Posted on 08/15/2004 10:54:31 AM PDT by technomage
The USA Men's Basketball team is losing by 22 points at the half to Puerto Rico. This is the largest deficit ever faced by a USA Olympic Basketball team since they went to NBA players.
Only one team showed up to play in the first half.
NBA Players on International Teams:
Argentina: Carlos Delfino, Manu Ginobili, Andres Nocioni
China: Yao Ming
Lithuania: Darius Songaila
New Zealand: Sean Marks
Puerto Rico: Carlos Arroyo, Peter J. Ramos, Daniel Santiago
Spain: Pau Gasol
Serbia & Montenegro: Peja Drobnjak, Nenad Krstic, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Vladimir Radmanovic
Team USA Roster:
PG: Stephon Marbury, Dwyane Wade
SG: Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony
SF: Richard Jefferson, LeBron James
PF: Lamar Odom, Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire
C: Tim Duncan, Carlos Boozer, Emeka O
83 - 68, PR
2:00 remain.
Over, basically.
Does the crowd need to chant "airball" in both French and English? Boule d'air!
Pathetic.
How frustrating. They sound like they were never in the game.
35% shooting from the floor. Pathetic.
GOOAAAAAAALL
Iraq up 1 - 0 over Costa Rica
Screw Iverson and his merry bunch of losers.
They never were.
Random Team USA Notes:
The only two original members of this team: Iverson, Duncan
NBA players who were on 2004 USA Olympic Basketball team but withdrew: Jason Kidd (recovering from knee surgery), Ray Allen (getting married), Tracy McGrady (Olympic "security concerns"), Karl Malone (healing from injury, emotional strain from mom passing away), Jermaine O'Neal (banged up from playoffs), Mike Bibby (we aren't sure of reason).
Kobe Bryant was going to be on the team but withdrew due to scheduling problems (his case).
They lost to Puerto Rico... a team with a 41 year old center. A team with a marginal NBA point guard (Arroyo).
Ghetto, jukin',dunkin'-contest, sandlot basketball once again loses to team-oriented basketball. Go figure.
What a sorry excuse for a team.
Where are you getting the score from?
Iraqi fans ran onto the field in celebration.
I believe Linda Ronstadt has sung.
There are so many great athletes and teams for the U.S. - this basketball team is not among them.
While so many represent the best in American sports, these guys represent the worst, IMHO. They are rich prima donnas who bring the wrong selfish attitude to team sport. Their overconfidence shows with every shot that they throw up that they don't follow.
I'm as red-blooded as the next guy, but it's not going to break my heart when they lose. Let the athletes who *truly* put their heart and soul into their sport carry the day.
that probably made security nervous
Embarrassing, but much anger should be directed at the lazy, spoiled, gutless, self-centered NBA 'stars' who declined to attend. Zero patriotism, dope-smoking freeloaders, too busy with their rap videos to actually lift a finger to give back a little or show any pride in their country. How about a list of all the 'stars' who were asked but couldn't bother themselves with a little inconvenience to actually make their country look good. Gee Shaq, sorry to interrupt your doobie with Ricky W.
I can't stand that punk Iverson, but at least he went when asked. Don't know if he mailed it in today, but he saved the USA team's butt with an unbelievable shot to win a game a week or two ago.
GGGOOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!
2-0 Iraq!
GOOOAAAAALLL
IRAQ 2-0
I recently saw a few games between the 88 and 89 Pistons/Lakers teams. Either of those teams would kick any of the teams' asses today. They had the most talent, played as a team, but most of all - had fundamentals.
The teams across the world don't have the talent for basketball we do in our cities, but the fundamentals aren't there as much as before.
Talent carried us for a few years, but the rest of the world now has top athletes playing basketball as well as soccer - and they are catching up - and they will bring their A game against the US. It would be like beating Kenya in long distance running, Brazil in Soccer, or Canada and Russia in Hockey
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