David Stern comments on the future of NBA players in the Olympics

Hoop-T, as we already covered before, I'm all with you on that idea. But if that won't fly, I do like the role player idea. But that would make things very, very interesting come selection time. Imagine if guys like Ratliff and Augmon and Marion go to Athens, while Vince and Kobe stay home. Ouch. Next time, Shaq and Duncan should go ahead and play.

 

Couple of thoughts:

1. I doubt Stern has grasped the point. Because like millions, I doubt the adverse publicity was aimed at the diverse level of competition or even the extravagant living exhibited by the professional sportsmen of the USA Basketball team. their behavior may more accurately be described as the deplorable attitude and disrespect some revered professional superstars displayed towards their opponents. Sometimes there is defeat in victory.

2. When we as a nation stop speaking in self-righteous, "national spirit" tongues about winning a sports competition and began to belittle and publicly ridicule that opponent at all costs, in the name of competition ... we have lost the point of why hundreds of nations get together and share sporting contests every four years. It is done for the competition that we as humans all share. But it also serves a wider and more altruistic purpose. All you have to do is watch the faces of pride in repersentating your country to understand the true goal of these meetings.

3. Somehow, having Vince Carter standing over a fallen opponent, bellowing and pounding his chest and (to many observers) simulating he was urinating on him does not fill my heart with pride. IMHO, this and other "antics" are not the proper way to promote a nation's philosophy and certainly does nothing for the NBA's image.

 

I don't thinkk the NBA champs would work, becuase it would be such a dis-advantage for those guys to play additional games over the summer and what would happen to players not under contract for that team?
I like the idea of more role players. Pick the guys who want to be there. I still favor the college kids, even if we do lose occassionaly.
I also think if pro players are used that you can't have a current NBA coach. RT had to walk a fine line when he was there. He was trying to recruit players and therefore probably couldn't criticize like he may have needed to.
I like college coaches or retired pro-coaches.

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I'm with HOOP-T. Good point 4chuckie, but I'm not sure that would be a concern. Not being under contract, playing for the Dream Team is a chance to showcase your game, thus raising your value. And let's face it, it's more of a vacation than anything. I don't think fatigue should be as much of a factor as the players make it out to be. I also think the thought of a player letting down his team would make him want to play. If it had been the Lakers instead of a team of all-stars, I think Shaq would've played, because if it was his team that didn't win the gold, it would reflect poorly on him.

I'm not sure I like the role players idea. It would get way too subjective in that case. I still think college kids is the way to go. Maybe it would encourage more kids to quit leaving school early? College kids would definitely make it a lot more interesteing. I know I would watch, and I didn't watch one second of the Dream Team this time.

 

I would like it if they only picked third tier or lower players to participate. Maybe anyone who makes all-NBA would be excluded. Then, you would get guys that would hustle and play hard (I'm not criticizing the most recent Dream Team), casual basketball fans would learn more about the lesser known players, and if they behaved in a sportsmanlike manner and won the hearts of the fans, it could help the popularity of the NBA.

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From the Associated Press :

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SYDNEY, Australia -- NBA commissioner David Stern believes that future U.S. basketball teams at the Olympics might consist of more role players and fewer superstars.

Stern, in a conference call with Australian journalists to publicize the upcoming NBA season, said the Dream Team concept might be overlooked for a more "horses for courses" team at Athens in 2004.

"An All-Star team may or may not be the best representative in a true competition," Stern said from New York. "Perhaps we will put together a team that doesn't contain as many superstars, but has role players that fit in well.

"That's the ultimate compliment to the intensity of the competition."

Stern played down criticism of Team USA at the Sydney Games, saying the original 1992 Dream Team attracted far more controversy.

He said the 1992 squad that featured Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson was remembered fondly only because memories are short.

"We all seem to forget. The 1992 Dream Team is held up as the epitome of the way it should be," he said.

"But when I was living through it, the criticism of that team was that they lived in a luxurious hotel apart from the Olympics and media. But as it's become more distant, they become a much fonder memory."

Stern said the American players handled themselves well in Sydney.

"I think by and large our guys were good citizens over there," he said.

"There may have been some antics that were very, very mild by NBA standards.

"But perhaps we need to do a much better job educating them as to how the etiquette changes in international competition."

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We Want LANGHI!

 

I have always enjoyed the DREAM TEAM being sent to play in the olympics. It is great to see the best players show their strengths and feed off each others', and all the while doing it with that NBA flair.

But my theory is to send the current NBA championship team to represent us. It would make sense to me to send the best TEAM in the NBA, not necessarily the best players. However, there are always players that choose not to play, and I suppose that is their right.

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."


[This message has been edited by HOOP-T (edited October 26, 2000).]