President Barack Obama's NCAA Tournament Bracket

We have focused almost solely on March Madness and the NCAA Tournament here over the past few weeks. I know that there are lots of other stories in the sports world right now, but it is what it is: March Madness pretty consumes my entire life for a month every year, so it stands to reason that the content I produce for this blog would do the same, right?

Anyway, we’ve been providing updates on the conference tournaments, the men’s bracket and the women’s bracket, and providing useful tournament picks and upset predictions to help you fill out your bracket.

Of course, why would you listen to a hack like me when the admitted basketball loving POTUS is filling out his own bracket?

If you watched SportsCenter yesterday, you saw the report on Barack Obama filling out his 2009 NCAA Tournament bracket with Andy Katz of ESPN. President Obama did not really go out on any limbs, with #3 seed Syracuse being the only non-#1 or non-#2 seed making his Elite 8. Obama did show the Big Ten a little bit of love, sending Michigan State to the Elite 8, Purdue to the Sweet 16, and picking his home state Illini to overcome Chester Frazier’s injury and win their first round game before bowing out in round two.

Check out the bracket of President Barack Obama for yourself. First, a link to the actual bracket on ESPN.com’s Tournament Challenge, and then an image of the President’s actual hand-written bracket:

LOTD: 2009 NCAA Tournament Bracket of President Barack Obama — (ESPN.com)

Andy Katz Story: President Barack Obama Picks 2009 NCAA Tournament — (ESPN.com)

It would have been interesting to see how Barack Obama’s bracket would have played out had his brother-in-law Craig Robinson been able to lead Oregon State to a Cinderella victory in the Pac-10 Tournament. Surely he would have picked them for a first round upset, but how far after that?

With a lot of criticism being directed at his administration right now, and obviously a lot of challenges facing he and the country, I’m sure that March Madness will provide a few cherished moments of relaxation for President Obama over the coming weeks.

And how about Andy Katz? He scores the scoop of March Madness so far by getting to report the President’s bracket picks, and also talks to all 65 tournament coaches yesterday. Impressive. I think Andy Katz can officially lay claim to the title of “Hardest Working Man in March Madness.” Well, other than the trainer at North Carolina, who I’m sure is leaving no stone unturned trying to get Ty Lawson back and ready to play as soon as possible.

And by the way, if you have not filled out your bracket yet, or have no home for bracket competition, join in the fun with Midwest Sports Fans. ESPN.com is hosting our 1st Annual Midwest Sports Fans Bracket Challenge, and we’d love to have you join. Prizes are not promised, nor they have been announced, but you’ll definitely get some pub on the site if you win. Follow the link below for directions on how to join the fun: