Olympic Basketball Team

[MrBug708]

When will country come over all else? *sigh*

Kudos to those who didn't turn down the invitation!

[stevew]

When will country come over all else? *sigh*

Kudos to those who didn't turn down the invitation!

I think the US needs to build a true "National Team." The whole "dream team" concept is getting old, and as those championships showed last summer, we can be beat. Sending a bunch of second tier guys that have never played together is only gonna result in our embarassment again. Sending a third tier team that actually has played together would be better.

[The Afoci]

I think the US needs to build a true "National Team." The whole "dream team" concept is getting old, and as those championships showed last summer, we can be beat. Sending a bunch of second tier guys that have never played together is only gonna result in our embarassment again. Sending a third tier team that actually has played together would be better.

The problem is that it will kill a bunch of the public interest. I would rather see a touring college allstar team, but most people seem to want all the big names they can get whether they play good ball or not.

[sovereignstar]

When will country come over all else? *sigh*

Kudos to those who didn't turn down the invitation!
I didn't know that you joined the service.

[Sharpieman]

Is Kobe allowed out of the country?

[pennywisesb]

Is Kobe allowed out of the country?
:D

[MrBug708]

I didn't know that you joined the service.

Must you be an ass all the time?

[MrBug708]

Is Kobe allowed out of the country?

He wanted to, but I don't think the courts would be too happy with him playing in a different country during his trial....

[sovereignstar]

Must you be an ass all the time?
Hey man. Live what you preach.

[mckerney]

When will country come over all else? *sigh*

Kudos to those who didn't turn down the invitation!

Kudos to T-Mac and KG for putting family above all else.

[miami_fan]

Don't think it is just the players who don't want to play in the Olympics. I believe Mark Cuban is on record as not being a big fan of the pros playing. I have no problem with the players not wanting to play for the reasons that I have heard.

[MrBug708]

Well, Mark Cuban doesn't want his investment ruined. I guess from watching the World Cup players hoping to get selected, I get spoiled....

[Neuqua]

It's a different sport though. In soccer there really is not a true *champion* that people can say "Oh, ____ is quite obviously the best soccer playing country in the world."

Even with the miserable showing, I don't think there is any doubt among people that the best players and best basketball is still being played here in the States.

[vex]

Cuban doesn't want his players playing because they are the stars of their countries and their countries could care less how tired they are for the NBA season as long as they play the entire game and win.

[stevew]

Cuban doesn't want his players playing because they are the stars of their countries and their countries could care less how tired they are for the NBA season as long as they play the entire game and win.

Not to mention if they get hurt and he has to do without Dirk for a long period of time. Hes paying him a truckload of Euros to play. It appears China works the hell out of Yao when he goes home for the offseason.

[Franklinnoble]

To Kobe:Must you put it in the ass all the time? How about a little oral?

Fixed it for ya. ;)

[Franklinnoble]

Dola....

To MrBug708... I know, I give you too much shit for being a Lakers whore... please don't take it personally... live happy with the knowledge that my favorite NBA teams are the Suns and the Kings.

[Chief Rum]

Dola....

To MrBug708... I know, I give you too much shit for being a Lakers whore... please don't take it personally... live happy with the knowledge that my favorite NBA teams are the Suns and the Kings.

Good God, why don't you just drink the Koolaid now? :)

CR

[Franklinnoble]

Good God, why don't you just drink the Koolaid now? :)

CR
I tried to, but I ended up choking on it and spitting it up...

[JeeberD]

Stevie Franchise needs to invited to join the team...

[Huckleberry]

I didn't know that you joined the service.

I didn't know military service was the only way to help your country.

[miami_fan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=1811767

DENVER -- Denver Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe has mixed feelings about the possibility of Carmelo Anthony playing in the Athens Olympics in August.

This week, Orlando Magic guard Tracy McGrady decided against playing for Team USA, leading to speculation about who might replace him.


Anthony, who turns 20 on Saturday, played in 86 of 87 games during his rookie season. Playing on the U.S. team would reduce his recovery time before the 2004-05 season.


"Absolutely, it's a concern," Vandeweghe said Thursday. "You never want to deny a kid a chance to play for his country, but my responsibility is to make the Nuggets better, so that's a definite concern."


Anthony said he would not want to play in the Olympics if he was just going to sit on the bench, but later said he would accept an invitation regardless of playing time.


Anthony's agent, Calvin Andrews, said he had not heard from USA Basketball. He also said Anthony is not campaigning for a roster spot.


"It's not something that we as a group would be pushing for him to do, but if the opportunity came up, it would be an honor and he would love to do it," Andrews said.


Vandeweghe said he would not stand between Anthony and the Olympics but expressed concern about how the demands might affect his play next season. Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik said the risk of injury is not a major concern.


"I can't speak for Carmelo and how he feels, but to have an opportunity to represent your country in the Olympics I would think would be a great honor for anyone," he said. "You can get hurt doing anything at any time, so I don't worry too much about that."

[Dutch]

I didn't know military service was the only way to help your country.

It's not, Franknbeans was just being an ass. :D