Some vice advice for Obama, college basketball-style

Barack Obama's interview with ESPN's Stuart Scott has caused quite a stir.

Obama said Cubs fans aren't serious.

So now Cubs fans are pissed.

Bruce Pearl would be a good fit; he already has the presidential look down. (US Presswire)

But I'm not all that interested in entering that debate because A) I don't write about baseball, and B) it wasn't the most intriguing part of the interview to me. The most intriguing part was Obama's response when asked what athlete he'd select as a running mate.

"I'm a Chicago guy," Obama said. "So I'm thinking Walter Payton."

This was sorta confusing because Payton has been dead nearly nine years, and though I'm not an expert in the area I imagine it's pretty important to have a running mate who is, you know, alive. It's just common sense, right? Dead guys on tickets don't work. The good news is that Obama eventually realized this and offered a second name. It was Michael Jordan, who I think would be a reasonable choice despite the likelihood of our national debt increasing beyond a manageable number if M.J. was ever allowed to take federal funds to Atlantic City.

We'd have to keep an eye on that guy.

And keep him away from Charles Barkley.

Anyway, I kicked around this subject with some friends for a few minutes and started thinking about college basketball and which coaches might make good Obama running mates. The obvious answer is Oregon State's Craig Robinson, Obama's brother-in-law. But it would probably be risky to go with a family member.

Thus, Robinson is off the board.

And here are the five guys I'd consider.

Bill Self (Kansas)

Self has proved he can succeed in three states -- specifically Oklahoma (while at Oral Roberts and Tulsa), Illinois (while at Illinois) and Kansas. He's charismatic, good in front of a camera and understands what it takes to get things done, proof being how he hired Ronnie Chalmers for the same three years he coached Ronnie's son, Mario. That move led to a national title. And it's those kinds of tactics that could lead to an Obama-Self victory ... especially if John McCain was to miss key free throws down the stretch.