A Sprinter in the White House

January 20, 2009 -- Inauguration Day -- and a day with true historic significance amid all the hope, hype, and hyperbole. Regardless of where we all fall on the political spectrum, I'm guessing most of us are hoping the new president succeeds at creating a unity of purpose and action that moves us forward from our recent polarized past.

I've written (tongue-in-cheek!) about distance runners in the White House, and about how the Republicans always seemed to have the better marathoners. Well, change is coming. Our new president is a basketball guy, and his mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, is a sprinter.

Yes, that's right. According to the Illinois Senior Olympics Organization, Michelle's mom, who will move in to the White House along with the first couple and their children, competed as a 61-year-old in the 1998 Illinois Senior Games, running and finishing second in both the 50m and 100m dashes. Her time in the 50 was 9.33; her time in the 100 was 19.09. An injury ended her senior track career, but it makes one wonder what her times were like when she was younger, or did she even compete? Was track a late love, or a lifetime passion?

In any case, this is the kind of diversity the country needs. For too long, the residents of the White House have been joggers and mountain bikers. I say the country is ready to welcome athletes who know their way around starting blocks.

Who knows, maybe in our time we will overcome the deep divisions in our collective past and even see a thrower elected to the highest office in the land. Eisenhower installed a putting green on the White House grounds, can we ever imagine a shot put circle there? Yes we can!