Here's hoping for some real change soon
Expectations ran wild Tuesday, the first day of the rest of America's life.
It's sort of like spring training just ended and Opening Day finally is here.
With that in mind, I'm already a little disappointed that Barack Obama wasn't at his desk making out a lineup card for today's agenda.
(By the way, wouldn't it be great if Obama had a Mark DeRosa who could fill in at the State Department one day, the Energy Department the next day and the Agriculture Department the next day -?)
Er, where was I?
Oh, yeah, imagine if Ozzie Guillen spent Opening Day walking in parades, dancing at balls and stuffing himself at state dinners. You know, instead of doing what he's paid to do - chew A.J. Pierzynski a new ear lobe.
Seriously, we elected Obama to do more than wander the streets of Washington, dance with the stars his wife and daughters have become, and plunge America's food budget into a deficit.
No wonder during Obama's first day in office the Dow dropped 332 points? Welcome, Mr. President, to the most daunting job in the country east of Lou Piniella's.
Still, I'm compelled to add that I'm with the new president win or tie. In other words, hope blah change blah optimism blah - just deliver, dude.
The operative word is expectations, a dirty one that athletes, coaches, managers, general managers and owners prefer to downplay.
They all hate when a reporter asks, "How do you deal with the expectations from fans and the media?"
The answer always is a lie, like, "Nobody can put more pressure on me than I do," or "I don't read the papers or listen to the radio."
Nobody suffers from expectations more than Obama is, so even he is attempting to tone them down.
Personally, I'm willing to cut him some slack on some issues.
The new president shouldn't be expected to cure the economy and cancer in 15 minutes or win the wars on terrorism and global warming in a half-hour. The man deserves at least until next week to accomplish that.
Then Obama can focus on the really important issues weighing heavily on a real Chicago sports fan, which he is.
The president is all for the White Sox, but in an effort to be everything to all people, we must expect him to push for legislation proclaiming the Cubs as 2009 National League champions.
As for the Sox, we must expect Obama to exercise executive privilege and insist they play the Cubs in an all-Chicago World Series.
During his first 100 days in office, Obama should be expected to form a search committee to find the Bears their first franchise quarterback in his lifetime.
We should expect Obama to designate the United Center as the Winter White House so he can teach the Blackhawks how to manage, well, expectations.
Speaking of the White House, the president should be expected to forsake inviting the NBA champs into his new home and instead invite the Bulls there so he can lecture Larry Hughes on sharing the freakin' basketball.
Finally, considering Mr. Obama's love of basketball, let's expect him to earmark a spot in the NCAA Tournament for Northwestern.
Folks, I choose hope over fear while expecting this American president to know what's really important.
mimrem@dailyherald.com