“Game, Set, Match, Obama!”
This year Democratic nomination process reminds me of the grueling tennis matches back in the eighties between John McEnroe, Ivan Lendel and Jimmy Connors, during matches at Wimbledon open. Each of these tennis legends had distinctive styles and no matter what the score was never gave up during the entire match. John McEnroe was a young New Yorker with a brash attitude, whose style of play was the serve and volley. His attitude and style of play made him a dominate player on the men’s circuit and took tennis to a global attraction. Ivan Lendel was the eastern European player that whatever match he entered was considered the odds on favorite. Lendel’s style could be best described as versatile using serve and volley or his powerful ground stroke game to wear down opponents. Jimmy Connors was a player that was not the most naturally athletically gifted tennis player but used his passion to win every point and his ability that when he was behind to comeback and win the match.
Now you might ask me, “Which player reminds me of today’s presidential candidates?” Let’s begin with Hillary Clinton, if I had to compare her she reminds me of John McEnroe! This is an easy comparison because like John McEnroe, Hillary Clinton argues to the referees. For example when Florida and Michigan decided to move their primaries up to an earlier date all who voted for this action knew it was against the rules and the penalty for their decision would result in their delegates wouldn’t be seated at the convention. Every democratic candidate signed an agreement not to campaign in that particular state and it was announced to the potential voters that their votes wouldn’t count. In Michigan Hillary’s name was on the ballot and in Florida all of the Democratic candidates names appeared on the ballot but known of them campaigned there. In both contests Hillary won but in Michigan 40% of the vote was uncommitted and in Florida she held a symbolic victory celebration although none of the candidates campaigned in that state. Now Hillary’s new attack is how since Obama won’t join her to do a revote in those states that he is responsible for the disenfranchisement of those voters. Since Hillary is behind in delegates, most overall contests won and popular votes, the only strategy she has left is to argue with the refs or change the rules of the game.
John McCain, I know what you’re going to say he’s not a Democrat but since there are only three candidates left I’m going to include him in this discussion. This is difficult because of his unique personal experiences and his age compared to the other candidates. It seems to me Jimmy Connors fits John McCain style, with his ability to comeback when you’re down in points. Let’s reflect back to the month of June, John McCain presidential campaign had stalled, ran out of money and many of his staff had jumped ship. McCain despite calls for him to end his candidacy and the media scrutiny, he told everyone in a prophetic tone “I’m still in this race and I’m going to win the republican nomination!” He made a believer out of the American electorate by winning the New Hampshire primary defeating heavily favored Mitt Romney. After his stunning victory he officially declared himself the “come back kid” and rode that momentum to secure the Republican nomination.
Barak Obama reminds me of a tennis trailblazer Auther Ashe. I didn’t mention him in my above examples because his tennis career came in a different era and comparing Obama to Lendel would be a stretch of an imagination. The comparison of Obama to Ashe is more appropriate for my application. Auther Ashe ascension in the world of tennis caught the world by surprise. In the world of tennis during this period of history it was dominated by whites and was classified as a sport played by the affluent. In many ways the presidential campaigns in America are the same practice because only very few men from humble beginnings rise up to become the president of the United States. Ashe like Obama came from humble beginnings not having the born with natural advantages like others enjoy but still manage to overcome and play the “game” on the world stage. Once Ashe played on the world stage he captivated crowds with his skill and his court savvy. Like Ashe, Obama has the same appeal as a presidential candidate with his ability of communication and his political savvy which gains him respect by a majority of his peers. The point I would like to make here is that Ashe and Obama are trailblazer in their respective fields, their unprecedented rise tells two stories, one anything is possible in America and that black men can do something more with their life than being pimps or some criminal.
