Did You Know...

**Written by Doug Powers

Sports Illustrated has named President Obama the 44th most powerful person in sports.

44 — get it?

POTUS might be the ultimate global power player, but he also wields significant influence in the Republic of Sports. One relevant riff — on his NCAA tourney picks, on his desire for a college football playoff, on his concern over permitting the sons that he doesn’t have to play football — and the sports world takes notice. Plus, the 51-year-old can shoot the J.

Obama even ranked a few slots ahead of Michael Jordan, who was #50.

SI didn’t mention that Obama wields such power in the world of sports that he couldn’t manage to secure the 2016 Olympics for the U.S. (for Chicago, specifically) in spite of extremly heavy lobbying, but no most powerful person in sports is perfect.

Perhaps SI’s pick isn’t just about influence and the politics of sport, but actual game experience. In that area, Obama’s earned his position on the power chart. Just look at what he’s mastered:

Football:

Basketball:

Cycling:

Baseball:

The shooting sports:

Golf:

Swimming:

Bowling:

Being an “octuple threat” combined with the fact that Obama apparently personally ended the NFL ref lockout should have propelled him to at least #10 on SI’s list.

**Written by Doug Powers

Twitter @ThePowersThatBe