Okay. It looks like Hillary is out, so that leaves McCain vs. Obama in the next presidential election. It should be a donnybrook of epic proportions. So much at stake for America, so much at stake for both parties. Plenty of mud to be slung in both directions. But let’s have some fun.

What kind of game plan would the great coaches of our time, Wooden, Auerbach, Lombardi put together in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents. How would they attack?

The coaches would note that one of the many attributes cited by McCain supporters is his heroic service to the military. A McCain strength magnified by Obama’s lack of military service.

For the Obama team, McCain hasn’t demonstrated nearly the strength that Obama has in communicating his message to people of color or woman. He has also been less than diplomatic at times in contrast to the more urbane Obama.

I’m guessing Coaches Lombardi, Wooden and Auerbach might ask what do we need to neutralize our opponent’s strengths. Well, there is a draft of sorts coming up. The Vice Presidential draft. Each Presidential Candidate gets a first round draft pick.

I could see it now. Red Auerbach stepping up to the Podium and declaring, “with the first round pick of the Vice Presidential draft, Senator Barack Obama selects General Wesley Clark.”

Clark, a retired four-star general was valedictorian of his class at West Point. A former declared candidate for the Democratic nomination, Clark spend 34 years in the Army and the Department of Defense. Clark commanded Operation Allied Force in the Kosovo War during his service as the Supreme Allied Commander of Europe of NATO from 1997 to 2000.

With the Republicans now on the clock, the Obama lack of military experience is the trump card that McCain had been holding is now totally neutralized by this deft move by the Democrats.

Okay, so now what do the great coaches muse? I, I’ve got it. Back to the podium strides Auerbach. “With his first round pick in the Vice Presidential draft, John McCain selects Condoleezza Rice.”

Rice, the 66th United States Secretary of State, is a career diplomat, a good buffer for the emotional McCain, but more importantly let’s just say it…”I see your African-American heritage and raise you a woman.”

It’ll probably never happen…but let’s just say.

The 2008 Presidential candidates may soon be decided. Senators Obama and Clinton are ready for the stretch run – with the March 4th Texas and Ohio primaries considered must-wins for Clinton. Hillary desperately needs to derail Obama’s run of 11 straight primary wins to stay in the race if she hopes to face off against McCain.

However, as I’ve watched both the Democrat and Republican primaries, I’ve wondered where all the great American political leaders have gone. With all due respect to Clinton, Obama, and McCain, I don’t feel the presence of greatness. McCain has certainly gained the respect of Americans as a war hero, and maybe it’s too early to judge the young Obama, but I’m not overly impressed with any of the candidates. I guess I’m tired from listening to politicians’ rhetoric, as they say whatever necessary to get elected. It has probably been that way since George Washington, but I just don’t remember it being so blatant.

The first President of my life was Harry Truman, but I was too young to remember him. I do recall President Eisenhower, however, the first presidential election and President of which I have great memory was John F. Kennedy. The first election in which I was able to vote was in 1972, Nixon versus McGovern. Another first for me would be if Obama is elected. He would be the first President younger than I. Hillary is a few years my elder, and I hope to live to be as old as McCain.

History certainly helps us define greatness. Therefore, Hillary, Obama, or McCain could one day be defined as great. However, I also believe that there have been presidential candidates in whom Americans saw greatness prior to their legacy being formed. I felt that about John F. Kennedy, but I was young and impressionable. Unfortunately, I have not had the feeling of greatness with any president since JFK. I remember my mother and father telling me of the same feeling regarding Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Not surprisingly, a Rasmussen Poll in 2007 indicated only six American Presidents received a favorable rating of at least 80 percent: George Washington (94%), Abraham Lincoln (92%), Thomas Jefferson (89%), Theodore Roosevelt (84%), Franklin D. Roosevelt (81%) and John F. Kennedy (80%). Richard Nixon had a 40 % favorable rating and George W. Bush 39 %, the lowest two rankings in the recent poll. The poll seems to make my point. JFK was our 35th President and assassinated in 1963. We have since had eight Presidents – none of whom are on the 80 percent favorable list.

Four Presidents comprise Mount Rushmore: Washington, Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Lincoln. If you could add one President to the monument, would you? I might add FDR, but the choices are few.

I wonder if I’ll ever see another great American President in my lifetime.