The Billiken's Bluff

I don't think I watched much of the 2000 Olympics. But since I’m getting over-aged (the designation for an Olympic soccer player 23 yrs of age or older), with surprisingly more time to watch TV, I spent much of this weekend taking in the Olympic festivities. Some things that caught my attention-

USA Basketball Team

Much will be written about the USA Basketball not-so-Dreamy Team’s dismantling at the hands of our 51st State, Puerto Rico. People will make statements like-

“The international Game is different. It’s a big adjustment for the American players. The 3-point line is shorter, the lane is wider.”

Not to mention the lane is a trapezoid! That’s complete nonsense. The ball is still round and the basket is still 10 feet high. The NBA players should have no trouble adjusting to a trapezoid, rhombus, or any other geometric/geographic oddity.

ESPN’s NBA analysts have written about ways to improve the selection process for Team USA. They say it shouldn’t just be a group of the biggest names from the NBA who are willing to give up their summer vacation, but rather a real team, complete with role players, bench players, and specialists (particularly of the 3-point variety). I agree that this is the best approach. The Pistons proved that a team with good chemistry will beat superstars who are playing 1-on-1 basketball.

But part of me wants to say that this should not even be an issue. Chemistry comes into play when the players are on a relatively even playing field. There are only a handful of international players in the Olympics that play in the NBA. Dirk and Peja aren’t even in Athens. Manu Ginobli and Carlos Arroyo are the best competition Team USA will face. This being the case, Team USA should be able to will themselves to victory. Talent doesn’t always overcome good team chemistry but an overwhelming amount of talent usually does. Lets not forget Vince Carter jumped over Fredrick Weiss’s 7’2’’ head in 2000!!!



However after sitting through yesterday’s blowout at the hands of Puerto Rico, I’m no longer sure whether these NBA players can even play basketball. I was quick to dismiss Newsday columnist Shaun Powell’s call to revamp American basketball from the ground up. Powell says that US basketball needs to be completely remade. He says NBA players have too long relied on athleticism, and young players need to be taught how to shoot, dribble and pass. I think he might be on to something.

I’m tempted to blame the entire thing on Stephon Marbury. I felt like I was watching a Knicks game. No chemistry, poor shooting. All of the players looked terrible. And even the veterans on the team looked horrific. Jefferson looked frightened. Iverson missed no less than 722 3-pointers (in the 1st half alone!), and Duncan looked perplexed. Add to this mix, ballers like Shawn Marion who looked like he wouldn't make his High School's Varsity Basketball team.

Much has been written about how Team USA is young, 23.8 yrs old on average, but I’m not buying into that excuse. Richard Jefferson has played in 2 NBA Finals. Iverson was MVP. Marbury won the PSAL championship at Lincoln (You’re my boy Starbury!!!). Duncan has not only won 2 NBA Championships and a handful of MVP awards, but is gernerally considered the NBA’s best player.

And this team isn’t just a bunch of show-boating thugs either. People might write off Iverson and Marbury because of their tattoos and palming of the ball. Fine. But Duncan is the poster boy for intelligent, fundamental basketball. In fact Duncan’s nickname is the Big Fundamental for Christsake!!! So when I hear that the USA didn’t send its top players, or that the top players didn’t want to go, I think it’s a pretty poor excuse. Duncan is one of the top 3 players in the world, and by far the best player in the Olympics. Duncan should carry this team on his back.

I can’t explain the level of frustration I felt watching this debacle. It had me wondering why I was even rooting for these guys.

Iraqi Soccer Team

On the other hand you have The Iraqi Soccer team a team you can really root for. They beat soccer powerhouse Portugal 4-2 in a preliminary match last week. And yesterday they beat Costa Rica 2-0 in the Olympic Quarterfinals. Olympic Soccer isn’t as highly regarded as the World Cup or the European Championship. The teams are comprised mainly of young players, with only 3 “over-age” players allowed per country. But, winning the Gold Medal is still a big deal no matter how you look at it. The Iraqi team really is a real feel good story. They had to be airlifted in to Athens by the Australian Airforce, and they haven’t even had a soccer field to practice on since their home stadium in Baghdad was destroyed.



Let’s go Iraq!

Bob Costas

The highlight of the Olympic Coverage had to be Friday night’s Opening Ceremonies. NBC’s coverage of the event taught me two things-

1. There really is a country called Micronesia.
2. Bob Costas is hilarious. On par with Bill Walton as far as commentators go.

Sarcasm is dead. At least the whiney Mo Rocca Daily Show/I Love The 80s and I’m wearing black horn-rimmed glasses kind of sarcasm. I’m subscribing to the Bob Costas’ school of sarcasm.



Costas is so genuine, such a Michael J. Fox look-alike that you can’t tell if he’s being serious when he says something like-

I see the Nepal delegation decided to go without the traditional fur hats. Wise decision since it is 100 degrees outside.

Swaziland is known as the "Switzerland" of Africa, for it's mountains and neutrality.

And here comes Bhutan. Looks like they left the sultan at home.

I expected to just channel surf right past the opening night ceremonies but Katie Couric and Bob Costas breathed some life into a routine ceremony normally as action packed as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.