… that’s me, every four years. And that was definitely me this morning, watching the U.S. v. Spain hoops game.
As I’ve written, this is not America’s best team, but I’m still rooting like crazy for them. So is Jason Whitlock, and he’s in disbelief that some Americans are rooting against them.
I must’ve missed the memo — the memo that went out to the red-blooded American sports public and explains exactly when it became OK to throw patriotism out the window and openly root against a U.S. Olympic team.
Yeah, I didn’t get that memo. I’m wondering what was in it. Did it mention Allen Iverson by name? Did it have stipulations about the number of tattoos acceptable on an Olympian? Was there a cornrows clause?
And I agree. I think the hatred that this team is seeing is borderline racist, and also shows that Americans don’t want to realize that the rest of the world has caught up to us in hoops. If they haven’t closed the gap completely, they’ve narrowed it a great deal.
I’m angry at USA Basketball for putting together an all-star team, not a team of complementary parts. I’m angry that some of the superstars who were asked to play on this team didn’t choose to represent their country. And I have been frustrated that this team has had such a hard time adaprting to the international game — and worse, have looked so tentative until today to take the open shot. And I’m downright bewildered at some of Coach Brown’s substitution patterns.
But… these twelve players were the ones who signed up to play. They were the ones willing — heck, wanting — to put on the USA uniform and represent their country. They’ve had to face hostile crowds, bizarre officiating, Coach Brown’s "right way" basketball, and the changing of their own roles. They deserve our respect and our thanks for wanting to play USA Basketball. Some folks need to remember that.