Comments on: Cowards In The NBA?

By: Alec Rawls

Alec Rawls — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 02:15:38 +0000

These considerations chastise me for being as dismissive as I have been of the poor playing team that did go. This coalition-of-the-willing may not have been as eager or as able as our other olympians, but they stand head and shoulders above their unwilling NBA team-mates.

By: HiRez

HiRez — Sat, 28 Aug 2004 14:08:20 +0000

Honestly, what I think would work the best is to send the championship team to the Olympics, I know this is unreasonable due to timing and contracts….

But imagine if “Detroit” was team USA? You would have already had a cohesive unit, that understood the coach and new how to play as a team.

We had a lot of rookies and kids on the team who never even played college ball, and others who were just out of place…

It is actually kind of ridiculous if you think about it. I still don’t think the NBA guys who didn’t come should be criticized.

Let me toss this out, the best boxers in the world don’t fight in the Olympics. Should we criticize them?

By: S-Train

S-Train — Sat, 28 Aug 2004 13:52:33 +0000

I agree 100% HiRez. Very slippery slope. Of course I would have liked some of the NBA’s better players but many times there are stories that we don’t hear about.

I know they are millionaires and it is the Olympics but should we force them to go? Or any athlete?

By: HiRez

HiRez — Sat, 28 Aug 2004 13:29:30 +0000

Thumbs down to this thread…nobody is obligated to go to the olympics…the whole concept is irrational…if they don’t want to go, for whatever reasons, then they should have the right to make that choice without criticism.

I suppose this thread has died, but basically this is a slippery slope with the last question being, am I a coward cuzz I didn’t join the military and fight in Iraq?

By: Amy Ridenour's National Center Blog

Amy Ridenour's National Center Blog — Sat, 28 Aug 2004 07:58:01 +0000

Ignominy
Blogger and Project 21 member La Shawn Barber has some blunt words for a few NBA All Stars

By: Kelly

Kelly — Fri, 27 Aug 2004 05:58:44 +0000

Best column i’ve seen in a while. who is this Gersten guy? never read his work before.

By: Kiki B.

Kiki B. — Thu, 26 Aug 2004 00:41:35 +0000

Beau? Calling Beau? Earth to Beau? Are you still alive? We need your wisdom, whit and insight.

Lol, okay, the truth. How can I be naughty when I don’t have someone to distract attention from me?

By: Charles Waldie

Charles Waldie — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:44:40 +0000

I agree wholeheartedly; besides I think Athens is one of the safest places on the planet right now, with all the security.

On the other hand, foreign players like Nowitski, etc. (ok you got me, I’m a Mavericks fan…) probably are much less of a target than are US Team players…

By: BH

BH — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 19:11:01 +0000

Is there a reasonable security concern? If so is it worth risking life and limb (most notibly the one above your shoulders) for Olympic glory ?

Medals don’t stay on when your head is on the floor.

By: Dutch

Dutch — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 15:22:02 +0000

The first comment posted says it all for me.

By: Carin

Carin — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 14:36:42 +0000

I think the b-ball pros from the US don’t belong in the Olympics anyway. For the majority of them … it isn’t about the thrill of victory anyway … it’s about the thrill of their bank accounts. That is why they so easily tossed away dreams of gold, and stayed home. Shame on ‘em.

By: GMoore

GMoore — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 12:51:59 +0000

THe pros need to be out of the Olympics anyway. There also has to be a fundamental change in the way we play basketball in America. That is why they are losing. THese players at the individual level are as good as any others. They just don’t know how to play team ball.

By: meep

meep — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 11:41:05 +0000

Originally, I thought it was about money… but if it’s true that originally they were going to go, and =then= backed out. Well, that doesn’t look good.

By: Richard Hall

Richard Hall — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 09:16:18 +0000

I agree with “actus” , though I don’t think this is confined to Americans. But castigating the basketball players seems a bit unfair given that they’ve responded in exactly the same way as thousands (maybe millions) of their compatriots in refusing to travel out of security concerns. ask any tourism business in the UK.

By: sergeantjones

sergeantjones — Wed, 25 Aug 2004 05:31:40 +0000

the choice not to go will be in their minds and in the hearts of many who love the game. the best in the world only applies to those who win on the world stage. those who win in the NBA Championship are only the best in the USA and not the world. So World Champs does not apply anymore if we don’t win the gold. Love is still the ultimate Victor! who is love?