Kidd had to have surgery. Allen and Carter were getting married/expecting children. What were the excuses of Garnett, McGrady, and Bibby? The fault of losing should be placed squarely on these players shoulders.
Damn stop making big excuses. It's over!! Blame it on the guys who are playing. Maybe you should blame it on the fans for not traveling to Athen and support their team? Maybe blame it on Rio. Maybe blame it on yourself that you thought the US was going to win the gold.
What?! This is fairly, no, definitely ridiculous. The blame of losing should be placed on the players, they went and lost. The blame of not winning a gold should be placed on these sissies who get paid $20 million and can't work summers. Is anyone else not insulted by this? Blame it on the fans who don't travel to Athens? Sorry boss, I don't have the financial and job security to take a two-week hiatus costing me thousands. I'll boo McGrady, Garnett, Bibby, and Hamilton every time I see them play for being selfish wimps. This is a slap in the face. McGrady gets paid, what, $14,487,000 a year and he can't play? I could care less about not winning a gold. The World plays good basketball, I got over that when the US got run out of THEIR OWN BUILDING in Indy 2 years ago. What troubles me is these selfish asses DECLINE invitations to the Olympics because they don't want to work too hard. Give me a break YOU GET PAID TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS A YEAR! Don't stick up for these asses because they play for the Rockets. Yao is over there sacrificing for his country, and look what he did. Carried his team to the medal round, good for him. These selfish, arrogant babies like Garnett, who has the audacity to pretend he's in the military with his stupid comments in last year's playoffs (nice job backing down to Peeler you puss) and then needs a summer off instead of represting his country. But I can't even get that mad at him since HE'S DONE IT BEFORE. McGrady played for a bad team, took 15 games off last year after complaining and leading his team to a 0-20 record and then can't play in the summer? He's too busy orchestrating a trade out of the city that gave him tens of millions more than anyone else would becuase they believed he'd be a star. Things get bad and he wants out. Then he commits and plays in the qualifying and backs out because he's a baby. What a loser, him, Hamilton, Bibby, all of them. It's pathetic and sad. Soldiers are fighting wars right now and getting CALLED BACK beyond their call of duty and these guys can't play summer. Blame it on myself? Get a life nasty, I'll blame it on McGrady and these other losers who needed a summer off.
If I were McGrady and I hadn't signed the extension yet, I wouldn't have went too. McGrady is risking millions if he gets an injury that causes Les Alexander to pull the contract away. The extension isn't even signed yet. You can bet Ginobli would have thought twice about playing his gungho manner in the Olympics if he hadn't gotten his contract from the Spurs. Guys like Marion, AI, Odom, and Duncan are already locked into long-term contracts which are guaranteed even if they bust themselves up in the Olympics.
Not making a comment on how right or wrong T-Mac's absence is, but he does have a max contract that still runs a few seasons if he does not opt out.
TMac didn't attend because of security/terrorism concerns : http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/gersten200408230837.asp http://www.westernpolicy.org/Country Pages/OlympicWatch/ajc05142004.asp
I never understood why the Olympics was such a big deal. Serously, everyone pretending like they care now can just forget it - no way in hell you'll remember who won the 1500m track & field race or the American who came in 3rd in the marathon. Yes, it's a cool event that has obscure, infrequently televised sports (for the most part) that provide an entertaining 2+ weeks of tv - I like watching it, I do. BUT, getting mad at someone for not going is stupid. I'd MUCH MUCH MUCH rather prefer T-Mac get in shape for the Rockets season this year (which, by all accounts, he's definitely doing) than going to the Olympics. Maybe its just me, though.
To be fair: Kidd, Jermaine O'Neal, and Karla had injuries, and Kobe had legal matters to deal with. But the rest of your list is on target. BTW, I know Shaq's represented his country before, but he's 32 and this year was probably his last chance ever to play for his country in the Olympics. That would be a pretty big deal to most people.
Oh please stfu. They don't have to be there if they don't want to, and I don't want them there if they don't want to be. They get paid millions of dollars to play in the NBA, what they choose to do in their free time is their own damn business.
It depends on what you mean about the Olympics. If you're talking about the events themselves, I probably won't care too much. I'll probably care a bit about the track stuff since I like it little bit. For example, I'll try to keep up with Jeremy Wariner who ran the 400 M to see if he can beat Michael Johnson's record or not. However, I'll probably have to be reminded about most of the guys 4 or so years from now. Now, as for the Olympics as a whole, I really like them. It is just the fact that so many people from all over the world are competing for their countries that gets me all teary-eyed. I feel very proud any time an American wins a gold medal and I hear the anthem along with the flag rising to the top, causing me to get goose-bumps. That is pretty much the only reason why I would want these guys to play. In my eyes, an Olympic gold medal in basketball is much more important than anything in the NBA, including the NBA Championship. Maybe that's just me, but I'd much rather win 1 of those than 5 NBA championships, although I'd like to get both if I could. Just to stand on that platform and watch the US flag go up along with our anthem and knowing that I helped make that happen. That is why I feel some of the reasons for not going are not that great IMO, although I guess they are somewhat justifiable if they feel that the NBA is more important. If that's what they want, I guess I'm ok with it; I just don't know if I could do the same in a similiar situation. However, I don't really blame the US losses in this Olympics on the players who rejected invitations. Most of the blame in my eyes just goes to the selection committee. Just stick one shooter, like a Brent Barry, Michael Redd or whoever, and I feel as though they blow everyone out or at least get gold. Maybe this could make an Olympic gold medal more valuable to NBA players if it is harder to get than normal, causing more guys to want to go.
I'm sorry, but I can't help but think of the poster's sig that says something like, "what a guy and a girl and a midget do to a donkey is their damn business".
Nice. Same goes for Sam Cassel. On the real though, proper credit is due and should be given to Argentina for playing a great game. In stead of blaming those who chose not to go, we should focus our energies in congratulating those who own "scoreboard". Is it safe to say the likes of KG, Tmac, Jermaine and company will not be invited for Beijing 2008? Any bets?
im with everyone who blames those pusses for pussing out of the olympics. its an honor to go and represent your country on the stage where the whole world is watching, it really is. especially since that country is paying you millions to play a game. its ridiculous to not have enough pride in your country that you dont care enough to represent it. everyone who declined, with no reason(garnett, bibby, tmac) or a stupid excuse, is a deuchebag.
Well why didn't you go? And no genetics excuses - there are enough olympic sports out there that with some very hard work, regardless of body shape, anyone can at least have a shot.
