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There goes my only reason to root for team U.S.A.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2284166
PHOENIX -- Tim Duncan has officially notified USA Basketball that he will not be a part of the U.S. team that will compete at this year's world championships and the 2008 Olympics.
Jerry Colangelo, managing director of USA Basketball, said Saturday that Duncan's agent, Lon Babby, had called with the news earlier this week. Because of the call, Colangelo did not meet with Duncan when the San Antonio Spurs were in Arizona this weekend.
Colangelo, chosen to form a team to bring the U.S. back to world prominence in the sport, is requiring players to make a three-year commitment. The commitment includes a training camp in July, probably to be held in Las Vegas, as well as exhibition games in China and South Korea leading to the worlds in Japan in August.
There will be another training camp next year, followed by another and more exhibition games prior to the 2008 Games in Beijing.
Colangelo said has met with 15 to 18 players, and Duncan was the first to say he would not take part. Some, including Shaquille O'Neal, have said they were still considering it, while others, including Allen Iverson, have said they were willing to make the commitment.
Duncan was part of the U.S. team that won the bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics. He was selected for the U.S. team at the 2000 Olympics but had to withdraw with a knee injury.
Duncan played for the U.S. teams at the FIBA Americas qualifying tournaments in 1999 and 2003.
Colangelo, who has said the team will include role players and not be simply a collection of superstars, plans to announce the first batch of camp invitees by the NBA's All-Star break in mid-February.
There goes my only reason to root for team U.S.A.
Rasheed's stock just got booted up a bit.
I don't think Timmy would ever play in another FIBA event, based on his "FIBA sux" comments after the Olympics. Or was it FIBA is re ed.
Did this surprise anyone?
Colangelo should ask Ron Artest!....that would be something!
yeah i was shocked (seriously). He and Iverson were the only 2 that were committed to USA b-ball for the '04 Games. and now he bails
Timmy didn't "just bail". He said after the last games he was done.
Too bad for Team USA. Shaq is still thinking about it, though.
But its not duncans fault for bailin out on the games and the commitment, think about it from 2000-2004 he has already commited, and teh team that was at the trials b4 the olympics wouldve won gold if everyone commited, so they all bailed out on teamusa and tim, then they surround tim with jersey sellers and most players who either were last preference players.
Seriously i hope this team lose at the worlds n in beijing cose duncan is not on it.
But Colangelo is trying to build a team that will win--not jersey sellers. The team wants Duncan. Why are you blaming USA when it's the players who aren't committing?
what about national pride?There goes my only reason to root for team U.S.A.
i only root for team usa if td is on it, if his not on it, then aussie aussie aussie oi oi oi
I suspect that there are many variables that have come together to lead Tim to this decision. He has a young daughter and the commitment demanded of USA Basketball will cause him to be away from his wife and child for significant periods of his only real off time.
I also think he was disenchanted with the treatment he got in 2004.
And, given the number of injuries he endured last season, I'd guess he's concerned that more play exposes him to greater chances of injury.
On top of that, I suspect that Tim's a little bent about the decision to skip over Pop as the coach of the next Senior National team, and his loyalty to Pop may be instructing a decision to stay away.
I don't see the big deal; it's not as if Tim's the first NBA superstar to reject the overtures of USA Basketball.
I think Pop not being on the coaching staff was more of his decision. Also, Pop is a GREAT NBA coach. Which is what the team doesn't need. D'Antoni is only on it because if his experience coaching in Europe under international rules. A college coach is probably the best direction to take (hence Coach K).
Still at Vrgin Islands
Which is a United States territory. They aren't a state because they don't want to pay federal income tax.
Shaq will be what... 38? at the next olympics and he hardly scares anyone now...
But has their own team
The top 5 players USA should be looking for are Ben Wallace, Kobe Bryant, Bruce Bowen, Chauncey Billups, and Richard Hamilton. Than fill the roster with whatever else and United States should win.
Timmy can do no wrong here....
Who cares. I'd rather win an NBA le. The Olympics are good for winter sports, maybe some vollyball here and there but as far as America's pro basketball players, they need to be smart about committing to the USA Team.
They need to use the college all stars or something. Most NBA players could careless about the Olympics I'm sure.
Shaq ain't playin.
I think duncan should jump into that river carmelo threw his bronze medal and retrieve it....
Owned !
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