For those of you who say that playing in the Olympics is not important . . .

[smeagol]

Imagine the following scenario:

The US dollar takes a massive nosedive, 1 Euro = $1,000

The best American basketball players all go to play to Europe. The best players in the NBA are Jacques Vaughn and the Red Rocket.

This has been going on for a while to the point the US hasn't won a medal in the Olympics for years.

Why? Because Tau, Real Madrid, Kinder Bologna, Olympiakos, etc, etc won't let the American players play in the Olympics.

What say you?

[honestfool84]

i say this is a stupid statement.

[smeagol]

i say this is a stupid statement.

Which one honest fool?

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Imagine the following scenario:

None of that shit happens.

[Brutalis]

:lmao

[Dex]

I say that 1 Euro will never equal 1,000 Dollars because the global economy simply won't allow for it.

[T Park]

I'd say this is the worst comparison on Spurstalk I've seen in quite a while.

[smeagol]

I'd say you guys even more stupid than what I thought and incapable of thinking outside you red, white and blue box.

[MannyIsGod]

I'd say you guys even more stupid than what I thought and incapable of thinking outside you red, white and blue box.


Classic.

:lol

[smeagol]

Classic.

:lol

What's classic?

Enlighten me.

[smeagol]

Ok, for the ones who took offense on the 1 Euro = $1,000 . . . assume the exchange rate is 1 Euro = $3

[Allanon]

2nd Tier NBA players would play in Europe but the Superstars will never go play in Europe because it's not competitive enough. If you want to be the best, you must play against the best.

Euro basketball is still no match for the NBA. If you take the Euroleague championship CSKA Moscow against the Clippers, the Clippers would probably win.

The only way you get competitors like Kobe, LeBron, Duncan to play on a Europe team is if they're 40 years old. Guys like Josh Childress who are above average scrubs like Europe because of the money...they don't care as much about being the best.

[timvp]

2nd Tier NBA players would play in Europe but the Superstars will never go play in Europe because it's not competitive enough. If you want to be the best, you must play against the best.

Euro basketball is still no match for the NBA. If you take the Euroleague championship CSKA Moscow against the Clippers, the Clippers would probably win.

The only way you get competitors like Kobe, LeBron, Duncan to play on a Europe team is if they're 40 years old. Guys like Josh Childress who are above average scrubs like Europe because of the money...they don't care as much about being the best.Fail. Pay anyone in the NBA enough and they will go play anywhere.

[timvp]

Imagine the following scenario:

The US dollar takes a massive nosedive, 1 Euro = $1,000

The best American basketball players all go to play to Europe. The best players in the NBA are Jacques Vaughn and the Red Rocket.

This has been going on for a while to the point the US hasn't won a medal in the Olympics for years.

Why? Because Tau, Real Madrid, Kinder Bologna, Olympiakos, etc, etc won't let the American players play in the Olympics.

What say you?I'd say good because the Olympics are corrupt.

[ChumpDumper]

Imagine the following scenario:

The US dollar takes a massive nosedive, 1 Euro = $1,000

The best American basketball players all go to play to Europe. The best players in the NBA are Jacques Vaughn and the Red Rocket.

This has been going on for a while to the point the US hasn't won a medal in the Olympics for years.

Why? Because Tau, Real Madrid, Kinder Bologna, Olympiakos, etc, etc won't let the American players play in the Olympics.

What say you?I say let US college kids play. The other teams might have a chance again.

[ChumpDumper]

I'd say good because the Olympics are corrupt.And that.

From top to bottom.

[Brutalis]

I'd say good because the Olympics are corrupt.

Yep. Just ask Tim Duncan!

[Cherry]

Imagine the following scenario:

Tau, Real Madrid, Kinder Bologna, Olympiakos, etc, etc won't let the American players play in the Olympics.

What say you?

:greedy "Business are business" :greedy
(es difícil explicar lo que no pueden entender)

[ducks]

I say all pro players can not play
not just pro basketball players
the games are suppose to be for amatues

[ducks]

Imagine the following scenario:

The US dollar takes a massive nosedive, 1 Euro = $1,000

The best American basketball players all go to play to Europe. The best players in the NBA are Jacques Vaughn and the Red Rocket.

This has been going on for a while to the point the US hasn't won a medal in the Olympics for years.

Why? Because Tau, Real Madrid, Kinder Bologna, Olympiakos, etc, etc won't let the American players play in the Olympics.

What say you?
the reason they have not won the gold is because they pick the wrong players

if they picked the spurs they would win the gold every year

[MannyIsGod]

What's classic?

Enlighten me.

Go reread your post.

[Sense]

I thought that whole bitching was over...

why are you making this thread? It's just going to start it again.

[Pero]

2nd Tier NBA players would play in Europe but the Superstars will never go play in Europe because it's not competitive enough. If you want to be the best, you must play against the best.

Euro basketball is still no match for the NBA. If you take the Euroleague championship CSKA Moscow against the Clippers, the Clippers would probably win.

Fail. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=2616303

:blah

[Allanon]

Fail. Pay anyone in the NBA enough and they will go play anywhere.

Really, you know this for a fact? How much do you think you'd have to pay Kobe or LeBron to go to Europe? How much would Duncan sell himself for?

Manu stayed in San Antonio for less money and can probably make even more money in Europe right now.

The best players are the best because they want to be the best, not because of the money. Feel free to bump this thread when Kobe goes to play for Tau Cermica or maybe the billionaire owners of Olympiakos of Greece :D


Fail. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=2616303

:blah
That's an exhibition game :)

[smeagol]

Go reread your post.

No need to reread it.

I simply through the nationalistic card to three or four posters who can't force themselves to imagine a scenario because they arer obtuse.

You think I'm an America hater and you could not be farthest from the truth.

[smeagol]

2nd Tier NBA players would play in Europe but the Superstars will never go play in Europe because it's not competitive enough. If you want to be the best, you must play against the best.

Euro basketball is still no match for the NBA. If you take the Euroleague championship CSKA Moscow against the Clippers, the Clippers would probably win.

The only way you get competitors like Kobe, LeBron, Duncan to play on a Europe team is if they're 40 years old. Guys like Josh Childress who are above average scrubs like Europe because of the money...they don't care as much about being the best.

You miss the fucking point (as many others before you).

Simply imagine a scenario where the best NBA players go to play to Europe. And the European clubs won't allow them to play in the Olympics.

[smeagol]

I say let US college kids play. The other teams might have a chance again.

Nah . . . other countries' NT teams can beat the US if the US does not bring their best players (see 2002 through 2006).

Try again.

[smeagol]

I'd say good because the Olympics are corrupt.

Yes I know. Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt probably take performance enhancing drugs.

[Allanon]

You miss the fucking point (as many others before you).

Simply imagine a scenario where the best NBA players go to play to Europe. And the European clubs won't allow them to play in the Olympics.

An impossible point? Why not trade Bonner for LeBron too while you are at it? :D

[jmard5]

the reason they have not won the gold is because they pick the wrong players

if they picked the spurs they would win the gold every year

I doubt the Spurs would win the Olympics without Parker, Ginobili and Oberto.

[smeagol]

An impossible point? Why not trade Bonner for LeBron too while you are at it? :D

Yes, it is an impossible scenario for US fans. I know. It will never happen.

But just try to make an effort . . . ya know the saying "put yourself in other people's shoes" . . . use your imagination.

Once you mind grasps the idea, and I'm confident you can do it, then you will realize how Argentine fans feel (and fans from countries feel) when US fans say Manu, or Z, Nocioni, or Parker, or Dirk, etc, etc should not play for their NT.

[smeagol]

I doubt the Spurs would win the Olympics without Parker, Ginobili and Oberto.

Don't bother. He is mentally challenged.

[mrspurs]

I say you've got a bunch of scrubs on your list compared to the NBA. The Olympics are a joke, the refs. in all of the sports cheat. Its just a big event that the world can watch. Except for the athletes and their close familys, all we care about is a USA win. As a Spurs Fan only when it comes to Professional Basketball. The Olympics is not important as the San Antonio Spurs. Never has been, never will be.

[texbound]

Really, you know this for a fact? How much do you think you'd have to pay Kobe or LeBron to go to Europe? How much would Duncan sell himself for?


well, Kobe hs already stated he'd strongly consider playing in Europe for $50 million a season. Scratch that, he would leave the NBA for that money...

After hearing about King James and the offers he may receive to play overseas for the rumored amount of $50 million a year, Bryant said he wouldn't mind playing for an Italian team if offered the same price.

“I’d go. I’d probably go,” said Bryant, during a USA Basketball press conference on Friday morning. “Like Milan or something like that, where I grew up or something like that… Peace out.”

Bryant continued: “Do you know any reasonable person that would turn down 50 (million dollars)?”

[WalterBenitez]

Going to Europe is about money, not about the euroleague; Take this, before 2010 a "star" would be playing in Europe or China.

[pad300]

Yes, it is an impossible scenario for US fans. I know. It will never happen.

But just try to make an effort . . . ya know the saying "put yourself in other people's shoes" . . . use your imagination.

Once you mind grasps the idea, and I'm confident you can do it, then you will realize how Argentine fans feel (and fans from countries feel) when US fans say Manu, or Z, Nocioni, or Parker, or Dirk, etc, etc should not play for their NT.

No, it's YOU who just doesn't get it.
Hell, I'm a Canadian, if the US national team's jet falls out of the sky, I won't cheer, but I'm not gonna shed a lot of tears either.

It's not about healthy player X going to play in the Olympics. It's about a guy who's gimped (which Manu currently is, and definitely was) going to play. You don't see LA fans crying about Pau or Dallas fans crying about Dirk. Both of them were healthy. You see Rockets fans crying about Yao because he's not - he really needs some time off.

The NBA has specifically gone out of it's way to accommodate the international basketball agenda. It has made it against the CBA to put a clause in player contracts prohibiting the player from international competition. However, that is not there for the national federations to abuse by damaging the assets that make the NBA the best league on the planet...

You see Spurs fans crying about Manu because he should have been resting and then having surgery earlier, rather than re-stressing it and putting off surgery so late, such that injuries that happened last season impact the upcoming one. A lot of the Argentinean fans apparently expect loyalty to be a one-way street - the team and fans associated should be loyal to the player, while the player can take the millions and do whatever he wants... It doesn't actually work that way...A close analogy to what Gino did this offseason is Shaq's bullshit when he was with the lakers:


O'Neal could have had surgery on his toe early in the summer (which would have allowed him to return to playing sooner), but he decided to wait and have the surgery performed not long before the Lakers' pre-season training camp began. He said, "I got hurt on company time, so I’ll heal on company time."

He got his ass chewed by everyone for that bit of attitude. I'll give Manu this, at least he had something more important than his summer vacation on his mind when he put off his surgery.

[jay014]

You miss the fucking point (as many others before you).

Simply imagine a scenario where the best NBA players go to play to Europe. And the European clubs won't allow them to play in the Olympics.

Fuck the Olympics! What if NBA clubs don't allow Europeans or from anywhere else to play in the Olympics what would team Argentina be without the their top 5 playing in the NBA right now.

[spursfan09]

I do not think anybody here thinks the Olympics are not important. Manu was unhealthy when he played and now he was injured to top everything off. We have every right to be a little upset that our star guard will not be playing at the beginning of the season. Why is this even a debate now? What's done is done. manu played already...

[century]

The US dollar takes a massive nosedive, 1 Euro = $1,000................What say you?

You're a blithering idiot. At that point nobody in this country would give a fuck about basketball.

[Obstructed_View]

I'd love it. I'd rather have college kids playing for the olympic team because it means something to them, even if they don't win every time. You forget that the rest of the world fucked it up by allowing their pros to play in the olympics. The US only started sending pros to prove a point. Now that the point has been proven, it's time to start sending amateur basketball players again IMO.

Also, if the Spurs didn't stop Manu from going, which they clearly didn't, even to the detriment of their own team, the statement about "not allowing players to play" is completely fallacious.

[ChumpDumper]

Nah . . . other countries' NT teams can beat the US if the US does not bring their best players (see 2002 through 2006).

Try again.They still aren't bringing all their best players. They are just put in a little more effort this time (see 2008).

Try again.

[ChumpDumper]

You miss the fucking point (as many others before you).

Simply imagine a scenario where the best NBA players go to play to Europe. And the European clubs won't allow them to play in the Olympics.I imagined it.

I just don't care that much.

You do.

Immensely.

We get it.

The entrance of pros in the Olympics was pretty much the final blow to any real interest I had in the games. Now I just see it for the corrupt money grab that it is.

[Manudona]

I'd say good because the Olympics are corrupt.

Sure, unlike the pristine clear NBA.

[urunobili]

smeagol... this may have been a little too over creative... with this case scenario the Argentine basketball league would be more powerful than the NBA....

[Kori Ellis]

Simply imagine a scenario where the best NBA players go to play to Europe. And the European clubs won't allow them to play in the Olympics.

Many/most American NBA fans wouldn't care. Because Americans (generally) don't care that much about the Olympics.

I only watched about 15-20 minutes of Olympic basketball this summer and I LOVE basketball. Like a lot of people here, the Olympics just don't interest me.

[smeagol]

They are just put in a little more effort this time (see 2008).

Try again.


They put a lot more effort.

[smeagol]

No, it's YOU who just doesn't get it.
Hell, I'm a Canadian, if the US national team's jet falls out of the sky, I won't cheer, but I'm not gonna shed a lot of tears either.

It's not about healthy player X going to play in the Olympics. It's about a guy who's gimped (which Manu currently is, and definitely was) going to play. You don't see LA fans crying about Pau or Dallas fans crying about Dirk. Both of them were healthy. You see Rockets fans crying about Yao because he's not - he really needs some time off.

The NBA has specifically gone out of it's way to accommodate the international basketball agenda. It has made it against the CBA to put a clause in player contracts prohibiting the player from international competition. However, that is not there for the national federations to abuse by damaging the assets that make the NBA the best league on the planet...

You see Spurs fans crying about Manu because he should have been resting and then having surgery earlier, rather than re-stressing it and putting off surgery so late, such that injuries that happened last season impact the upcoming one. A lot of the Argentinean fans apparently expect loyalty to be a one-way street - the team and fans associated should be loyal to the player, while the player can take the millions and do whatever he wants... It doesn't actually work that way...

You don't get it, moron. This is not about Manu's injury.

[smeagol]

You're a blithering idiot. At that point nobody in this country would give a fuck about basketball.

:lmao :lmao :lmao

Please tell me you're not this stupid . . .

[smeagol]

I imagined it.

I just don't care that much.


You don't care that the US never wins a gold medal in Olympic basketball again. Ever.

Ok.



You do.

Immensely.


Is that a sin?




The entrance of pros in the Olympics was pretty much the final blow to any real interest I had in the games. Now I just see it for the corrupt money grab that it is.


I guess it must be because you say so.

[ducks]

Yes I know. Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt probably take performance enhancing drugs.

100 million in endoresments:wow:wow:wow:wow:wow

[pad300]

You don't get it, moron. This is not about Manu's injury.


Really...

Look, Parker's playing for the French NT. You see dozens of threads on this forum griping about it? I sure don't... The only reason people are fussing about Manu playing for the Argie NT, is that he was risking this coming NBA season...

Manu's injury is the only reason people are complaining about him participating in the Olympics.

[Cherry]

Manu's injury is the only reason people are complaining about him participating in the Olympics.

Yeah, Smeagol you're an idiot. We can't blame the NBA world if Manu play injured the WCF risking this coming NBA season, because they pay him for do it. Let's blame Manu for the Olympics. Is more convenient.

[underdawg]

Yeah, Smeagol you're an idiot. We can't blame the NBA world if Manu play injured the WCF risking this coming NBA season, because they pay him for do it. Let's blame Manu for the Olympics. Is more convenient.

You're right - prior to the WCF, Manu's injury was so obvious with all of those other playoff games that he disappeared. Who in their right mind would have let Manu play?

To answer the OP's question - barely anyone would care. If our top American players were already playing in Europe, pro-basketball would be pretty much dead in the US. It's already 2nd behind the NFL anyways, so baseball or hockey would take its place.

[Bobsyeruncle]

I'd say you guys even more stupid than what I thought and incapable of thinking outside you red, white and blue box.
That was precious, smeagol - STUPID and precious.:rolleyes

[smeagol]

That was precious, smeagol - STUPID and precious.:rolleyes

WTF is wrong with you guys?

The comment was totally applicable to some of the people who posted first on this thread.

I described an obviously made up and totally improbable scenario, with the only objective of trying to get some of you knuckleheads to imagine how you would feel if Lebron, Kobe, CP3, TD, KG etc, etc, etc were not allowed to play for the US NT, and instead of describing how you would feel, you question the scenario using "the USD will never sink that low" or "the NBA players will never go to play to Europe".

[AnotherArgie]

It's quite difficult to have an amateur only olympics, IMO. What's "amateur" anyway? Quite some good players in FIBA become pros at 15-16 y/o, 18 in the worst case.

The current situation is not that bad. Injuries happen. Bitching about that is like bitching about the Scola trade. It's pointless.

[Obstructed_View]

WTF is wrong with you guys?

The comment was totally applicable to some of the people who posted first on this thread.

I described an obviously made up and totally improbable scenario, with the only objective of trying to get some of you knuckleheads to imagine how you would feel if Lebron, Kobe, CP3, TD, KG etc, etc, etc were not allowed to play for the US NT, and instead of describing how you would feel, you question the scenario using "the USD will never sink that low" or "the NBA players will never go to play to Europe".

Some of us said we'd be happy if that happened, and unless I'm mistaken you seem to have completely ignored those people. I'd have been just as unhappy with Timmy going to play in the olympics instead of having surgery as I am that Manu did. I don't give a shit about a stupid gold medal for the US if the Spurs lose a championship. I personally care more about the people in the Spurs organization, wherever they're from, and I'm more than a little sickened by the Olympics in general.

[Slippy]

Some of us said we'd be happy if that happened, and unless I'm mistaken you seem to have completely ignored those people. I'd have been just as unhappy with Timmy going to play in the olympics instead of having surgery as I am that Manu did. I don't give a shit about a stupid gold medal for the US if the Spurs lose a championship. I personally care more about the people in the Spurs organization, wherever they're from, and I'm more than a little sickened by the Olympics in general.

It's safe to say most of the local folk here wouldn't care as much but going by the reaction of the US hierarchy in the Athens debacle. From getting 3 year commitments to picking a more balanced TEAM. You simply wouldn't tolerate it. There would be a lot of bad publicity for teams that don't allow their players to represent their country . Why because Americans couldn't handle not been the best in the Sport they invented and have dominated for so long. Pride would play a big factor.

[Slippy]

Want to clarify i wasn't disagreeing about the Manu issue in relation to the spurs. My post was in response to the topic of the thread.

[v2freak]

WTF is wrong with you guys?

The comment was totally applicable to some of the people who posted first on this thread.

I described an obviously made up and totally improbable scenario, with the only objective of trying to get some of you knuckleheads to imagine how you would feel if Lebron, Kobe, CP3, TD, KG etc, etc, etc were not allowed to play for the US NT, and instead of describing how you would feel, you question the scenario using "the USD will never sink that low" or "the NBA players will never go to play to Europe".

I think I get what you're saying.

If the Lakers didn't want Bryant to play, I wouldn't fault them. They pay him a hell of a lot of money and like any other corporation, they want to protect their investment. Kobe Bryants do not come by every year.

[Obstructed_View]

It's safe to say most of the local folk here wouldn't care as much but going by the reaction of the US hierarchy in the Athens debacle. From getting 3 year commitments to picking a more balanced TEAM. You simply wouldn't tolerate it. There would be a lot of bad publicity for teams that don't allow their players to represent their country . Why because Americans couldn't handle not been the best in the Sport they invented and have dominated for so long. Pride would play a big factor.

Basketball was invented by a Canadian. Just FYI.

[Slippy]

Basketball was invented by a Canadian. Just FYI.


You dont say . Im sure you already know then that he did it in the US.

[v2freak]

Works like GNP. Credit may go to Canada.

[Slippy]

:lol US college with US students ownership should go to the US