President Obama’s challenges may have just reached a new height.
In an Instagram video posted by a straphanger on the city’s subway Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio challenges President Obama to a game of one-on-one hoops.
“I think it’s a great idea,” he said after a young man made a short phone video suggesting the mayor take on the commander-in-chief one-on-one.
“President Obama and I are almost the same age,” de Blasio said in the clip, as he considered the idea. “He has more basketball skills and practices a lot more, but I have height.”
The gauntlet was thrown down when straphanger Alvin Javier randomly encountered the nearly 6-foot-6 mayor on the J train.
“So I get on the J train, I’m headed downtown. And guess who I happen to see here? My mayor,” Javier, whose Instagram name is short for “Wiling ’cause I’m young,” says in the first of a two-part clip.
“I think he can beat Obama. This is his official challenge,” Javier continues. “Obama, my mayor is going to play you 1-on-1 at ball. Do you accept?”
In a second clip, de Blasio says he likes the idea, and put forth his brief thought on his chances.
A spokesman for the mayor confirmed the video stemmed from a random encounter, but said it was a light-hearted joke.
Despite his height, de Blasio has copped to not being the most skilled player at the game.
Obama, by contrast, is a devoted fan of the sport who often seeks out pickup games.