Steagall, but I think it goes back further than that. Bush was incompetent, at best, and at worst helped facilitate the gathering storm. Also fact. Obama’s administration is going to ultimately screw us all; full of more Wall street lobbyists than any cabinet in our history. Also fact. The outcome of the election wouldn’t have mattered; this was the crash-course the economy was on.
This right/left stuff is tiring. This is an all-encompassing issue that affects everyone, regardless of belief or political tilt. I hope people come together sooner rather than later and realize this before it’s too late. The saddest fact is that it already may be.
32. Karl from Florida | 03.20.09
Hey Old Sailor,
I am sorry if you feel that expounding facts is trying to “CRUSH” someone. There exists no ideology in facts. Three major studies have shown that Fox News is, in fact, the least biased of the major new sources. These are facts. I must have missed where you cited evidence or studies showing the contrary while I was “yelling”.
Yelling on the internet, Old Sailor, is represented by CAPITALIZED words. I did this at the same rate you did. Actually, I did this four times in a much longer note than yours.
I am sorry that you find it necessary to attack me and a network vs actually addressing the facts.
Karl
33. Tom Walgert | 03.20.09
Old Sailor: Why not address the facts and stop the personal attacks?
Hypocrisy is a sad trait.
Tom
36. FDR | 03.22.09
Obama is on track to be the worst president in United States history.
He has endangered our future and the future of our children.
37. happy | 03.22.09
One can always tell when a republican reacts to anything Obama. We head 8 years of mass distruction by bush and cheney. Where were you repubs? where were you when America was being totalled by cheney and bush? Whatever O does he gets critized for it because the repubs have made up their mind to work against anyone who is willing to put America back on track. FDR, O is not on track to be the worst president. That spot has been claimed by you know who. Clue:(he now lives in Dallas and his VP cannot keep his trap shut) Why do repubs always come accross as mean, critical, judgemental and lack leadership skills? If you want to fix America, join the independent or the democratic parties. If you feel like distroying the USA or just doing something to benefit yourself, please join the republican party.
38. John Maloof | 03.25.09
Happy, why are you so drab?
Your entire post was one expressing your opinion as if it’s fact. Not everyone things Bush did poorly. The citizens re-elected Bush by the largest margin in 30 years in 2004, so your “eight years” claim is totally invalid and shows your minority stance through at least half of your post. Many people did not, and still do not gripe, as they were not upset with Bush’s leadership. Usually these people are/were the wealthy, the educated, the employed, the patriotic, the “large majority” tax payers. Exactly the people who will pay for Obama’s programs and fund his voters - i.e. - those who pay little taxes, comparatively.
There has been no greater attack on a in office preside than the one President Bush was subjected to. Why you expect republicans to respect your president with any more support than their president was granted, I don’t understand.
Obama’s approval rating has crashed faster than ANY other president since polls started being taken. He went from 87% to 50% in two months. During the first two months, Bush went up an average of 9%. Clinton 7%. Do your homework. In the same time, Obama crashed 37%.
The stock market dislikes Obama, as to the wealthy and the business owners. In other words, the tax payers, the investors, the employers.
I do not look forward to the scary times to come under our new President. You may think he is perfect, but many are already disagreeing and this will only grow.
Thank God for tele-prompters (and that they have them in all 57 states!).
John
PS - I have the respect to capitalize Barrack Obama’s name. You chose only to do the same for Obama, and not Bush or Cheney.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. sailor | 03.19.09
Freedom of Speech…do any of you liberals remember that one?
His opinion is HIS OPINION! He is free to make it.
Obama is making a mess of the economy, he and his cabinet are making mistake after mistake…I think it is fair for the coach to tell him to pay more attenion to it!