US gets Bronze in Basketball

Originally posted by RBHILL
Professionals have every right to be in the Olymipics, just like everyone else. They are the best at what they do out of everyone in there country. It would be less exciting to watch college players play then the pros.

Apparantly Iverson didn't feel as excited as you do. Futhermore the Olympics were started in the belief of amatuer athletics and its not just Basketball its also Tennis, Ice Hockey and a few other sports.

Originally posted by Orton
You're a thug because you wear your hat sideways or backwards? I don't agree with that....that's ure for some. I do, however, agree with the fact that we pulled on out winning the bronze, because Shaq, Garnett, McGrady, and almost the rest of the players invited refused because they didn't get paid, so you have to respect the fact that this Olympic team spent most of their summer in Greece, away from family and home, for little or no pay.

No. Just because you wear your cap backwards doesn't make you a thug. I'm talking about the numerous times Iverson has had a runin with the law and got out of it because of his status as a NBA player.

Originally posted by RBHILL
Professionals have every right to be in the Olymipics, just like everyone else. They are the best at what they do out of everyone in there country. It would be less exciting to watch college players play then the pros.

Have you never watched March Madness? I personally get a bigger kick out of the basketball in the NCAA tourney because there you have a bunch of guys, the vast majority of whom will never be drafted into the pros, playing for the sheer love of the game and the competition.

To me pro basketball "went south" years ago. The inside game is important, no doubt, because of the higher percentage shots, but 90% of the pros don't even come close to playing what basketball was meant to be. How many pure outside shooters are there? All it takes to slam dunk is jumping ability and muscle. The NBA is to me no more than hockey or football without pads. It's supposed to be a finesse sport; that's wherein the beauty lies IMHO. Could be one reason our American team was embarrassed this year.

Not to minimize the talents of the greats(because they truly are) but how many times in Jordan's career did you see him travel and not get called for it. It's all about hype.(I think he could have gotten away with taking off for the basket from midcourt and never dribbling--why? so people could see "Air Jordan". Shaq, a great hoopster? It's not too difficult to become a superstar if all you have to do is bulk up and knock people out of your way.

Take a look back, and you don't even have to look that far back, if you want to see some finesse at the center position. The classic duels between Bill Russell and Wilt the Stilt.

The moves of Earl the Pearl, Pistol Pete, Magic, Havlicek, and the Bird. A center like Wes Unsfeld who played his butt off even though he gave up a significant size advantage. Kareem, a skinny guy who dominated the middle because of his ability to shoot away from the basket.

The teamwork that was exhibited by Frasier, Monroe, Bradley, Lucas, and DeBusschere with the Knicks. No superstar by modern standards, just guys who understood the game and played as a team and won.

You can have the NBA, I'll stick to the kids.

Originally posted by bekieke
Have you never watched March Madness? I personally get a bigger kick out of the basketball in the NCAA tourney because there you have a bunch of guys, the vast majority of whom will never be drafted into the pros, playing for the sheer love of the game and the competition.

To me pro basketball "went south" years ago. The inside game is important, no dou ...[text shortened]... erstood the game and played as a team and won.

You can have the NBA, I'll stick to the kids.

you really think college players play strictly for the love of the game...? some of them do, but the majority of them play for a shot in the pros. look how many collegiate players leave after one or two years. if they thought they could make it in after high school they would have done that much like the trend as of late. college players see the future dollar signs in thier eyes and use that as their motivation. albeit there are execptions, but there are in the pros also. look at some of these veterans hanging around past retirement age playing for the league minimum just for a shot at the ring...