How is Obama’s game?

Several weeks ago I went to the official Web site for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama and submitted an interview request. No confirmation or denial has been returned, but I continue to receive info e-mails, each with a red “donate” bar at the bottom.

That’s OK. We’ll press on as the Democratic National Convention officially begins today in Denver.

A number of people have said to me that having this event in our city is like hosting the Super Bowl. Not quite.

The DNC is more like a glamorized version of the National Football League’s conference title games. The conference championship games are for the home fans, who get fired up with hopes of traveling to the Super Bowl site to root for their favorite team.

Here, we have a mix of politicians, media and notable celebrities from all over descending on our city. Soon, these people will be gone while the DNC winner advances to the nation’s political Super Bowl in November.

Maybe I shouldn’t use that word “bowl.” There are more electoral votes to be had in California (55) than the 37 pins Obama knocked down during his campaign stop at a bowling alley in Pennsylvania.

Needling aside, with Obama I’m hoping to draw some parallels between his arena and mine — politics and sports.

In particular, should he win the presidential election, would Obama see himself as America’s point guard or America’s coach?

It’s no secret Obama enjoys shooting hoops. He’s a presidential hopeful trapped in a 6-foot point guard’s body. Can he handle the rock under pressure, or is Obama turnover-prone?

(Could he handle me blocking his shot repeatedly in a one-on-one game?)

Or maybe Obama sees himself as our nation’s head coach. Will America accept and follow his game plan? Would he use the Zen approach of Phil Jackson, the ultra-cool of Tony Dungy or get fired up like Ozzie Guillen?

If you’re reading, Sen. Obama, change has not affected my e-mail address. We still have time to hook up.