I just heard that the Team USA will miss out on the medals at the basketball world championships after losing to Yugoslavia. To tell you the truth I'm not surprised. Some points to raise:
- These guys probably get paid more as a team than all the other teams combined.
- It wasn't so much the fact that they lost - but the WAY they lost. Absolute shocker against both Argentina or Yugoslavia - no teamwork, no hunger, no will to win, they just looked like they were going through the motions, arguing with each other as their chances of victory evaporated.
- Where were Shaq, Kobe, et al? The pride of wearing a Team USA jersey wasn't enough motivation for them to represent their country?
- Team USA had 2 weeks to prepare for this tournament and it showed. Other teams had been preparing for weeks, some even months. They looked like a bunch of part-timers as they struggled to complete plays, struggled to execute basic basketball functions and tried to use their individual skills to win.
- Heads will probably roll at Team USA for this failure - and at home, too.
- Does anyone in the US really care about the result anyway?
- If the answer to the above point is NO, then why is the US even competing in international basketball then?
Just some thoughts from an expatriate American now living in Australia who, after experiencing the rabid fervor and pride that Australians take in the performances of their national teams (it really does unite the country like NOTHING else does) as well as the fact that for an Australian sportsman the most IMPORTANT thing in their life is to represent their country - it just really upsets me that the US, with the depth of basketball talent at its disposal, could come up with such a disgraceful effort. Chuck Daly once said that the US could provide four basketball teams to the Olympics and they would come first, second, third and fourth. Famous last words, eh.
I hate to say it, but it just reinforces my idea of what the NBA has become - full of spoiled, rich brats who think they are about 10 times better than they really are (usually fueled by the major $$$ they get at age 19 to sign with NBA teams). Michael, Magic or Larry would not have turned it up the way this mob did.
Would be interested in hearing some feedback. [img]smile.gif[/img]
[ 09-06-2002, 05:01 AM: Message edited by: Memnoch ]