Very interesting article on the US Olympic basketball team

[JoeThaNo1Stunna]

Are you rooting against your own nation? Interesting article on ESPN Page 2

A lot of this is very true, I can not fathom rooting against my nation in anything.

 

[DoeWDW]

Very interesting article! Thanks for the link!

I think the columnist summed up my feelings when he talked about the Olympics as the pinnacle for our swimmers, gymnasts, etc. but that kids who love basketball dream of playing in the NBA. The Olympics is just a little something they do on the side when they can fit it in.

It's easier for me to root for the 16 year old who has trained forever for this chance than to root for the multi-millionaire who is doing this in the off-season, in his spare time.

 

[PrincessDadx2]

I think he's way over the top. I personally think it is hilarious that bunch of "I'm the man" all stars are getting whipped by a bunch of guys who topped out as mid level college players who play as a team.

It is very telling when Allen Iverson is late to a meeting and says that he can be because "He's the captain". He just doesn't get it.

Hopefully they will get their act together, bury their egos, and play a good game - but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[Octoberbride03]

This article shows why i don't like most sports writers. He doesn't even know me, but he's calling me a racist because I'd actually love to see a different country win the Gold at Basketball. I wouldn't care if every guy on our team is white, i still want them to lose. I don't think we've ever had a basketball team lose a gold medal in my entire life, and probably longer. I'm sorry, but its just unnnatural that for 31 years, and i don't know how many summer Olympiads, that haven't had to settle for silver or bronze. My real opinion is that it oughta be the college kids over playing NOT the NBA.

I'm not saying they don't work hard for what they have, or don't deserve the money they make, but why should I be obligated to root for the "Dream Team" just because i'm an american. I pick the teams or athletes I wanna see win, and it doesn't matter what country they're from because i thought the games were suppossed to be about brotherhood, not consistently tromping the other countries.

 

[Tiziminchac]

I'll always root for Americans! I want our nation to win everything, even if it's unrealistic. I think the problem with the basketball team is that they are playing teams that stress the fundamentals of the game. The NBA is all showmanship these days. At least that's my opinion. The article seemed to point to that too.

 

[spagheddie]

I'm rooting extra hard for this team especially because of the backlash. There were a lot of guys who wanted no parts of this team. Iverson, for one, was proud that he was representing the US. Quite frankly, we didn't send over our best. And it's not a very balanced team.

I was dissappointed in Iverson missing that meeting, but I was more proud that he took his teammates to task after getting romped by saying they need to leave their egos behind and remember it's not about themselves individually but winning the gold. Incidentally, they started playing better.

Alot of the negativity is due to the fact that it's part marketing ploy by the NBA (and can we stop calling it the Dream Team. There was only one Dream Team.) But honestly, I have heard a lot of morons on talk radio relishing the fact that white foreign players were beating this team made up of black players (who just happen to be Americans).

Go USA!

 

[rcyannacci]

Thanks for posting this- fascinating article. I also agree that there is a lot of truth to this, even if it makes people feel uncomfortable.

I have worked with some college Basketball players in the past, and it's true that many deal with racism on a daily basis. They are extremely hard workers- I don't think any of us would envy their schedule of classes, studying, training, practice, and social events that they are required to attend because they are "representatives" of the school and the "money" people want to rub shoulders. It is only a few of them that go on to make the big money, so you know that if they do they are hard workers.

OK, I'm also biased. I think Tim Duncan is the best (alum of Wake Forest, now living in TX- Go Spurs). This team didn't have enough time together, so they are still working out their flow.

I hope a lot of people read this article- even if they disagree, maybe it will make them think more about thier own reactions against professional athletes.