Like it is

Saban, Barkley possess presidential traits

Alabama head coach Nick Saban reacts to a play during the second half of an NCAA football game against Charleston Southern, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Alabama won 56-6. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

With one political convention down and another about to begin, and most of America pondering their choices and whether anyone can beat Alabama for the college football national championship, there seems to be a concern about the presidential candidates.

This is not a political column but one about choices.

Like football, there are always options.

If someone doesn't like any of the candidates they have the choice of a write-in ballot. In some states, admittedly, those ballots are like some of the Crimson Tide's national titles, they don't really count.

However, along those lines, if you are looking for a strong write-in candidate, let me make a couple of suggestions.

Nick Saban, and not just because it would get him out of the SEC and give everyone else a better chance at winning a conference title.

There would be no worry about Saban having a clown nose or shoes hidden in his closet (admittedly, Donald Trump finally came across as presidential at his convention). If anyone ever called Saban a Bozo, they are probably still in rehab somewhere no one has ever heard of.

There would be zero concern about national security with Saban. If Saban's lips were any tighter, he would be eating through his nose.

He is a great strategist. He's taken teams with less talent and beaten teams with much greater talent, such as LSU, on more than one occasion. Don't go picking on the Tigers' leadership; there are a lot of bankrupt countries who would love to have Les Miles.

Not sure of Saban's political affiliations or if any party would really want him, but he's a winner and a leader. He's unafraid of confrontation on the field or off.

The most outrageous thing anyone knows about Saban is that a couple of years ago he wanted a bigger lake house with a better view on Lake Burton. He sold a 9,600-square-foot lake house in Georgia.

Selling a six-bedroom home with a custom boathouse for more than $10 million is about as crazy as Saban's life gets (he makes $7.1 million per year, so he could afford the mortgage). That and he picked a Little Debbie cake off the floor and ate it during a commercial for ESPN.

Couldn't find any mention of a military background, but that no longer seems needed to be commander in chief.

Another strong candidate could be former NBA standout and current rock star of basketball analysis, Charles Barkley of TNT fame.

It is just a coincidence that Saban is an Alabama man and Barkley an Auburn man.

Barkley is a man who is not afraid to express his opinions or views, and more times than not they actually make sense. Like somebody else in this race, he really doesn't have much experience in politics -- although he used to threaten to run for governor of Alabama -- nor does he have any experience at being a bureaucrat.

One thing is for sure: Barkley could make the Republican Party more unified than it appears to be right now. Anyone speaking out against him might find themselves flying through the front glass window.

He could help himself if he picked sidekick Kenny Smith to be his vice president and Ernie Johnson chief of staff. Their basketball show is one of the most insightful and entertaining on television. They discuss strategy a lot.

But Barkley definitely would need to do something about his golf swing.

Granted, neither Saban nor Barkley might be interested in being president. First, it would be a huge pay cut, although Saban might actually have to work fewer hours. Being president of the United States is a tough job for anyone, which may explain why so few seem to want the job.

Sports on 07/24/2016