hey -- somebody who goes to other boards... like specifically Nuggest4 or MemphisX or anyone really. post this question (how big of a travesty it is that Francis isn't on the olympic team), on another board. i would really like to see what the general sporting public thinks about this. i can honestly think of it both ways. 1) the general public thinks it's unfair as Francis IS the next most notable point guard. 2) the general public finds no problem in Francis's exclusion because a play of his playing style would not put our team over the top if it's not over the top already. people are too polarized in here to come up with unbiased opinions.
You act like personal grudges aren't a part of life or the business world. Honestly, are people that surprised? You have to live with the consequences or potential consequences of your actions, and this is a consequence Steve must live with.
I agree that there MUST be some level of a grudge at work here - but there may be more to this puzzle. For those who missed it, David Strern was on HBO on Friday night and during the interview with Costas, he was asked if he was concerned becasue so many major players were backing out of the Olympics. He said that it was fine and that he wanted to replace those more experienced players with some of the future (i.e. younger) names in the league... sort of give them a chance to play for their country (since guys like Bibby want out) He opined that this might be a trend in the future - to use "college aged" professional players in the games - since they are more motivated and interested. Of course... Stevie is interested and motivated and hasn't even gotten a sniff !
I read a proposal this morning about putting an age limit of 23 on all participants and only using college players, pros under 23 and one high school standout. Allegedly, Stern said he would be interested in such a system, but only if all nations agreed on the age limit cap. Not likely.
Fine, fine. Francis is paying the cost of the decision he made years back. But, what about what Stu Jackson is doing to you? The Olympic basketball team is representing our country to the world, and the selection committee is completely screwing it up. Francis not being on the original short list is one thing -- there are other capable guards afterall that you could argue are a better team fit. But, putting guys in like Wade (who will one day be a pretty good player, but right now he's an inexperienced Francis Lite) is just a recipe for disaster. Their problems aren't confined simply to not inviting Francis. Their biggest problem is that they are hemorrhaging talent like crazy. But, sending an invite to Francis would do more to stop the bleeding than inviting kids like Wade and Anthony. Don't you care a little bit that the US will again be embarrassed on the international stage because the guys responsible won't put a high enough priority on it to win?
With the whole "Steve caused the problem" with Stu thing, don't forget that Steve and his agent made it clear as day that he didn't want to be picked by Vancouver and play SG next to Mike Bibby. They picked him anyway, knowing that he wasn't going to play for them. Sort of ironic that today Stu's problem is assembling a roster of 15 that has seen nearly that same number back out on him. Evan
http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/columnstoryS0513DENTON.htm Team USA taking shape NEWS FLASH: LeBron James, Stephon Marbury and Shawn Marion will reportedly be invited to play for Team USA in the Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. USA Basketball was forced to scramble to fill slots after Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, Ray Allen and Vince Carter had to back out because of injury, family issues or safety concerns. USA Basketball is also still waiting on word from Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Garnett, commitments that aren't likely to come with both the Lakers and Timberwolves going deep into the playoffs. James gives Team USA some sizzle to replace Bryant, Kidd and Carter. There will undoubtedly be grumbling about the 19-year-old's readiness for the worldwide stage, but he proved this season that the bigger the game, the better he plays. The only one who has a beef with James being on the team is Denver forward Carmelo Anthony, the runner-up in the Rookie of the Year award. But Anthony might have hurt his chances by saying that he only wanted to play in the Olympics if he was going to play big minutes. Orlando Magic star Tracy McGrady missed the final two weeks of the regular season with tendinitis in his knee, but he is expected to play for Team USA. Once again, Houston point guard Steve Francis was rumored to be in the running for the team, but was again passed over. Francis certainly didn't help his case this season by leading the NBA in technical fouls and feuding regularly with coach Jeff Van Gundy. But I also have it on record that Francis will never play for Team USA as long as Stu Jackson is in charge of the selection committee. Jackson was the general manager for Vancouver in 1999 when the Grizzlies drafted him with the second overall selection. Francis pouted that night and later demanded a trade to Houston. Assuredly, Jackson has not forgotten that moment. Team USA begins training July 26 in Jacksonville. The All-Star squad will play Puerto Rico in an exhibition game July 31. NEWS FLASH: The Magic and Dallas Mavericks are rumored to be considering trading Orlando's first-round pick and Grant Hill to the Mavs for small forward Antoine Walker. First things first. The mere idea of this trade is preposterous garbage. No one, not even Mark Cuban and his billions of dollars, is about to assume the contract of Hill when no one knows if he will ever play again. Hill, who has played just 47 games in four seasons because of four surgeries on his fractured left ankle, is still owed $47 million over the next three seasons. The trade, of course, would also be contingent on the Magic getting the top overall selection in the draft. The lottery on May 26 will determine the draft order. The Magic, owners of the worst record in the NBA, have the best odds at getting the top overall pick. The Magic must come out of the draft, the free-agent period and the summer trading session with either a point guard or a physical interior player. Walker, of course, is neither. Boston couldn't unload him fast enough and he was predominately a flop in Dallas this season. Walker, whose shot selection has always been a major issue, hit a mediocre 42.8 percent from the floor and was a dreadful 26.9 percent from 3-point range and 55.4 percent from the free-throw line. The one plus is that Walker has just one more season left on a contract that will pay him $14.6 million next year. Whichever team that gets him -- and yes, Cuban will gladly shop him along with the rest of the Mavs roster this summer -- can clear major salary cap room next summer. But this deal, the one with Orlando's Hill as the centerpiece, isn't happening. NEWS FLASH: Pistons coach Larry Brown irked New Jersey general manager Rod Thorn by continually crediting deposed coach Byron Scott's for the Nets' success. Brown is a chronic whiner and has complained about everything in these playoffs -- from Scott's firing to the officiating to the treatment of power forward Rasheed Wallace. In his defense, Brown is intensely loyal and feels he is merely supporting Scott, a former player of his in Indiana. But Brown has no idea what was truly going on in New Jersey and the extent of how the Nets had started to tune him out. Thorn, one of the classiest executives in the NBA, pointed out as much, telling Brown to tend to his own team. Thorn also pointed out that Brown, he of the 10 coaching jobs in college and professional basketball, had no business ripping on another team for changing coaches. Brown is upset that Scott was fired after getting the Nets to the NBA Finals each of the past two seasons. But he certainly had no problem replacing Rick Carlisle in Detroit last summer. Carlisle was fired after leading the Pistons to consecutive 50-win seasons and division titles in his first two seasons as a head coach. Brown was hired because he could supposedly take the Pistons to the level that Carlisle couldn't. Many more offensive debacles like the last two from the Pistons in Games 3 and 4 against the Nets and Brown will fall well short of that mission.
He was voted into the all star game 3 years running. I'd say he's fairly well regarded among NBA fans.
Clearly, anyone who disagrees with you is an idiot. God forbid fans get to watch the players they want in the All-Star game. Thank god we have geniuses like Stu Jackson picking the Olympic team, instead.
They may lose, but it won't be because Stu passed on Francis for personal reasons. The talent discrepancy between Francis and Wade is not that big that it would make any difference.
Just curious, How many of you will root for the US to LOSE in the Olympics, so that clowns like Stu Jackon will be embarrassed?
Nobody's going to root for them to lose, but if they do happen to stumble, you won't see many sad faces... more or less, you'll see the "Haha, I told you so" type posts. Honestly, if we're putting rookies who couldn't even get into the game on their own team's final playoff possesion on the team, this team can't be all that fun to watch or be on... I gurantee you that half of the knowledgable b-ball minds on this BBS couldn't recognize Dwayne Wade if they saw him on the street. Honestly, I'd rather Steve work on his game over the summer, and come back strong (like he did in 2002... he got jacked that summer), if he's gonna be here next year. Let those other players tire themselves out in the Olympics, defending sharp-shooting talented European teams, and dealing with all those security hassles in Greece.
I hope they win, but I don't think they will. Stu Jackson's resume is embarrassing enough as it is, win or lose.
That's fine. But then my beef is that All Star game invitations are used to define accolades and Hall-of-Fame worthiness. If its nothing more than a popularity contest for fans to see they're favorite players, than I NEVER want to hear "Well, he was a 10-time All-Star, he deserves to be in the Hall-of-Fame" Utter B.S.
I'd say the talent discrepancy is not all that big, but that there is a fairly large experience gap between the two players. And, I think that inexperience could really cost the Olympic team a lot.
