The Audacity of Hoop

While basketball didnt take up residence in the White House in January 2009, the game nonetheless played an outsized role in forming the man who did. In The Audacity of Hoop, celebrated sportswriter Alexander Wolff examines Barack Obama, the person and president, by the light of basketball. This game helped Obama explore his identity, keep a cool head, impress his future wife, and define himself as a candidate. Wolff chronicles Obamas love of the game from age 10, on the campaign trailwhere it eventually took on talismanic meaningand throughout his two terms in office. More than 125 photographs illustrate Obama dribbling, shooting free throws, playing pickup games, cooling off with George Clooney, challenging his special assistant Reggie Love for a rebound, and taking basketball to political meetings. There is also an assessment of Obamas influence on the NBA, including a dawning political consciousness in the leagues locker rooms. Sidebars reveal the evolution of the presidents playing style, Baracketologya not-entirely-scientific art of filling out the commander in chiefs NCAA tournament bracketand a timeline charts Obamas personal and professional highlights. Equal parts biographical sketch, political narrative, and cultural history, The Audacity of Hoop shows how the game became a touchstone in Obamas exercise of the power of the presidency.