Volume I No. 14
 09-06-02
 "No Dream Team, That Was..." 
 author: Vance Cureton
 © Copyright 2002

 The World Basketball Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana, has 
 all but concluded and the United States team failed to qualify for the 
 medal rounds. The best they can apparently finish is fifth place. 

 Fifth! Can you imagine that? 

 Twenty years ago, such an outcome would have been unthinkable. 
 Ten years ago, highly improbable. But, hello! Welcome to the new 
 millennium. The international boys are finally catching up.

 Everyone who has any knowledge of basketball realizes that the best 
 NBA ballplayers are loathe to show up for these kind of competitions. 
 Kobe Bryant wasn't available. Tracy McGrady wasn't available. Allen 
 Iverson wasn't available. Tim Duncan wasn't available. And the Shaq 
 Daddy wasn't available. 

 Some of these ballplayers were injured. For example, Shaq and Jason 
 Kidd, who wanted to participate but was injured. The underachieving 
 Chris Webber apparently wasn't even asked to be a member of the team.

 The absense of these ballplayers is no excuse for the United States 
 team having such a poor outcome. They were simply outplayed and 
 out-hustled by more cohesive units. The international ballplayers are 
 simply no longer in awe of  NBA stars. In fact many of the international 
 teams have not one or two, but several NBA ballplayers of their own. 
 It is no longer sufficient for the U.S. to send second and third-tier 
 players and expect to acheive an automatic gold medal. Those days 
 are gone for good.

 This is not a sad thing. It is wonderful thing for basketball as a sport. 
 For once, we can celebrate the export of something besides missiles 
 and fighter airplanes. By opening the court to NBA talent, these global 
 competitions have become a learning ground. The result is that the level 
 of talent worldwide is on the rise. Is it possible that basketball is a sport 
 that in a generation or two can rival the popularityof that other global
 sport, soccer?

 Not likely, but it is good to dream.

 Let's thank the NBA millionaires who did show up in support of the 
 flag. Reggie Miller, Paul Pierce, Michael Finley, Ben Wallace, Jermaine
 O'Neal, Elton Brand, Baron Davis, Antonio Davis, Raef LaFrentz, and 
 Shawn Marion. And of course, thanks also goes to the college all stars,
 Jay Williams and Andre Miller.

 Can we dare hope that the next World Basketball Championships will 
 feature more of the top NBA talent. Tier-one stars such as Allen Iverson,
 Ray Allen, Shaq, or Kobe. Maybe even a couple of the grizzled old men,
 such as Karl Malone or Scottie Pippen, if they're still around at that time.
 The economic system in the US allows stars such as these to make obscene
 amounts of money most Americans can't even begin to contemplate.

 Give something back, guys. Support the Stars and Stripes.
 

 ReadingPost.Com
 © Copyright 2002

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