To close the 'debate' about the merits of this US team... Firstly...their was a time when this board rocked. I used to come here when it was CC97 and have loved it ever since. Unfortunately now, it seems to be littered with kids jumping the Francis bandwagon and Pippen try hards...anyways, that's life. Now...the facts are I like your team. Hell, I am one of the few people down here who even know's them. The way they have gone on is an embarresment to themselves... They arrive here saying "we are the best...no one is even close...it's us v the Clippers..." and other boring crap. SO WHAT?! NO one here....or the rest of the world...gives a crap fella's. Facts are...we are the best in the world at a lot of sports also. So is a lot of other countries in different sports...none of whom felt the need to act like self loving babies. Them...to make it a omplete joke...they struggle to win a few games. I mean...it's THEM who said no one could even get close. Back up your words or shut the hell up. Beating amateur nations by 2 - 12 points....wow... As I said...it's THEIR words... Facts are....this team came here and the crowd cheered for THEM in the warm up of the pre tournament game vs Australia. Within two weeks...they are easily the most hated sporting team to come here. They make Americans look like arrogant w@nkers... I am not naive enough to think it's a true reflection and it pains me to see it all turn out like this. Like I said, I am one of the few people here who even know who Vince Carter and Alonzo Mourning are...and it would have been great to see them do well and get the NBA rolling again down here. Istead, they have just acted like idiots. Some people in other posts were stupid enough to say "andy gaze and luc longley aren't anything...who are you to talk"....what the hell has that got to do with anything? Basketball here is a MINORITY sport. We'd kick your asses in any code of Rugby...but SO WHAT...It's a minority sport to you... In closing....the Philladelpia news writer makes some excellent points. Most of you blokes here seem to be fair minded and intelligent...I am sure his words reflect your own thoughts.For the gooses who can't handle anything negative about Vince Carter...you'd better not read this exert from the article: "What's happened during this tournament as the not-so Dream Team continues to humiliate itself is the direct result of USA arrogance - yours, mine, the NBA's, and especially that of the 12 multimillionaries who have taken the court. Everybody told these guys - none of whom, by the way, ever won an NBA or even a collegiate title - they needed only to show up and they'd win by 25. If they played just a little they'd win by 35. This wasn't serious basketball - just take your friends and family on a monthlong, all-expenses-paid jaunt through Hawaii and Australia, throw down a few dunks, spread some NBA goodwill and pick up a big gold medal when it's done. That worked against Italy, China and New Zealand, but Lithuania lost two games to the USA-NBA by 11 points total. "I knew we had the game," Carter said. "It was tough, but we stepped up." Stepped up against Lithuania? Does Carter know how stupid that sounds? If this former Soviet suburb really does have the USA-NBA's number, let's move it to Vancouver and make the Grizzlies more competitive. NBA players step up in playoff games against each other, not Olympic games against wannabes from countries whose gross national product totals less than the combined contracts of Team USA-NBA." BOTTOM LINE: The feeling here is the mens basketball team has beconme the joke of the games. I went to the boxing tonight and literally everyone was laughing and saying "arrogant Yanks could hardly even beat some little Russian breakaway...and it's their main game!" The USA team has gone from one revered...to one laughed at by most everyone. Despite this...they still carry on like their king $hit. Get a grip boys...show at least a moment of class. As I said all along...I am a fan. It would have been brilliant to see them put on a real show...show some respect...show a little dignity LIKE JUST ABOUT EVERY OTHER ATHLETE at the games has...and shown the NBA off for what a great competition it is. All they have done is the exact opposite... ------------------
DAMN !!!!!! ------------------ Life moves pretty fast, If you don't stop and look once in a while you might miss it!! ... Ferris Bueler
The most ridiculous image of these games: Vince Carter strutting around the court with his index finger raised after squeaking by Lithuania. ------------------
I haven't gotten the chance to watch much of the Olympics and have seen almost none of the NBA team's play in it. From what I'm hearing, however, I'm happy that I haven't. The fact they only squeaked by Lithuania is joke enough, but if Vince is acting like the idiot everyone's saying he is, the US will look like more of a joke than ever. They could have redeemed themselves by utterly dismantling the Lithuanians, but instead only proved that the first game was no fluke; the Lithuanians are for real (lol, I can't help but chuckle when I say that). One thing nice to come out of this is that Vince's "true nature" is probably being exhibited rather than the sweet, polite, PR machine the NBA and everyone who loves him is making him out to be. I'm happy. This may be another example of why there is no "next Jordan" in the NBA now. About 90% of Jordan was God-given athletic talent, but 10% of him was the way he conducted himself in public. It's also what endeared him worldwide (with family overseas, trust me on that). Is this just a case of old vs. new in the NBA and how the "brat" attitude many of the older NBA players talk about younger players having is true? I don't know, but from everyone I've talked to, the Dream Team this year has been a joke. Give Lithuania the gold medal, they deserve it. They won by a blowout. ------------------ I got nothin'.
What the Dream team needs is Barkley, Jordan, & Magic down there, not to play, but to kick their butts & teach them respect for the game. I feel that these young kids are too arrogant & feel that all they have to do is show up & win. In the end, I think that they will still win the gold, because they are so much more talented than the rest. The only question is do they have the intelligence to know when it's time to get serious & quit acting like a bunch of overpaid prima donnas. I actually think that if they lost, it would be the best thing that could happen for all future Dream teams. I would just hate to see Rudy be the coach of the first & possibly only Dream team to lose the gold. If Duncan & Hill had gone to the Olympics, I think you would've seen a different team. Carter might be spending a lot more time on the bench & less time taunting. ------------------
Well here is my take on the "dream team" They come here to Australia and I will assure you everyone wanted them to play well and be the figure heads for not only their country, but for the sport that the original Dreat team were. We wanted to see the high flying dunks. We wanted to see them play great. But from the first few game they played in Australia you knew it was going to be very different. In one of their first games vs Australia Vince Carter gets tangled up with Australian player Andrew Gaze, a 5 time olympian and a guy how even has a NBA championship ring. They fall to the floor. Carter stands up, and stands over him like an Pr!ck. It caused a bit of a flare up between the teams players, but things were settled down and play went on. In the same game Carter gets the ball and starts a fast break, the game official gets in the way, so what does Vince do? Trys to run over the poor guy, not slowing or trying to get around him. The Official leaves the game with a dislocated elbow. As for the game against Lithuania (sp) I watched that game. It made me realy feel for the US Public who must be thinking "Oh man, just play basketball for crying out loud!". In this game I saw Steve Smith stand over a guy who he had knocked over!!! They were arrogant right up to the final seconds. The Lithuanian side were now fluke. They were down by 12 at halftime and just outplayed this "dream team". But In the end the US won and as Grummet said we had Vince Carter running across the court with his finger in the air...."We're number one!!!".....Make no mistake, Lithuania won this game, the scoreline was the only thing they lost. This is no dream team. The 92 team was one, the 96 team was on. This is in no way a dreat team. USA Basketball needs to do some work with this team. Firstly drop the "dream team" tag. Then send guys WITHOUT an attitude problem. Send a few college players along with them not just NBA players. I think they also need too realy look at how players will conduct themselves and pick a team more carefully. They also need to get rid of their stupid on court behaviour. If a player acts up, he should be benched or miss the next game. I think the best way to sum up this dream team is like this. While watching them play I thought "wouldnt it be great to see Steve Francis on the court with these guys". While watching the game I was realy glad he wasnt in the side.For Franchise to be associated with this team would be a bad thing indeed. Alot of these stars go back home with tarnished images. I know I will not marvle at carters ability ever again. I will never think steve smith seems like he'd be an alright person. I will just be watching these guy play for their teams now thinking "arrogant Pr!ck". Christopher Sydney Australia ------------------ Your Starting Power Forward for the Clutch City Allstars My Expert Opinion Of Steve Francis:Mate he is a special player!
C'mon say what you really mean. You can't stand to see a bunch of black guys so arrogant in victory. C'mon isn't that whats happening here. You have a crowd of predominately white Aussies cheering for any foriegn team that has skin color and texture resembling theirs(which all Team USA opponents do) to win against a bunch of savages who are supposed to be humble and obedient, especially in victory. So what your saying is when a respectable mate like Andrew Gaze blatantly pulls down a spooks head, he's supposed to stay humble and remeber his place, and never never, stand up for himself. **** your respectability, mate! ------------------ [This message has been edited by ROCKETBOOSTER (edited September 30, 2000).]
Jet- you want to respond to any of the numerous verbose arguments disputing your claim that American ballers have no fundamentals? We got the "Ugly American" bit. By the way, why are you slamming the team as a whole when Vince is the one throwing attitude around? I've been reading all the post-game interviews and with the exception of Vince the team is giving props to their opponents.
Come on RocketBooster, you talk as if Australia doesn't have any black people. The fact of the matter is, whether you're black or if you're white, thugball and self-aggrandizement on the court is not common in the Olympics. This is competition where that should all go out the window. This is about nations meeting in friendly competition, not one ridiculing the other by standing over them when they hit the floor. I'm thinking David Stern is considering this a disaster PR-wise worldwide. BTW, I don't recall Magic, Isiah, Jordan, etc being "so arrogant in victory" and they were worshiped by the world for their showings in the Olympics. My guess is if our team had been the "All Nestle White Chocolate" team, we'd still get criticized by our Aussie brethren and deservedly so. If Jason Williams had been on that team acting like a complete idiot, we'd still get ridiculed. This pisses me off even more because Rudy was "the man in charge" of this debacle. ------------------ I got nothin'.
Do you really think Steve Francis is any better than Vince or any of the other? That's a joke. I was a bit ashamed watching Steve wrapping his legs around Sabonis and others while hanging on the rim after dunks or watching Cat do the high step dribble thing trying to show up an opponent. I like Steve and Cat cuz they're Rockets, but they don't have any more class than Vince. ------------------
To Rocketbooster... I really hope that was sarcasm...because that is the singularly most stupid thing I have ever read. You define moron mate... To make this a colour thing is beyond being stupid. All those Jamacian runners the crowd's have loved...the Black British boxers the crowd was cheering...the American track and field team who have been cheered almost as much as our own...they all have been loved. A class act like Michael Johnson gets standing ovations everywhere...same with Marion Jones...same with Maurice Greene...same with all your boxers I have seen this week...same with every black athlete here. The NBA guys have MADE themselves the exception. I don't give a stuff if they are black, white, green or blue...and neither does anyone down here. RocketPimp...As I said all along, everyone here has WANTED to love this team. They were CHEERED more than AUSTRALIA when it began!! They were more popular than our OWN national team! It's taken an almighty effort to become so unpopular...but Carter etc seem oblivious to that. When you win the gold...the crowd will cheer them. In fact, I am sure they will go crazy. We are relaxed by nature...so no one's going to hold grudges. The Americans will get cheered. You ARE the best at b-ball...so the gold medal should be yours. The simple pity of it all is that this could have been a sensational opportunity to show the world how great the NBA is...and that's been lost. ------------------
To Nolen...sorry...just saw your comments. I never said your team hasn't got the fundamentals of the game...merely that they are on the decline because it seems like athleticism is more important. Carter...Mcdeyess...etc just seem to be better athletes than they are basketbal players. I know that most players now only have a year or two in your college programs...some have none anymore. Isn't that where the fundamentals are taught? I have read articles with numerous coaches all saying the same thing....that these guys would be much,much better as players were they to stay in college. AS to the whole team's behaviour...I agree with your comments. You'll notice I never said anything bad about Kidd...Payton...Rudy T....Houston...Allen ...etc etc all of whom have been great. However...and I am sure you are smart enough to know this...the media works these things on "twenty second grabs". Thus, no matter how cool those guys have been, it's always images of VC being an idiot or ZO saying the most ridiclous comments that make the headlines. That's what I mean by an opportunity lost...it could have been nightly highlights of how great some of these guys are. You can say it's just VC...but this is a TEAM...and what one does, often (unfortunately) reflects them all. I am VERY VERY surprised that Rudy or one of the senior players didn't pull him aside early on and say "hey, cool down...think of your teammates." Anyway...I love the NBA. No doubt it's a great sport and no doubt you are the best in the world. I just wish those were the facts that could have been put across to the world... ------------------
Rocketbooster, It's not about color or race. It's about National pride, sportsmanship, & most of all, winning or losing with class & dignity. Some members of the Dream team have been nothing short of PUNKS. As has been mentioned in a previous post, I'm very disappointed in Rudy for not benching those players. I do however, trust his judgement. ------------------
Mo Green ain't Arrogant? OAKDOG - If you think Steve has no class then . . .well maybe you need to check your class meter EVERYONE I got one thing to say When someone cannot strut on the court or show some emotion . . . .then the NBA might as well be the Video Game. I like emotions. . I like excitment I hate the no celebration in the NFL or the no tauting in the NBA the olympics are suppose to be about sportsman ship and competition one should not supercede the other I think to an extent the 'dream' team felt they had no competition and maybe the sportsman ship went alone with the ride Like someone said I don't think they tried that hard I don't think they thought they woudl have too. I don't think they KNEW much about intl play the ruffness, the fact that these guys RRRRREEEEAAAALLLLLLLYYYYYYY came to play and not get autographs There is pressure on them if they lose they are losers if they win they 'pose too. Rocket River ------------------
It's funny how people kicked up a big fuss when Carter initially wasn't selected for the Olympic team. But, now that he's shown his true colors as the big, immature kid that he is, I guess the Olympic selecting committee was right the first time around after all. ------------------ My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel-boy.
Good post SRJ. How do you think the fans will respond when the US is on the podium receiving the Gold? I wouldn't be suprised to see them cheer everyone but Cater since it seems as though he is the one carrying on like a spoiled brat. ------------------ Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown, but it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the mother****** upside the head!
Yo just imagine if Illgauskaus and Sabonis wouldve played! just a thought ------------------ "It wasn't a fight. He punched me one time, that's all. That's not a fight. I don't fight at 30,000 feet. I had an education." L8 vs Stack
I would have been pulling for a Lithuanian victory had Rudy not been the coach. I'm embarrassed by the actions of the US squad and the lack of preparation by the coaching staff. Let's face it -- this team has done nothing to undermine the reputation americans have internationally. We are arrogant travellers. Those of you that have travelled know exactly what I speak of. Thinking that spoiled NBA brats may set some of "standard" is an unrealistic expectation. I'll be glued to the tube tonight to see if Rudy can steer his staff and players in a different direction. ------------------
Rocke River, I think it's a bit hypocritical for some people to complain and complain about Vince Carter at the Olympics and then laud all over Steve Francis like he doesn't do some of the same things. Hanging on the rim and straddling a guy like Sabonis is a classless act - one that does not belong in the game. As far as calling Steve classless, I didn't do that, and I didn't call Vince classless either. As far as all of this degrading the other player nonsense, it's all lame. Why don't you check your own class meter? ------------------
RocketBooster, you've just won the prize for stupidest post of the year. By your logic, I guess the track team which is predominantly black, are a bunch of Uncle Toms because they spoke out about how Maurice Green and Co.(whom are black) carried on after they won the men's 4x100. Take the chip off of your shoulder and start looking at things for what they are, not through the black and white glasses you are wearing. ------------------ Too often, we lose sight of life's simple pleasures. Remember, when someone annoys you it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown, but it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and pimp-slap the mother****** upside the head!
