Thursday, January 29, 2026
ADVT 
International

I'm best suited as basketball commissioner: US president Obama

Darpan News Desk IANS, 31 Jan, 2016 12:42 PM
    He has less than a year left as the US president, but Barack Obama knows one job that he'd really want to take up later -- that of a basketball commissioner.
     
    In an interview to GQ India magazine's February 2016 edition, Obama was asked: "Baseball, football, basketball, all the commissioner jobs open up next year. Which one would you want?"
     
    Given his love for basketball, Obama said: "Well, I'm best suited for basketball. But I cannot believe that the commissioner of football gets paid $44 million a year."
     
    Obama's term ends in January next year.
     
    Talking about the one perk of being president that he's going to miss the most, he said: "So the clear answer would be Air Force One: an amazing plane with an amazing crew, they clear out airspace so you don’t have to wait. And you land anytime, you leave anytime.
     
    "But it maybe Marine One, because even post-presidency, I may be able to round up a private plane sometime, but it’s tough not to have your helicopter waiting for you."
     
    On a serious note, Obama shared that he feels he has a "pretty good handle".
     
    "One thing I learned during the campaign was that I’ve got a good temperament. I don’t get too high and I don’t get too low. I’m able to stay focussed even when there’s a lot of stuff going on around me.
     
    "So there was never a point, even early on - even in the first six months, where we weren’t sure whether we were going to dip into another Great Depression, we weren’t sure whether the steps we were taking on rescuing the auto industry or stabilising the financial system were going to work - there weren’t moments where I thought, 'Sheesh, feels like we’re in over our head'," he said.
     
    The 54-year-old also shared that he "didn't fully appreciate and nobody can appreciate until they’re in the position, is how decentralised power is in this system.
     
    "...A lot of the work is not just identifying the right policy but now constantly building these ever shifting coalitions to be able to actually implement and execute and get it done," he added.
     
    In the interview, by writer Bill Simmons, Obama also spoke about his "guiltiest-pleasure TV show".
     
    While he named "Big Break", he even said: "I do love 'Game Of Thrones'"
     
    The magazine's February issue will hit stands on Monday.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Indian American Community Lauded At Pravasi Bharatiya Divas In US

    Indian American Community Lauded At Pravasi Bharatiya Divas In US
    Opening an event to celebrate the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas at the Indian embassy here on Friday, he also highlighted the importance of the day.

    Indian American Community Lauded At Pravasi Bharatiya Divas In US

    If India Moves A Yard, Pakistan Will Move Even More: Ex-Pakistan Foreing Minister Khurshid Kasuri

    If India Moves A Yard, Pakistan Will Move Even More: Ex-Pakistan Foreing Minister Khurshid Kasuri
    He suggests a give and take between the two resolve outstanding issues. 

    If India Moves A Yard, Pakistan Will Move Even More: Ex-Pakistan Foreing Minister Khurshid Kasuri

    Two Teens Charged In Killing Of Canadian Found Stabbed In Belize: Police

    Two Teens Charged In Killing Of Canadian Found Stabbed In Belize: Police
    Matthiew Klinck — a producer and filmmaker from Quebec — was found stabbed to death after an apparent robbery at his home in Selena Village in Belize on Monday.

    Two Teens Charged In Killing Of Canadian Found Stabbed In Belize: Police

    US Hopes Pakistan, India To Continue Talks

    US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over the phone late on Saturday and expressed the hope that Pakistan and India will continue talks despite the recent attack on an Indian airbase.

    US Hopes Pakistan, India To Continue Talks

    Diaspora Ties Deepened During Nda Rule: Sushma Swaraj

    External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday said India's ties with its diaspora have deepened greatly ever since the NDA government came to power at the centre 19 months ago.

    Diaspora Ties Deepened During Nda Rule: Sushma Swaraj

    Plan To Bring 15,000 Retiring Indian-Origin British Doctors To India

    Plan To Bring 15,000 Retiring Indian-Origin British Doctors To India
    The Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO) on Saturday said it was planning to bring 15,000 retiring Indian-origin doctors from Britain to provide expertise to short staffed medical institutions in India.

    Plan To Bring 15,000 Retiring Indian-Origin British Doctors To India