NBC’s Chuck Todd talks politics and sports — and the sport of politics — in an interview with SportsBusiness Journal.
Todd, a big sports fan, was the trade publication’s first managing editor when SBJ debuted in 1994.
Here’s Todd’s take on…
• Who’ll be the most influential voting bloc next Tuesday — soccer moms, hockey moms, or some other group: “It’s older white voters. They’re the last voters to move. So maybe that means fans of the Senior Tour? How about Golf Granddads and Mahjong Mother-in-Laws?”
• Who might win — Sen. Barack Obama or Gov. Sarah Palin — in a one-on-one basketball game: “Is there a ref? I think that matters. If there’s no ref, my money’s on the Barracuda.”
• Whether Obama or Sen. John McCain is the bigger sports fan: “If I had to pick one, I’d say McCain seems to be more of a real fan. He goes to games and sporting events, especially boxing, even when it’s not an election year.”
• Whether it’s possible to explain campaign/political concepts without using sports analogies: “I am mentally unable to do it. If you don’t have sports analogies, what are you supposed to use?…Things like ‘the gloves are off,’ ‘trading jabs,’ ‘counter-punching,’ ‘no knockout blows.’ How could you talk about a debate without boxing analogies?”
• Who will win the Presidential election: “It’ll be harder for people like me to explain how McCain won. But, hey, you never know.”