Barack on the Court: Fast, Fierce and Wily

These days Barack Obama's more likely to be rubbing elbows at a fundraiser than throwing elbows on the court, but pickup basketball is his game, and he's damn good, Jodi Kantor reports in the New York Times. He's quick, wily and aggressive on the court, with a left-handed jump shot that catches other players off guard.

The political takeaway from his game? He lacks the technical prowess of the guys he plays with—they're former college players or pros—but he makes up for his deficits with competitiveness, strategy and collaboration. “He’s very good at finding a way to win when he’s playing with people who are supposedly stronger,” said a friend.
(More Barack Obama stories.)