PRESIDENTIAL FANTASY LEAGUE: WEEK TWENTY-THREE SCORES

by Max Klinger

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 (see every PFL ever right here).

Tomorrow marks the two-weeks-out point for the election and as the countdown winds down, Monday Morning Quarterbacks are turning into Monday Morning Political Analysts. Hopefully all of this attention to the political process will inspire a new trend: "voting." Hey, it’s the one moment in most of our lives when LeBron's or Curt Schilling's or Jerry Jones’ opinion will be worth exactly the same as ours. Savor it and hope you’re never mentioned in the same breath as Jones again.

To the scoring!

TEAM OBAMA: "It's kind of hard to figure how Warren Buffett endorsed me, Colin Powell endorsed me, and John McCain thinks I'm socialist." —B.O.

CAMPTOWN RACES COME TO TOWN: DOO-DAH, DOO-DAH!: +10
The MLB agrees to push back the first pitch of Game 6 of the World Series back so Obama can air his 30 minute political infomercial next Thursday. For the record: the WS hasn't gone to a game six since 2003.

OBAMA THINKS “MORE TASTE” LEAGUE IS REAL: -10
No he doesn't, but he is juggling sports rivalries in Kansas City," which is similar.

UNRELENTING SPORTS POLITICAL ANALOGY OF THE WEEK: +10
Sarah Palin = "untested freshman quarterback." Really? Is that what this has come to?

SIGN OF THE TIMES: +10
Obama purchases political ads inside online video games in battleground states. Contrary to popular opinion, this article points out that the average gamer is 35 years old. And not living with their mother (anymore). The ads will be included in online games such as Madden NFL '09 and Guitar Hero III.

SCORE THIS WEEK: 30

---

TEAM McCAIN: "I'm very pleased where we are, and I love being the underdog. Every time that I've gotten ahead, somehow I've messed it up." —J.M.

THE MOST INTERESTING MAN IN THE WORLD: +10
Stephen Baldwin is talking more drek on Obama. After previously threatening to move to Canada if Obama is elected, he’s now challenging the presidential candidate to a boxing match.

VOX POPULI OF THE WEEK: +10
Palin courts mothers of all sports, not just hockey.

FEATURE ON McCAIN's BOXING PLIGHT OF THE WEEK: +10
McCain continues his lonely fight in defense of the sweet science.

SUBTEXT OF THE WEEK: + 10
In last Wednesday's debate, McCain mentions the Arizona Cardinals win over the Dallas Cowboys. SUBTEXT: Jerry Jones give him boatloads of money, but he's already got Texas locked up (52% v. 40%) so what the heck. (Plus, Jones can't even find a naming sponsor for his new stadium).

SCORE THIS WEEK: +40

---

TOTAL SCORES AFTER 24 WEEKS:
1. Team Obama: 825
2. Team McCain: 720

---

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

Print Article . Email Article. Subscribe to The Magazine