It's not everyday you get to play golf with the President of the United States. It's also not everyday you get the hustle the Leader of the Free World. Well, former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter may have done that to President Barack Obama.
The owners of the Las Vegas Sun - Brian and Myra Greenspun - hosted Obama for a big fundraiser for the Nevada Democratic Party on Monday. Obama knows Mr. Greenspun from previous meetings, most notably a round of golf with Jeter back in November.
"He and Derek Jeter stole money from me at Shadow Creek," Obama told Edward-Isaac Dovere of Politico. "It was clearly a set up, because when we got to the practice range, he was shanking balls everywhere. I said, 'You play golf Derek?' And he said, 'I just started two weeks ago.'"
"We had to take a picture of me handing Derek Jeter money at the end of the game. Despite that, Brian is a great friend."
Obama said Jeter was given 30 strokes before the round began and the future MLB Hall of Famer won handily.
The President and others at the fundraiser got a good laugh from the story, which came after his keynote address during the National Clean Energy Summit 8.0 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
Perhaps Jeter's sly and bold moves could get him an endorsement from Obama if he ever wishes to run for political office. At this point Obama just probably wants a rematch without Jeter getting any strokes.
Jeter, who was of the most well-liked figures in sports during his career and known for 'playing the game right,' may not be the same way on the golf course. However, at the same time, maybe Obama just isn't that great at the sport and Jeter, a natural athlete, was able to capitalize. Michael Jordan didn't have good things to say about the President on the links, after which Obama fired back at the six-time NBA champion. Check it out here.
According to CNN's State of the Union Address, Obama has played over 1,000 hours of golf (around 247 rounds). Even if Jeter did hustle him, that plentiful experience on the course should be enough to compete with someone who spent the last 20 years mostly playing baseball, right?
