Kotoseiya Yuichi 3 Posted September 6, 2002 First Argentina, now Yugoslavia and the Americans are out of the contention. :-0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoshifransu 0 Posted September 6, 2002 The American "dream team" lost ... :-0 I can't believe it ... This is the first time an American NBA "Dream team" loses ? Although Yougoslavia have a dream team too and I'm pretty sure almost all Yougoslavian play in NBA, currently ? In soccer, everything is possible but it's hard to find "giant-killers" in basket-ball's history ... Well, it had to happened because games between USA and Yougoslavia or Croatia were very tight in the past and USA always won ... And next time, they'll be back on track to have their revenge, for sure ! (Laughing...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tony 16 Posted September 6, 2002 Very good surprise! I dislike arrogance of American players. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zenjimoto 40 Posted September 6, 2002 I haven't really followed it (who cares about basketball when the basho is about to start!!) :) (um, on second throught, I don't think I EVER care about basketball) :D but from what I understand, quite a few of the "biggest stars" of the NBA actually declined to play for the USA this time, take that for what it's worth. It's probably good for the global game of basketball if the favorites don't always win (as would be in Formula 1, I used to be a big fan of it, but it has become SO boring I don't even care to watch the races anymore). A good boost for Argentina, something they can cheer about in times of less-than-proud national times. I hope they now win it all :) Cheers Zenjimoto Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zentoryu 154 Posted September 6, 2002 As Zenjimoto already pointed out, this "Dream Team" is, or was, anything but a dream team. So it shouldn't be all that much of a shock that they lost. Even though I'm an American, I'm actually happy they lost. I consider NBA players to be pampered, arrogant, smug, self-absorbed, cocky, showboating jerks. (Well the majority of them anyway). It's about time somebody gave them a little dose of humility. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoshifransu 0 Posted September 7, 2002 Oh, no, guys ! You're hard with them ... American basket-ball team is so exciting, and perhaps a bit of arrogance but they always make a so great show with "dunks", exciting moves, etc.. The other teams are so boring, comparing to them ... Although, the fact they lost is good for the interest of basket-ball in the world, which proves that it's not impossible to beat the "Dream team" but for the show, it's sad news ... :-Q Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hananotaka 8 Posted September 8, 2002 If this had been a team with, say, Shaq, Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, and Chris Weber, I highly doubt it would have lost. (And it is a point that the Yugoslavia team had almost as many NBA players or soon-to-be NBA players as the U.S. team did! ) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 45,093 Posted September 9, 2002 Interesting discussion..I think the simple fact is that world basketball is closing ranks with the Americans. there are now nearly 100(!!) non-Americans on NBA teams. Only around 30 play regularly, but the rest get to train with the best in the world, and this de-geiko usually helps.. The fact that the top ten players didn't participate(some are injured, some don't want to spend their summers sweating,and some don't give a damn)is also important, though I think its importance is more in morale than in anything else. And, most importantly,the rules of the game as played in these tournaments are different. The other teams in the past got over this barrier because they fielded great players. This team was quite mediocre, and one Reggie Miller can not save the day. still, what i like most was the way they took their losses(3 of them, BTW..) in stride. Their coach said it was good for world basketball, the players all said the best team won, etc. No looking for someone to blame, no accusations- just a promise to do better next time. Never ever saw that in any team in football..always the blaming, always the referee, always the cook, the coach-but never the players. (See France, Italy,Spain..) Anyhow, we'll see in a couple of years.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kintamayama 45,093 Posted September 9, 2002 The nationalistic baseball fan in me would like to see a team of MLB stars clean house in Olympics baseball (assuming they don't drop it! ), Hey hey hey..Let's not discount the Japanese..look what a handful of them are doing in the majors.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoshifransu 0 Posted September 9, 2002 Last time I could catch the NHK, they broadcasted in their news some quick reports on their Japanese playing in the Major League, well, they were very very impressive ... So quick ... They could build a great team to face an American Base-Ball Dream Team, couldn't they ? And in Cuba, could they have a competitive team too ? My knowledges in Base-Ball are very weak, unfortunately ... I had the chance to practice a bit and I'm not a great player (as concern American Football, maybe I could've been a good quarterback because I can make very very long throws & passings ... although not so long as Brett Favre, for example, but I still hope ...) but in France, unfortunately, it's all the time soccer, soccer, soccer ... (and sometimes rugby, tennis ...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doitsuyama 1,185 Posted September 9, 2002 I don't think we need another drubbing of the World to know that USA basketball is still tops. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zentoryu 154 Posted September 9, 2002 Just to chime in with my thoughts: It would make the outcome much MORE clear if the US team used college players; they would barely stand a chance against the medal winners and Spain, believe me! The European Pro Leagues in Italy, Spain, Greece and Turkey are pretty strong, and along with the best teams from Israel, Russia, Germany, France and others there is a European League since several years with has helped to elevate the playing level. All 12 Argentinians were playing in Europe last year. I believe Doitsuyama is right about this. While I don't know much about the Euro-leagues he speaks of, I do know that the whole reason that the origional Dream Team (Bird, Magic, Malone, Stockton, Barkley, etc) was formed was because the US College All-stars were regularly getting beaten in international play. The gap is certainly closing, and if the NBA and its players doesn't recognize this soon and start sending the best of the best to these competitions, there will be more embarressing defeats. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hananotaka 8 Posted September 10, 2002 Hey hey hey..Let's not discount the Japanese..look what a handful of them are doing in the majors.. I'm not discounting the Japanese players. :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoshifransu 0 Posted September 10, 2002 Finally I observe one important thing : very often regarded as a country not opened enough to the other cultures, Japan is present and very competitive on many sports : sumo and base-ball, of course, soccer (they proved they could reach the top 16 during this summer's World Cup) rugby (they always qualified for every World Cups) and in American Football, they're present too plus all the motor-races ... And it's interesting to observe that in the Norman Jewison famous movie "Rollerball" Jonathan E (starring James Caan) had to face a very competitive Tokyo team !!! About Base-Ball, I'm convinced an US Dream Team will win it but this could be interesting to watch what the Japanese could do the day they'll have a great squad plus two or three really very outstanding players ... I wish we could watch a Base-Ball World Cup, one day ! About US Sport, yesterday I watched a good Denver Broncoes Vs St Louis Rams on free German channel DSF (God bless DSF) and I really advice to every European viewers to catch Astra Satellite with a classic Satellite dish and to watch that show, every mondays at 11.30 pm and live, for the sunday match, on "pay-per-view" Premiere World, if they can. For the first game of the season, the strong favourites, St Louis Rams lost ! Unbelievable ... Kurt Warner, the quarterback, had had difficulties to find Marshall Faulk during the two quarters and Denver scored a lot of points with many interceptions ... Huge third quarter for the Rams with great long passings from Kurt Warner but it was too late, despite a good start for the fourth quarter ... The NFL favourites lost their first away game by 16-23 at Denver ! In Europe, the European NFL's interest is still increasing but I'm doubtful, one day, in Europe, we could have some competitive squads ... In European NFL, the main part are American players playing for European squads ... All the "vocations" are reserved for Rugby in England, France and maybe we could find a compromise to invent a new sport which would be a mix of rugby and American Football, that would be great and that could make great competitions ! (Hehe...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zentoryu 154 Posted September 10, 2002 For the first game of the season, the strong favourites, St Louis Rams lost ! Unbelievable ... Kurt Warner, the quarterback, had had difficulties to find Marshall Faulk during the two quarters and Denver scored a lot of points with many interceptions ... Huge third quarter for the Rams with great long passings from Kurt Warner but it was too late, despite a good start for the fourth quarter ... The NFL favourites lost their first away game by 16-23 at Denver ! The Rams are the most talented team in the NFL and a Super Bowl threat. Usually the only time they loose is when they've shot themselves in the foot, via turnovers or poor decision making by the head coach. It's the reason they didn't win the Super Bowl last January and it's the reason they didn't defeat the Broncos on Sunday. (Though I do credit the Broncos with playing a great opening quarter.) BTW, New England, the defending champs, opened their season with a convincing win last night in Monday Night Football against Pittsburgh, the team favored to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Quite the debut for the Patriots, though I'm still a Tom Brady sceptic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoshifransu 0 Posted September 11, 2002 BTW, New England, the defending champs, opened their season with a convincing win last night Thanx for the info. Who do remember the Super-Bowl semi-finals of last season when New England Patriots were at home against Dallas ? Philly ? and I couldn't believe it ! There was a real blizzard in New England ... I asked myself how they could play the ball and the opponents with such weather conditions ... A real storm ... And they made a perfect game, especially during the last quarter ... In soccer, it's allowed to play sometimes, in very hard weather conditions, but with that snow, it wouldn't have been allowed in soccer ... It was a game for "real men", I thought (not for soccer "soft" players ...) The Super-Bowl final was almost exactly the same scenario as the one three days ago, the Rams are superior, but the opponent is so so so motivated that the opponent made a huge start during the two first quarters and after, the Rams can set their game and prove they're the best team on the pitch ... but it's too late and it's not enough for some points ... Well, with a fifth quarter, the Rams would be unbeatable ! But I think this year they'll win the Super-Bowl, no matter ... The team is too good to lose that time again ! :-Q Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zentoryu 154 Posted September 11, 2002 Who do remember the Super-Bowl semi-finals of last season when New England Patriots were at home against Dallas ? Philly ? It was the Oakland Raiders in a game that has now come to be known as the "Snow Bowl". They lost the game on Tom Brady's infamous phantom "incomplete pass". :-( It's amazing how they can battle for 60 minutes and have the game turn on just one single play like that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
