Barack Obama Says Sportless COVID-19 Pandemic Is Driving Him Nuts

The consequences of social distancing filter through into most areas of our lives, and for Barack Obama, it’s difficult having to make do without sports.

The novel coronavirus pandemic put a temporary stop to sporting events, and during a recent call with some of his former administration staffers, Barack Obama reportedly elaborated on the matter.

Barack Obama attends a basketball game on February 20, 2019, in Durham, North Carolina. | Source: Getty Images.

MISSING SPORTS

The 58-year-old former president is self-isolating with his wife and their daughters at home, and since Barack is an avid sports fan, not having any games or matches to watch is “driving [him] nuts.”

Michelle and Barack’s two daughters, Sasha, currently a freshman at the University of Michigan, and Malia in her junior year at Harvard, returned home because the pandemic caused the closure of learning institutions.

Since Barack can’t indulge in sports while at home, he added that his daughters “are stuck having dinner” with him, which is at least a bit of a consolation.

HOW THEY PASS THE TIME

In a previous interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Michelle Obama said that even though self-isolating at home disrupted everyone’s lives, they, as a family of four, try to “just keep a routine going,” even though they indulge in “chilling” and watching “a little Netflix.”

On Mother’s Day, Barack made his appreciation for Michelle known by sending her a sweet tribute on social media.

“Even if you can’t give the moms in your life a hug today, I hope you can give them an extra thank you today,” Barack wrote. “Thank you and Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who makes it all possible. Love you, @michelleobama.”

FOR THE LOVE OF BASKETBALL

Barack also loves basketball. In fact, he loves the sport so much that he converted the White House tennis court into a basketball court during his first term in office, so he can shoot some hoops whenever the time could be spared.

Holding Micheal Jordan in the highest regard, Barack awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 and called the retired athlete “more than just the best player on the two greatest teams of all time.”

Additionally, Barack appeared in a new ESPN ten-part docuseries about Michael Jordan’s career. While Barack’s feature in “The Last Dance” doesn’t come as a surprise, his description surely did, as the identifier under his name jokingly read “former Chicago resident.”

FOR THE LOVE OF GRADUATES

However, Barack and Michelle Obama have something to look forward to, as the former president announced on social media earlier this week. Since the class of 2020 won’t be able to graduate as previous classes had, it will be replaced by a virtual commencement ceremony.

During the commencement, Michelle and Barack will take part in the virtual celebration and deliver a speech to all those graduating this year.

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