Kobe's golden opportunity By Tom Friend ESPN The Magazine CLEVELAND -- If the rest of the free and not-so-free world thought that Jermaine O'Neal was the best America had to offer, we now present you with … Kobe Bryant. PICK THE ROSTER Who should be on America's 2004 Dream Team? Let SportsNation know. Help is on the way. USA Basketball could not even reach the Final Four of the World Championships last summer, but, fortunately for us, it made Kobe a little angry. "Yep, it's tough to watch USA go down the way they did," Bryant said Tuesday night. So, he all but says he's playing in the 2004 Athens Olympics. "I'd love the chance. If I'm offered it, I'd probably accept it," Bryant told the media on Tuesday. All the other NBA All-Stars feel the way he does -- embarrassed, afraid to look Vlade Divac, who won the title with Yugoslavia, in the eye -- but he's the first one to come out and say he's going to do something about it. Plus, he's recruiting a certain 335-pounder. "Yeah, I've been in his ear a little bit," he said Tuesday of the more dominant O'Neal, Shaquille. "Been in his ear a little bit." And … "He said, 'If you do it, I'll do it,' " Bryant says. "So, we'll see." It's probably going to be like this the next two years. Every superstar who commits will guilt another superstar into committing. But Kobe doesn't need to be goaded into this. "Nah, I pretty well make up my own mind," he says. "If [the other All-Stars] want to go, great. I told Phil [Jackson], 'I'd like to have you as a coach.' So he can finally coach a team that will not run the triangle offense." He actually might have played in the Worlds last summer, except his wife was pregnant and he figured Paul Pierce could hold down the fort. "I was at every ultrasound, every appointment," he says of the impending birth of a baby girl. "I didn't want to miss anything." But 2004 is different. In 2004, a little order needs to be restored, and Kobe gets that. I asked him Tuesday if he would pick his ideal teammates, and he wouldn't go there. I will. Starters: Bryant, Jason Kidd, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Shaq. (Note: I asked Shaq Tuesday night if we can count on him coming, and his answer was, "If Kobe plays and Phil Jackson's coach, then there's a 75 percent chance that I'll play. Seventy-five." With Kobe on board, the U.S. shouldn't fear Angola. Next five: Vince Carter, Allen Iverson, Tracy McGrady, Chris Webber, Ben Wallace. (Note: After we win the gold, let's have the first five and second five play for the real medal). Last two: Pierce, Wally Szczerbiak. (Because you need shooters in the international game). That's a Dream Team all right. But as good as the legendary first one? "The talent that they had, from Magic to Michael to Bird, to all the great players they had on that team -- it was unbelievable," Kobe says. "That's a once in a lifetime team. This wouldn't be close to that. It would just be an Olympic team." One that should be good as gold.
Damn I cannot stand Shaq. What a friggin' baby. He needs his coach, hos backcourt star, and what else? A self-wiping toilet and some Nestle Crunch vending machines? Even then, a 75% chance. Idiot. He's a disgusting example of what's wrong with the NBA and the USA being able to represent the country with it's best. Loser.
sczerbiak over ray allen? that would just piss off one of the most loyal stars in American b-ball history. and be a loss of talent.
This same info is over in the Rockets Forum (there's a link so you can vote). I'll say the same thing here as there. Because of the debacle at the Worlds, we have to qualify in Brazil next summer or we don't go to Athens in 2004. I wouldn't let a single d**n one of them bask in the Olympic spotlight who wouldn't go slug it out for berth next summer in Brazil. I'm still PO'd about Indianapolis.
If we are really wanting to show what league is the best, sending our best players isn't going to satisfy me. I wish they'd send the Title team, instead, and let the head coach select replacements for any foreign players. Even if the title team has a leader who is a foreigner, the coach can certainly find someone similar. The point is, Argentina didn't beat us with a superstar. What the US needs to show is that teamwork of NBA championship team include defensive teamwork that will be hard for a foreign all-star teams to replicate. Since this is a pipe-dream, I wish they would select the best, most dedicated defenders and one superstar. I want to win the Gold the way an NBA Title is won, with a superstar and a freaking smothering ass defense. That is America's trademark winning style since Detroit won its first ring. Everyone winning team had smothering defense. It is our style. If we want to take this Gold thing seriously, we need to have a style.
That is a first rate idea. Although being from Australia, couldn't you just send the Grizzlies or the Knicks to represent you guys? And have you replacements picked from the NBDL?
Well, at least I'll have something fun to watch next olympics. Francis better be on that team. He's easily playing at dream team level right now.
The only problem I have with that is the fact that most defensive minded players are not good shooters. The International game is designed so that shooters excel. Nothink pissed me off more than seeing Ben Wallace brick free throw after free throw. All the other teams had to do was hack guys like Wallace, and Jay Williams because they knew neither of those guys were going to make their free throws. I agree with a guy like Ray Allen being on the team, and I also think Finley should be invited back. Besides Pierce he was the only guy that showed any heart at the World games. I also like the idea of just sending the NBA Champions to compete. The coach can replace the International players on the team with other NBA'ers like someone already mentioned. Plus if a guy can't compete (or doesn't want to) then they also can be replaced with other NBA'ers.
The idea that the best defensive players are not good shooters is misguided. There are scores of Hall of Famers scorers who were 1st team defense. Kobe and McGrady are. Besides that, Vernon was a shooter. Horry is a shooter. Fox can hit it. Kidd and Payton are 1st teamers on defense. You could pit them with Duncan and have 40% of the all-team defensive team. Anyhow, the point is that one superstar and a star with a smothering defense has won title after title. And if you don't think that formula is better than fielding an All-Star team...then you don't appreciate the fact that defense wins in the NBA and defense is our style. If we lose in the Olympics with Garnett and Kobe and 3 Robert Horry's .... well fine....we can't beat them. But the point is, our style is defense. Play like an American NBA championship team. Don't play like an NBA All-Star team.
I'm glad to hear that Kobe's itching to play, but disappointed that it takes a titanic USA meltdown before anyone gives a darn and shows some pride.
I second you, Hoop-T. I recognize a lot of guys don't appreciate the honor of playing in the Olympics. When the league you play and dominate in is (for the moment) better than Olympic competition (which is not the case for most Olympic events), it's more understandable that playing in the Olympics isn't as big a deal. But so what. If I'm the Olympic committee, I'm not going to beg guys to come play. If the love of the game, the joy of competition, and the chance to represent one's country isn't enough to make you want to play, then SCREW YOU. I don't care if it means the difference between medaling or not medaling. Yes, I want the best the U.S. has to offer to represent the red, white, and blue, but more importantly, I want sportsmen with pride and humility, guys who will leave it all out on the floor and appreciate what they're a part of to represent my country. I actually don't have as many issues with Shaq as many people, but you know what, Mr. O'Neal, you offend me. I don't expect everyone on the team to be vociferous flag wavers sweating patriotism. I recognize it's sacrificing the entire summer break after a hard 82-game regular season, plus playoffs. But it's still an honor, and at least be mindful of that. Do me a favor and if you'd rather sit on your ass than play at the Olympics, then do so. Tell your buddy Kobe to f*** off and do what you ought not have to be wheedled into doing.
