US Olympic Basketball

**Santa** · 08-11-2008, 01:57 AM

Am I the only one that hates seeing Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, et al as "Olympians" in Beijing? They beat China 101-70 and I didnt even want to watch that because thats totally boring.

For the major team sports we oughta have college kids go out there and see what they can do. Now that would be exciting because you wouldnt necessarily expect us to get the gold medal. Currently, if we dont get the gold medal in basketball, ill be pissed off. Im sure the older dudes here remember the 1980 hockey team that defied all odds--ive only seen movies about it. Ya just dont get that kind of excitement anymore because all these overpaid, professional athletes are dominating every team they come up against. Its a shame.

**Tybalt** · 08-11-2008, 02:01 AM

The Olympics are fully retarded.

**jepzilla** · 08-11-2008, 02:02 AM

I agree. Also Kenya should only let fat people run the marathon, to keep people guessing.

**Bommando** · 08-11-2008, 02:59 AM

Nothing could make basketball any more boring than it already is.

I do think that the Olympics should field the best of the best in every sport, but they need to start culling sports that aren't truly "International" or at least have a good worldwide acceptance. Sports like Basketball, Baseball, American Football etc are specialised sports adapted by the USA. Sure, every sport started somewhere, but these are very modern sports with a very specialised interest group and skill-base limited pretty much to the USA.

I would feel the same about introducing a sport such as Rugby or Cricket to the Olympics. The whole idea is ludicrous. Sure, other countries play, but if Rugby and Cricket found their way in, you'd have Australia, New Zealand or South Africa winning every podium. What a waste of time.

Team sports seem to suffer more from this than individual sports. To start a team sport program, a country needs to have a decent professional competition and public interest to make it work. Not so with individual sports.

**BHack** · 08-11-2008, 03:47 AM

Te olympic commentator said today that basketball is now arguably more popular in China than soccer is. Who knew!?

They all are wearing Kobe's jersey.

Sparda · 08-11-2008, 04:57 AM

...ok

Lucky Shot · 08-11-2008, 05:02 AM

I disagree that it should be college kids, the Olympics are about sending the best of the best to represent your country. Many of the other athletes outside of basketball are "pros" who earn millions off of endorsements and competitions, why should this sport be any different. The bit about the college basketball players too doesn't make sense once you consider that the best collegiate talent only stays for a year, or in the case of Lebron James, never even steps foot on a college campus.

**jepzilla** · 08-11-2008, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bommando

Nothing could make basketball any more boring than it already is.

I do think that the Olympics should field the best of the best in every sport, but they need to start culling sports that aren't truly "International" or at least have a good worldwide acceptance. Sports like Basketball, Baseball, American Football etc are specialised sports adapted by the USA. Sure, every sport started somewhere, but these are very modern sports with a very specialised interest group and skill-base limited pretty much to the USA.

I would feel the same about introducing a sport such as Rugby or Cricket to the Olympics. The whole idea is ludicrous. Sure, other countries play, but if Rugby and Cricket found their way in, you'd have Australia, New Zealand or South Africa winning every podium. What a waste of time.

Team sports seem to suffer more from this than individual sports. To start a team sport program, a country needs to have a decent professional competition and public interest to make it work. Not so with individual sports.

It's not about how many countries play, it's about how much the media is willing to 'gift' the IOC commissioners with. They'd make synchronized farting an olympic sport if there were enough advertising dollars to pay for the bribes.

**Santa** · 08-11-2008, 09:08 AM

I guess I just like the tradition of the Olympics. In the original Olympics in Greece, you were supposed to be an all around athlete. It was considered cheating if you practiced a specific event because it showed you cared more about the event rather than the fact that you got the opportunity to participate. Although I dont think the modern Olympics should have that extreme of rules (no practicing) I do like the idea that the Olympics is more about the camaraderie and the opportunity to compete, rather than having the best of the best duke it out. Its also funner for me to see people ive never heard of compete for their country. But I can definitely see the other point of view, and I think it basically comes down to what your opinion is.

I definitely agree with Bommando that if a team sport (or individual sport) isnt widely played around the world, it shouldnt be in the Olympics as it contradicts the whole 'opportunity to compete' thing. Olympic basketball is essentially masturbation for Americans, and that is a sin.

**DownEast** · 08-11-2008, 01:16 PM

The US tried that before, not haveing 'Pro' players. The problem then was that other countries did use Pro's and countries like Russia had State Sponsered teams, which are essentailly Pro teams...The up side was when our non-Pro team beat a Pro team, like in the 1980(?) winter olympics Hockey.... But in essense, shouldn't each country provide thier best players to the competition? That's what we are doing when we allow the Pro's to play. Sucks for the College kids, but is fair for the Pro's, who also wish to play for thier countries...

Anyway, China's team had NO speed and very little teamwork, they deserved to lose....and we didn't need Pro's to do it.