Why the US loses

[jerry weinstein]

       l've been glued into the tennis all week, but l switched channels enough to get a look at both games the US lost. 
      As distasteful as it was to watch, l've been predicting this since the 96 olympics, l just didn't think it's be Argentina. You'll remember the US team, which was pretty loaded with stars, struggled some in Atlanta in 96, then in Sidney we really scraped by in at least 2 very close games.
     This year's team was shorter on personnel, being minus Shaq, Kobey, Duncan and a few others. Elton Brand injured his knee, which left the US short underneath. But l firmly believe the problem here goes well beyond being without a few pampered superstars. This team, afterall, did have legitimate NBA stars in its lineup. l think it goes to the fact that foreign teams keep getting better and better, while a case can be made that American basketball has not only failed to improve, but has actually gotten worse over the years.
    American players tend to be more athletic, but they lack the skills of the foreigners. Bobby Knight once said the worst thing for American basketball was ESPN sportscenter. His point was that all players wanted to do was run up and down the floor and dunk the ball in spectacular fashion in order to make the highlight film. Or make the spectacular block. The foreign players don't dunk or block shots as well as our guys, but they can all shoot, both from the field and the free throw line. They pass better and have better ball skills overall, and they play as a team.  Argentina and Yugoslavia flawlessly executed pick and rolls, backdoors, etc, while our guys kept playing one on one and forcing shots. lt was a stark contrast in styles, theirs being clearly superior.
     lt's frankly humiliating that the country that invented basketball has to be schooled by those who learned it from us. Of course, they take take the whole thing alot more seriously than we do, as the sparse crowds indicate, which is also a big factor in the outcome. l imagine these losses will reverberate here, and people will talk about sending our very best players. But it may be a lost cause. l can't see our top, pampered NBA stars sacrificing for their country, and it's hard to see the quality of American basketball improving with kids jumping to the NBA for quick fortunes instead of first developing their game and their character at the collegiate level.
 
 Michael Ryan wrote:.....then they lose tonight to Divac and the Yugoslavian team. This
eliminates the American team from medal contention and the best they can
finish is fifth place ! Embarrassing. Some home court advantage, eh ?

The player selections were made by the USA Basketball Men's Senior
National Team Committee. Kenyon wasn't invited. Of course, neither was
Allen Iverson who is more deserving than Kenyon, looking at the big
picture. The Committee consisted of NJ Nets GM Rod Thorn and Billy
King, the GM of the 76ers. Go figure. Maybe there was a tattoo count
done ?

I'm amazed by the empty seats, almost as much as the losses. 

Mike Ryan


-----Original Message-----
From: Tanner McConnell [mailto:address@hidden 
Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002 11:35 PM
To: address@hidden
Subject: [UC Basketball] USA vs. argentina


I can't believe USA lost to argentina. I was watching the game and
couldn't 
understand why we were losing so bad. This should be a big wake up call
to 
all American basketball players. More and more foreign players are
being 
drafted into the nba and now Argentina kicks our ass. By the way, why 
didn't Kenyon Martin play in it this year?


> From: "Michael Ryan" 
> Reply-To: address@hidden
> To: 
> Subject: RE: [UC Basketball] 2003 recruits
> Date: Wed, 4 Sep 2002 22:17:39 -0400
>
> Everything that I know about them is on the recruiting page. Aug and 
> early Sept are usually quiet in recruiting. AAU is mostly done and the

> new HS bball seasons have yet to start. No new news.
>
> Now, USA Basketball losing to Argentina....that's news.
>
> Mike
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tanner McConnell [mailto:address@hidden
> Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2002 9:59 PM
> To: address@hidden
> Subject: [UC Basketball] 2003 recruits
>
> Hey, has anyone heard anymore about Taurean Minor and Brandon bass? 
> what do you think there our chances are of landing both of them for 
> next year? Isn't whaley going to be making a decision in the near 
> future also?


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