COMMENTARY: SPORTS AS A METAPHOR FOR (POLITICAL) LIFE

by Mag.Com Staff

"In 1941, Ted Williams hit .400. And nobody's done that since in baseball. But that year, he didn't win MVP, because Joe DiMaggio had a 56-game hitting streak. And I do feel like we as Americans are watching two historical figures battle it out."—Jon Stewart to Hillary Clinton on last night's Daily Show.

"Will today be Obama's Bill Buckner moment?"—A Clinton rep talking to the press.

Seems you can frame anything in terms of sports moments—especially politics. Let's take a peek at what the pundits might be saying tonight after Extra-Super Tuesday is history.

IF CLINTON WINS (AND OBAMA LOSES) TEXAS AND OHIO:

(1) "This is Hillary's 1991 Twins moment." No one is gonna confuse Hillary and Jack Morris (although the scowls do bear some resemblance), but the '91 Twins came back from the dead after falling behind the Braves, 3-2, in the World Series. Game 6 went to extra innings, which is kinda like a today's March primary being "the new Super Tuesday," before Kirby Puckett blasted one into the seats to get Minny to a Game 7. Behind Morris' mastery, they won it all.

(2) "This is Obama's Bartman moment." Ah, the Chicago ties! We won't go with Buckner—too easy. When Bartman reached for that ball, everything changed; the wheels completely fell off. Could the same happen to Obama?

IF OBAMA WINS (AND CLINTON LOSES) TEXAS AND OHIO:

(1) "Hillary's failure can only be compared to her home state Yankees of the past few years." The Yankees have entered every year after the Luis Gonzalez bloop as a presumptive AL favorite. Check the results: 2002 (lost in ALDS), 2003 (lost in World Series), 2004 (see above), 2005 (lost in ALDS), 2006 (lost in ALDS), 2007 (lost in ALDS). Where will Hillary escape to if her frontrunner status collapses just as badly? A Little Town Called Hope?

(2) "This is Obama's George Mason moment." Did anyone think, about eight months ago, that the junior senator from Illinois would be here? (If you did, are you free to fly to Vegas for the Big Dance?) In 2006, Mason opened the Tournament against Michigan State. Less than 10 percent of SportsNation voters picked them to win; they did. Next round? Defending champion UNC. Chalk up a W. Wichita State went down next, leading to a battle with No. 1 Connecticut. Mason won, prompting the "By George, the dream is alive!" quote. We're pretty sure Obama doesn't want to be associated with anything "George," but he might accept this analogy.

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