It’s not “Hail to the Chief,” but for a Chicago Bulls fan like President Obama, being introduced like Michael Jordan might be even better.
Sacramento Mayor and former NBA all-star Kevin Johnson broke from protocol when introducing the president at the U.S. Conference of Mayors on Friday.
{mosads}Johnson queued up The Alan Parsons Project song “Sirius” on his cellphone — forever associated with the introductions of the Jordan-era Bulls — and put on his best announcer voice to proclaim: “Standing 6’1″, 180 pounds, southpaw, from Columbia University, the Punahou High School, the point guard of Pennsylvania Avenue, the 44th president of the United States of America, Barack Obama!”
Obama took the podium with a wide grin.
“I would have thought that would bring back bad memories for Kevin, playing that song,” Obama said.
Johnson’s Phoenix Suns lost to the Chicago Bulls in the 1993 NBA Finals.
“I want to thank Kevin for that introduction. I want to say that introduction is longer than my remarks, and more exciting, so I’m feeling a little out-shone here.”
Obama went on to thank the assembled group of mayors for taking steps on his priorities, like the minimum wage and sick leave laws, without federal action.
“Mayors like you are getting it done, and we want to help,” Obama said.
The press was ushered out before a question-and-answer session between the president and the mayors.