Obama dribbles, rest of the world burns

Opinion

It's been a big week for Barack Obama. Trouble in Iraq and Afghanistan. His wife Michelle was criticised for not slumming it in Spain. And at home, there was bad news on the economy as figures suggested any recovery isn't going to be as quick as had been hoped.

So Obama did what any first black President of the United States would do. Played basketball.

Obama has played basketball most of his life. As a teenager in Hawaii, while the other kids surfed, he shot hoops. It was only when he arrived in mainland America at the end of his high school years that he realised just how good he was and decided to get in to politics.

But there is little Obama does just for himself and this week's basketball game was no exception. It was organised to entertain injured troops at Fort McNair. You can imagine their excitement. You've risked your life and this is how your country repays you. Like watching John Key play rugby. Except as President of the United States, you get to pick the teams. So he called on NBA stars such as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. These guys get paid more than what most major nations collect in taxes. They could buy countries of their own if they wanted. But they are American and the chance to shoot hoops with the President is an honour you can't buy except when making major campaign donations.

Afterwards, Obama fired up the barbecue and they all got to talk about the game. With his popularity low and the problems piling up, he must have been wondering if he made the right career choice. "You know, if it wasn't for this White House gig ... " you can imagine him saying, Chicago Bulls singlet hanging on the kind of shoulders only a career in politics can produce.

But once his homies had headed home, reality would have kicked in. He celebrated his 49th birthday this month and, while that might make him a young leader, it makes him an old point guard.

And in a world where every action by an American President is scrutinised by the media and pounced on by his enemies, pastimes are often best kept private.

Which might explain why Washington kept reporters away from the game. Their only fear now is that someone may have secretly shot footage inside the gym. As leader of the free world it is important he is taken seriously. And they no doubt know the damage that will be done to his credibility if a video of his performance is posted on WikiLeaks.