TTP you are right on the Jordan thing. Jordan basically told USA Basketball that he wouldnt play on the Olympic team if Isiah was chosen. Why? because Jordan and Isiah have never liked each other. And Isiah fired first, Isiah led a "freeze-out" of Jordan during one the All-star games in the mid 80s. It also didnt help when Isiah and the rest of the Pistons walked off the court without congratulating the Bulls after they lost to them in the Playoffs in 1991. So when it came time to pick the Dream Team Jordan got his way and because Isiah didnt have any allies other than the retired Magic, he was left off the team. But I dont know if Jordan had anything to do with Laetner being chosen. I think it was pretty much a given that Laettner went, because he was the College Player of the year in 1992.
On the the Olympic thing, I find myslef feeling sorry for our current team. They are a good group of players, but they are held to an impossible unfair standard. To compare them to the 1992 team is unfair. The 1992 was unquestionably the best players in the world at that time. Jordan, Barkley, Robinson, Ewing, Malone, Pippen and Stockton were all in their primes at the time. Every guy on the team except Laettner is a Hall of Famer. With the exception of Duncan and Iverson, no one on the current team is a sure fire hall of famer. In 1992 the rest of the worlds players werent as good as they are now and on top of that they were in total Awe of our players, they didnt mind losing. Now today the game is different, around the World players have gotten better, the NBA is full of foreign born players.
Anoother thing and I have said this before, youre not going to get NBA players to really care about International Basketball, because they already play in the Worlds best league. Its not like Swimming, Gymnastics or Track where the Olympics is the Pinnacle of competetion. Realistically, 75% percent of the players on the Foreign Olympic teams couldnt make an NBA roster. Even the best foreign born players in the NBA today havent been able to REALLY lead their teams anywhere. As good as Dirk Nowitski is the Mavericks still cant beat anybody, right? Peja couldnt lead the Kings over the Lakers. Think of Olympic soccer, as crazy as the rest of the Globe is about Soccer, Olympic Soccer isnt nearly as big as the World Cup, or even the top flite Euro Leagues.
The fact is that if you gave this current US Squad a few months of practice like the other teams get, it would be a drastically different Olympics. But you can throw them together with a few weeks of practice and expect them to play well under different rules, in todays game. Its unfair to them. And to hear people calling them a disgrace and an embarrassment to our country is really wrong. THATS whats wrong with our COUNTRY in regards to sports, we takes things way too seriously, losing a basketball game isnt the end of the world. In the end, shouldnt we thank them for risking their professional careers by playing for the US?
"I could be wrong, but I doubt it"---Charles Barkley
The 1992 team would make any team pale in comparison, I dare say no team in the history of basketball could ever defeat that team.
I do not think that this current team should be pitied. The All star teams have only a few weeks to train and they are just fine. The problem I see, as I pointed out, is the give me the ball attitude.
If the attitude was give me the ball because I know I can win, would be great. The give me the ball attitude we see now is so I can be on Sports-center.
PAM ANDERSON on being named E!'s best blonde: "The carpet don't match the drapes!" "... Just kidding, there is no carpet."
In his mind, Ron Artest deserves to be Athens. Heralded by many as the NBA’s best perimeter defender, a skill which is lacking for the “Dream Team”, Artest may very well have a point.
"I was surprised the Defensive Player of the Year didn't get an invite, didn't get called," Artest said at the Park Avenue Country Club. "I would've been a ballboy. I would've gotten all the guys water. I would've done anything to be down there."
Artest speculates his being passed over is a political move due to a mildly turbulent past in which he was subject to technical's and disciplinary action.
This latest outburst comes as a shock to many, especially after so many players seemed to be over the Olympic scene and passed down roster spots.
You know, considering HE could be playing a round of "Does Ron Artest Have To Choke A Bitch?" with the shooters that have spotted up like crazy on the USA's lack of perimeter defense, he would have been perfect as the guy, even if he's capable of scoring 20 if needed, who could come off the bench, get a few buckets and shut down the perimeter which right now would have made him invaluable.
I realize this is hindsight, but given how the opposition has figured out how to go after the US, I take Artest over Jefferson in a heartbeat.
Figures, since Argentina has been playing the best team ball of anyone in the tourney. It also doesn't hurt that Ginobili has been playing lights-out since he got to Athens.
Well, there's always next Olympics, when maybe the USA won't take a spot on the medal stand for granted.
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OK - I have to say this even though it's much too late now.
(1) They are NOT the Dream Team so stop calling them so. The Dream Team was in '92 with Magic, Jordan, Barkely, Malone and Ewing. This so-called "Dream Team" consists of second and third stringers.
(2) After what happened in 2000 and 2002, why are people so shocked? Is it that hard to believe that after the asswhoopins in previous years that the rest of the world took the hint and got better? I mean, come on, look at the amount of foreign NBA players in the league now.
Originally posted by The ThrillHope you're fucking proud of yourself, A.I.
Read this story about AI's experience at the Olympics and naybe you'll pick a different Olympian to bash?
(edited by JayJayDean on 29.8.04 1706)
This took the words out of my mouth. AI has been very vocal about this team not having "it" in Int'l competition. He has busted his ass in every game out there, I agree that he shouldn't be out there putting up 40 shots a game, but there are many guys that should be picked on before AI.
Ralph Wiley: Sorry, we had a chat room accident. It was like Freaky Friday. In fact, like Lindsay Lohan, I just inexplicably grew a pair of 36D's. --quote actually during an ESPN chat when Bill Simmons accidentally was put under Ralph Wiley's name
Originally posted by Kawshen (1) They are NOT the Dream Team so stop calling them so. The Dream Team was in '92 with Magic, Jordan, Barkely, Malone and Ewing. This so-called "Dream Team" consists of second and third stringers.
Leave it to a New Yorker to put Ewing on the list but forget about the Basketball Jesus LARRY BIRD :)
Originally posted by KawshenOK - I have to say this even though it's much too late now.
(1) They are NOT the Dream Team so stop calling them so. The Dream Team was in '92 with Magic, Jordan, Barkely, Malone and Ewing. This so-called "Dream Team" consists of second and third stringers.
Agreed that they are not the Dream Team. I hate that label being placed on every USA basketball team, although I can agree with there being a Dream Team II (in '94) and MAYBE a Dream Team III (in '96). But really now, second and third stringers? Last I checked, all the guys on the '04 basketball roster are starters. Probably almost all all-stars, too.
Originally posted by Kawshen(2) After what happened in 2000 and 2002, why are people so shocked?
Wait, what happened in 2000? Almost losing one game? I don't know how much that awakened anybody. All I really remember from 2000 was Vince Carter jumping over a 7'2 Frenchman.
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