Some Americans have an at ude of disliking the spoiled athletes on the team when the US isn't a lock to win so that they can freely criticize them should they happen to lose. We seem to think that we should never lose a basketball game under any cir stances. I'm not thrilled with the idea of sending professionals to compete in international compe ions, but I will root for the US team if they put Ted Kennedy and Paris Hilton on it.
That’s not cool at all. I’ve always thought it weird how in the US many fans are more loyal to individual players over their supposed teams. This loyalty towards players instead of the team is totally misguided. The national team represents the USA. You should support your team regardless of who is on the squad.
And oh yeah: FIBA sucks.
I like to root for teams when I have an emotional connection to the team (i.e. a Spur is playing and I happen to like that particular Spur), or when a team is playing its ass off and not taking any win for granted.
I'm certainly not against the US team, and from all the reports it looks like they're taking this tournament a lot more seriously than before, but I want them to show up and play like they really want it. Not just be on the court because they somehow got pressured into playing.
So, it doesn't matter to you who is on the team?
And do you think it should?
I'd have been just as happy rooting for college players that come in fourth and are happy to be there. Who is on the team matters to me because I'm a basketball fan who thinks he knows more about basketball than the people selecting the last half dozen international squads. It does not, however, change the amount that I root for the US team one scintilla. The view probably comes across harsher than I intend, and it wasn't directed towards anyone specifically. Although my best friend called me after the olympics to tell me what a spoiled piece of Tim Duncan was for not staying in the olympic village. I'm sure that call would not have happened if the USA had won the gold medal.
That makes sense to me.
I am just curious to learn other people's persepctive because I think it helps improve my own.
So thanks.
Preliminary Round Team USA TV Schedule on ESPN2
Either set the VCRs, DVRs or get up reeeeaaaaallly early.
Saturday, August 19
12:00 am EST
USA vs. Puerto Rico
Sunday, August 20
5:30 am EST
USA vs. China
Tuesday, August 22
5:30 am EST
USA vs. Slovenia
Wednesday, August 23
5:30 am EST
USA vs. Italy
Thursday, August 24
5:30 am EST
USA vs. Senegal
Perfect for us, we won't be asleep yet
Perfect for me, I won't be asleep yet
Perfect for us, we won't be asleep yet
No doubt.
I'll be setting the coffeepot timer a bit early to get up for work.
I'll be setting the coffeepot timer a bit early to get up for work.
It'll be interesting to see how many post in the game blog thread.
Tuesday, August 22
5:30 am EST
USA vs. Slovenia
I am someone who roots FOR people and FOR teams- as opposed to AGAINST anyone. I chose the word "people" and not players on purpose. There are people whom I support and whom I hope to see do well and be happy; therefore, I root for them and subsequently for their team's success- no matter what team they are on at the time. I think that is what you are talking about- you root for the team because of a particular person who is on it. Also, there are team "en ies" for which I root because of their "existence" no matter who is on them- like a national team- or my alma mater.
FIBA sucks
July 25, 2006
Sports of The Times
Krzyzewski Is Putting His Reputation on the Line
By WILLIAM C. RHODEN
MIKE KRZYZEWSKI climbed into the USA Basketball team bus Sunday afternoon after another practice. Krzyzewski, the coach of the men’s national team, liked what he had seen. “The first five days have been really good,” he said during a telephone interview.
Tryouts for the team that will compete next month in the world basketball championship in Japan began last week in Las Vegas with a combination of megastars — Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony — and salt-of-the-earth stars like Bruce Bowen.
“These guys are professionals,” Krzyzewski said. “They’ve been tremendous in making the transition from being maybe the best player on their team to one of a lot of good players on this team.
“They’re all trying to fit in. There have been no ego problems; there have been no problems. They’ve shown already that they’re playing for the name on the front of the jersey, not the back. They’ve played and practiced like it’s an honor to be here. I’ve been pleased.”
The United States is attempting to find its place on a global compe ive frontier that the National Basketball Association helped shape. This universe of basketball has proved to be far more challenging than ever imagined. In 2004, the United States earned an Olympic bronze medal, a failure to some. The call went out to get better shooters and better defenders. The reality is that many of the nation’s best players do not want to give up summers after having already played an eight-month N.B.A. season.
This year Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett declined invitations. The idea of playing for the name on the front of the jersey and not the one on the back is all well and good, but when the names on the back are not O’Neal, Garnett and Duncan, the challenge becomes more steep for the United States. But beyond who is on the roster, the fall of the United States from basketball’s apex is an instructive lesson about complacency and what happens when greatness is taken for granted.
“You have to pay attention to the little things,” Krzyzewski said. “We have to treat everything with importance. Whereas before we didn’t have to do that, and we would still win. As a result of that, we were losing a little bit along the way.”
•For this coach, restoring what had been lost may be the greatest challenge yet to maintaining his reputation, which until this year had been largely unblemished. Krzyzewski drew criticism this spring for his early silence in the Duke lacrosse team scandal, which resulted in the indictment of three players on rape charges.
Nevertheless, the experience was a cautionary tale about diligence and coasting on a reputation. “What’s happened at Duke over the last few months has shown that even a great ins ution can get knocked back,” he said. “But my feeling is, how do we figure out how to get back, and we will.”
If the United States fails to win the world championship this summer and fails to bring home a gold medal from Beijing in 2008, Krzyzewski will take a bigger hit than he did during the lacrosse scandal.
In retrospect, Larry Brown’s undoing in New York began in 2004, when he coached the Olympic team to the bronze. Brown was castigated, largely after the fact, for refusing to give Wade and James consistent minutes. He publicly criticized Anthony for sulking and clashed throughout the tournament with Stephon Marbury. Brown’s golden touch had begun to dull.
Krzyzewski is putting his reputation on the line in a way he never has.
“But this is what we do,’’ he said. “By doing this, you keep your edge. As long as you’re coaching, you have to always think of getting better. As long as you’re playing, you’ve got to always think of getting better. As long as you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing, you’ve got to think about getting better.
“You can’t just say, ‘I’m going to play it safe now.’ You’re continually looking for ways to get better.”
We will hear over and again for the next year and a half that Krzyzewski and the N.B.A. players are on a mission to reclaim lost ground. Krzyzewski’s theory — and the theory of USA Basketball — is that teamwork, not stars, wins the game.
In the current climate, the United States needs stars and teamwork as well as a coach who is flexible and secure enough to let stars shine in the context of a team.
“We still play the best basketball,” Krzyzewski said, “but remember we’re playing on their turf. They’re all away games, including being on a different court, with different rules, a different ball.
“If this was an N.B.A. game, we’d have a much greater chance of winning. Because it’s an international game, we still have a good chance to win — don’t get me wrong — but they have a better chance. We have to make the adjustments to play this game, right now. If we’re smart, we’ll make those adjustments.”
Adjustments that will lead not just to winning, but to “creating a new standard for our country and basketball.”
The world has changed, and regaining dominance is a taller task than most of us can imagine.
E-mail: [email protected]
Whats with the "attack angel" posts? So she isnt rooting for the USA... big freakin deal... you dont have to be a cowboys fan because you live in dallas... you dont have to root for the USA to win because you live here.
Her favorite player is Rasho... hence GO SLOVENIA!!!!
Cool I was wondering when a tv sched was going to be out
Here is some more info I got from the Head of Communications at FIBA regarding other games.
ESPN2 will cover all Team USA games live with select re-airs
FOX Sports Net will pick up an additional 10 games not aired on ESPN2
NBA-TV will simulcast the FSN games and then do additional stand alone games
Go New Zealand!
what about the soccer world cup 8 years ago?
"Here is some more info I got ... "
Spurschick is a fricken bball fan, hey what!
Funny how for some, FIBA started sucking after the Sydney Olympics in 2000 (more specifically after Indiana 2002).
Does anybody know when Argentina will be on tv????
In the US or elsewhere? In the US, FSN and NBATV will have their exact schedule up closer to August 19.
People we will face:
Angola-Valter Monteiro(if anyone cares)
Argentina-Manu, Oberto, Scola, Nocioni, Delfino, Herrmann
Australia-Shane Heal (do y'all remember him?), Bogut
Brazil-Nene, Barbosa, Varejao
China-Yao
France-Tony, Diaw, Petro, Turiaf, Pietrus, Gelabale
Germany-Dirk
Greece-Spanoulis
Italy-The guys that whooped our ass in 04.
Japan-That Yuta Tabuse guy.
Lebanon-???
Lithuania-Macijauskas, Javtokas, Songaila, Kleiza
New Zealand-Marks
Nigeria-???
Panama-???
Puerto Rico-Arroyo, John Ramos
Qatar-??? I didn't know such a country existed.
Senegal-Saer Sene is the only one I know.
Serbia and Montenegro-Darko, Cabarkapa, Radmanovic
Slovenia-Beno and Rasho!, Nachbar, Brezec
Spain-Gasol, Garbajosa, Calderon, Rodriguez
Turkey-Turkoglu, Ilyasova and Okur
Venezuela-???
Last edited by #1elliottfan; 07-26-2006 at 09:37 PM.
Spain - Jorge Garbajosa
I think he's gonna be a beast in the NBA this year. With as much succes as Nocioni at least or more
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