As a former personal aide to President Obama, Reggie Love knows a thing or two about the commander-in-chief. That includes his fondness for North Carolina coach Roy Williams.
"He loves Roy Williams," Love told the Washington Post in an episode of Monumental Sports Network series The Walk-and-Talk. "It's sickening how much he loves Roy Williams. I admire Roy and I admire the Carolina program, but I still have these thorns in my sides because he [Obama] never visited Duke's campus."
Love certainly has loyalty to Duke. He played football and basketball for the Blue Devils, and won a national title with the basketball team in 2001. So for him, an affection for an in-state rival like the Tar Heels is a bit disgusting. He comes by it naturally.
President Obama has been friendly with North Carolina during his time in the White House, so it's easy to understand where he's coming from. In 2008, Obama visited to scrimmage with the team. Then a year later, he welcomed the 2009 national champion Tar Heels team to the White House after they beat Michigan State for the title.
Love also said that Obama was understanding of Williams, who received some questioning as to why he chose not to foul late in the national title game against Villanova last season.
"He said, 'Yeah, he didn't want to foul. I totally understand the call,' " Love said of Obama's reply to Williams' decision late in the title game. "He's not a guy who is going to tell guys how to do their jobs, but he's informed about the game. I think for him it's more about understanding what peoples' motives were behind their decisions, as opposed to saying whether they were right or wrong."
Even more than 10 months removed, finishing runner-up stinks no matter how you slice it. But hey, at least Williams has the support of the commander-in-chief as a consolation.
