The network that talked to Pres. Barack Obama during a Duke-Georgetown game in January will have another hoops-related exclusive this week.
CBS’ The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith will interview Pres. Obama on the White House basketball court. Then they will play basketball.
CBS News announced the interview last night in a release:
EARLY SHOW Co-anchor Harry Smith will go one-on-one with President Barack Obama in a court-side interview before the CBS Newsman and CBS Sports’ lead college basketball analyst Clark Kellogg challenge the President to a game of hoops on the White House basketball court. Smith’s interview and clips from the game will be broadcast on THE EARLY SHOW Friday, April 2 (7:00-9:00 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Kellogg’s interview with the President, and the game, will be broadcast on Saturday, April 3 (4:00-11:00 PM, ET) during CBS Sports’ exclusive live coverage of the 2010 NCAA Final Four®. The interviews and game are scheduled to occur on Thursday, April 1.
Our emphasis added.
It’s certainly interesting to see networks find more unique settings to get a chance to sit down (or, run down the court) with the President of the United States. How serious an interview can occur minutes before a pick-up game of basketball starts remains to be seen, since it’s fairly unprecedented to have the interviewee join the interviewer in any sporting activity at the conclusion of the conversation.
And although it was CBS who had Pres. Obama’s last basketball game, these are very different circumstances. The in-game impromptu discussion was between Clark Kellogg, Verne Lundquist and Pres. Obama – sports broadcasters discussing sports. Harry Smith is a news anchor (and sometime fill-in for Katie Couric on CBS Evening News), who will take part in the hoops game as well. Those who feel the love affair between the mainstream media and Barack Obama has continued since it began during the 2008 election have more ammunition today.
Something that likely helped this unlikely interview – Sean McManus. His title of CBS News and Sports President allow even smoother crossover between both sides. With March Madness taking centerstage this weekend, it’s a good time for a good get. And with Pres. Obama’s post health care polls dipping, this move could make him more appealing with the sports fan set – and provide a far more comfortable venue than any traditional interview format.