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

    Billionaire Donald Trump Says He'll Spend Millions On Ads, Hesitant To 'Take Any Chances'

    Billionaire Donald Trump Says He'll Spend Millions On Ads, Hesitant To 'Take Any Chances'
    Despite Trump's typically ironclad confidence, he told reporters invited aboard his private jet Tuesday that he didn't want take anything for granted.

    Billionaire Donald Trump Says He'll Spend Millions On Ads, Hesitant To 'Take Any Chances'

    US Christians, More Than Muslims, Need Religious Liberty Protections

    US Christians, More Than Muslims, Need Religious Liberty Protections
    Americans place a higher priority on preserving the religious freedom of Christians than for other faith groups, ranking Muslims as the least deserving of the protections, according to a new survey.

    US Christians, More Than Muslims, Need Religious Liberty Protections

    'Silent Bomber' Couple Found Guilty Of London Terror Attack Plan

    'Silent Bomber' Couple Found Guilty Of London Terror Attack Plan
    Mohammed Rehman, 25, used the Twitter name "Silent Bomber" and asked users whether he should bomb a shopping centre or the London Underground train network.

    'Silent Bomber' Couple Found Guilty Of London Terror Attack Plan

    Shameful: Islamic State Fatwa Aims To Settle Who Can Have Sex With Female Slaves

    The Islamic State fatwa sheds new light on how the group is trying to reinterpret centuries-old teachings to justify the sexual slavery of women in the swaths of Syria and Iraq it controls.

    Shameful: Islamic State Fatwa Aims To Settle Who Can Have Sex With Female Slaves

    Mohamed Fahmy Asks Egyptian Authorities To Restore His Citizenship

    Mohamed Fahmy Asks Egyptian Authorities To Restore His Citizenship
    Mohamed Fahmy said he initially refused to give up his Egyptian citizenship when it was suggested to him as a way of speeding up his release.

    Mohamed Fahmy Asks Egyptian Authorities To Restore His Citizenship

    Official Visit, State Dinner At White House For Justin Trudeau Set For Mid-March

    Trudeau and his wife are to be welcomed by the Obamas for an official visit and state dinner at the White House on March 10.

    Official Visit, State Dinner At White House For Justin Trudeau Set For Mid-March