THE PRESIDENTIAL FANTASY LEAGUE: WEEK ELEVEN SCORES

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Jay Feely isn't afraid of Tom Brady or Barack Obama.

Where the avenues of sports and politics meet, there is a mailbox where we deposit a weekly letter; a mailbox called the Presidential Fantasy League.

We've said it before and we'll say it again: this has been a record-breaking year in terms of the number of athletes publicly participating in politics. As Newsday columnist Barbara Barker points out: "Over the past two decades most athletes have been more interested in what's happening on Madison Avenue then Pennsylvania Avenue." But spurred by a critical election, jocks have turned out in droves to pledge their support (and their money) to their candidate of choice.


In fact, it's almost more noticeable which athletes haven't weighed in on the 2008 elections. Two who don't seem to have a horse in this race are the Williams sisters (and that's for religious reasons).

Regardless of whether you think athlete/celebrity endorsements should inform the public's political opinion, the sheer involvement of household names is at least encouraging people to get involved in our nation's future, which can't be a bad thing, right? (Right?)

Read about the week in the PFL before you answer that one.


TEAM OBAMA

REVERSE ENDORSEMENT OF THE WEEK: +10
It's been the soup d' jour in Chicago to compare successful Chicagoans to Obama (we've seen it in the PFL too many times to count), but this week Barack performed the rare Reverse Endorsement when before the NBA Draft he told Alexis Glick of FOX Business Network who he thought the Bulls should take with their first pick in the draft: "I think Derrick Rose is the man. I think he is Jason Kidd with a jump shot. I think he'll be a great point guard in the NBA and he's from Chicago." (Rose later called it "a blessing.")

CAN WE CALL THIS AS AN ENDORSEMENT?: +10
In response to Barack's comments about his former guard, John Calipari does everything but endorse Obama: "That's why Obama is going to be our next president. He knows his hoops. I'd say that's a fairly accurate assessment."

POLITICS/SPORTS ANALOGY OF THE WEEK: +10
From the Toronto Star: "Last night's pre-game scrum with [Manager Cito] Gaston saw a media session filled with more hope than a stump speech by Barack Obama." Zing.

POLITICAL SUBTEXT OF THE WEEK: +10
Michael Jordan is mentioned alongside George Soros as one of Barack's top donors. Subtext: Jordan's Q-rating is worth far more than the $12,100 he has donated to the Obama campaign thus far.

(Also, we thought it should be noted: At a House Subcommittee meeting last week George Lucas explained that Barack is a Jedi.)

THIS WEEKS SCORE: +40

TEAM McCAIN

APHORISM OF THE WEEK: "GREETED LIKE A GOD", +10
Young Jeezy, who already endorsed Barack Obama, is having a big month: not only was he pulled over for a DUI a couple weeks ago, this week he talks about how much respect he and McCain have for each other. He told Vibe magazine: "I f---'d with John McCain. He greeted me like a God." Put that one down in the books.

BIG PFL OPPORTUNITY THIS SUMMER: +10
An interesting article about PFL'er and USA Basketball manager Jerry Colangelo, what he's done different with this year's team (which was announced Monday) and why they're going to win gold this year.

McCAIN GETS HIS TEAM IN LINE: +10
Schwarzenegger understands his role (from the San Francisco Chronicle): "That (McCain and I) don't agree on everything, it's clear. Nor do I agree with my wife," Schwarzenegger said. But "he's terrific with the environment."

PFL SUBTEXT OF THE WEEK: -10
While the Belgium company InBev continues its attempted take-over of Anheuser-Busch company, many are calling on Congress to step in and prevent a buy out. PFL Subtext: Cindy McCain is the chairwoman of the third-largest Anheuser-Busch distributor in the country and owns at least $1 M in shares in A-B. Among those interests McCain will also have to balance his free-market reputation and the responsibility to his own constituency. (Anheuser-Busch's political action committee was one of McCain's earliest campaign donors according to MSNBC). Don't worry though, A-B retains the "Busch Stadium" naming rights until 2025.

ENDORSEMENTS OF THE WEEK: +40
Jay Feely of the Miami Dolphins and pitcher Andrew Miller both say they will vote for McCain in this article. Having young guys who still take the field everyday endorsing McCain is huge for The Team. Feely and Miller are 32 and 23 respectively, the next closest athlete to endorse McCain is Schilling at 42. (Thanks to the Jock-Osphere crew for the lead.)

SCORE OF THE WEEK: +60

SCORES AFTER WEEK ELEVEN
1. Team Barack: 505
2. Team McCain: 425

Got an issue with the way we're sizing up the candidates? Something we missed? Got an idea for the rules? Send us your thoughts: editor.espnmag@gmail.com

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