T-Mac and the olympics

Some of these guys were getting married. Some of them were expecting children. Some just wanted to take the summer off. How can we criticize them for that and then say, "Yao needs rest in the offseason! And he should be working out in the US!"?

People don't all have the same priorities. That's their business.

 

No.

Even if you disregard the huge security concerns this year - and that alone is hard to disregard - I don't feel 'ashamed' of them in the slightest. The Olympics aren't something they train for for the whole of their careers - a one time shot at the top - nor is it, in some resepects, the first trip for some of those guys anyway.

It's not even the top competition in their sport. It isn't like the gymnast or track star that works all their life to go to the Olympics.

Somehow I don't think that not going = not caring for his country.

 

some of the players have their own personal priorities.. being selected to represent your country in the olympics is a very big and great honor. and just what Rokkit said, its stupid to say that not playing/representing for your country in the olympics = hating your country or be ashamed that you turned it down. athletes do have a personal life you know? their lives doesnt always revolve on a basketball court. and if not emphasized enough, security is also a major factor here so i dont blame them. i salute all the players that's representin the country right now, but i dont have one inch of ill will towards the athletes who turned it down.

 

I really don't care that they don't compete in the Olympics ... If they do go does that make them heroes? No! It's not like going to war or anything. In most other sports, the Olympics are the pinnacle of the sport (like gymnastics, Track and Field, etc). Does that make them patriotic? No .. it just means they want to be at the top of their sport and it happens to be at the olympics. I'm sure they get pride for representing their country, but not wanting to go certainly doesnt mean they are not patriotic.

With all the corruption and politics that has surrounded the olympics in recent years, im not sure I would really want to go either.

 

Of course I'd rather K.G. and co. be there, but just because they choose not to go doesn't mean I'm gonna hate on them now. And just because they're playing doesn't mean I'll like them. My best example being Carlos Boozer, the former Dookie who SCREWED the Cavs and is now a member of the Jazz- definitely takes Stockton's place as my most hated NBA'er.

 

Ok... say he does go... and some big un-coordinated russian dude, flat-out falls on top of T-mac, breaks his legs, and he's out for the next two years... possibly his career.

These guys have nothing to prove... it isn't like track, archery, or swimming... where the competition is literally the best in the world.

The NBA players bust their ass for 10 months straight, with no days off in between... no paid vacations. Sure, its a great thing to serve your country... but honestly, the Olympics is making tons more money off these NBA guys (rather than college players), and that somehow takes away the precieved "honor" of one serving his country for these games.

 

Meh. Basketball's just a game.

 

I would blame NBA instead. There are just too many games. I think they should just play 58 games a year. Two times against the same opponent away and home. That seems to be more fair way to determine league standing. I don't understand how they came up with the number of 82.

If there are only 58 games, I bet more players will consider playing for their country.

 

But there would be far less money . Never gonna happen.

 

If the U.S. was clearly the best, then these arguments would hold.

But they lost, and came in 4th or 5th.

Suddenly, winning the NBA is not being the World Champion.

So if you want to be the best, you need this title.

If you're getting married, that can be delayed. If you're getting a child, that's understandeable.

But not going for security concerns? That's no good.

Everyone else is there. All the other players from all the other countries will be there. They aren't only going to target NBA players. They MAY target Americans, but in all other sports, all the major players go. No one declines because of security concerns just because they're American - except in basketball.

I hope they lose. Then they'll start taking things seriously, and the media will REALLY grill the top players for not going.

 

They'll be the most high-profile athletes from the highest profile country in a country where security is a cluster****. I can see security concerns being a real issue.

 

Why? it's just the corrupt Olympics anyway

 

I'm really glad that most of you guys don't buy into that whole they're not patriotic argument. Nothing's worse than these talk show clowns comparing these guys to other Olympic athletes whose entire life revolves around getting to the Olympics.

 

Surely there's something more tangible to talk about than questioning one's patriotism. Everyday its like one whiner after another just wah wah wah'ing. sheesh dude did you actually have to start a thread about NBA players not going to Greece? Until you've played an 82 game season in the NBA, then start questioning others and their decisions on whether or not to play. You have no idea what it is like, and for you to be ignorant of that, just makes this thread even more wah wah wah-like. Get a pet, get a hug, and start thinking positively, pointing out the faults in others just brings us down. Cmon man we're from Houston not Sesame Street

 

Garnett went last time and won a gold with Rudy. Same for Vince Carter and Ray Allen I think. This was also the first "public viewing" party for Yao outside of China when he fouled out vs. the US squad.

 

Thank you!!!

 

T-Mac sucks, he hates America and all that it stands for, and, and don't forget, if you don't play in the Olympic Games, the terrorists win!

 

Would you represent America in IRAQ? IF you don't, the terrorists
win.