President Barack Obama wasn't allowed on the B.S. Report when Bill Simmons tried to interview the then Illinois senator before the 2008 election. With another presidential election coming up this fall, Simmons' ESPN bosses were a little more lenient this time around.
Obama joined Simmons today to talk about a variety of topics big and small, which of course included Obama's beloved Chicago Bulls. We have an excerpt of the transcript after the jump:
From Grantland:
BS: Why should you feel different about the Bulls this year than last spring, when it was basically Derrick Rose going one on five in the playoffs? What makes you feel better about this year’s team?
Obama: Deng seems more confident. Boozer is in better shape. Derrick Rose has matured. I’m a little worried about making sure that they give him enough rest with the back spasms that he had. But the Bulls, I think, are right in there. I think they’ve got a great chance. The Heat are playing better than anybody right now. And when those folks get going on a fast break, it’s over.
But during the playoffs things slow down a little bit, and you got to run a half-court offense, and in that situation, I think the Bulls got a shot.
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BS: Over the last five years, how many times have you envisioned welcoming the world champion Chicago Bulls to the White House?
Obama: Every year. And it hasn’t happened yet, but it will happen.
BS: It will happen? You’re like Joe Namath — you’re guaranteeing it.
Obama: Well, I’ve got another five years here and — [laughter] —
BS: You’re guaranteeing that, too. [Laughter.]
Obama: — somewhere along the line my Bulls are going to come through here. Absolutely.
BS: You’ll probably cry. You’ll well up a little bit.
Obama: I probably won’t do the whole Jordan-hugging-the-ball thing.
BS: Right. Him lying on the ground. [Laughter.]
Obama: That would be a little extreme. I’ll be pretty happy, though.
For updates on the matchup, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, visit Blog a Bull. News and notes from around the NBA are available at SB Nation's NBA news hub.