Olympic Basketball and others

[Peter R]

Anyone watch Olympic basketball? I might but not when the US (primarily) is playing. This tournament is like Brazil playing in NPL...why bother?

And why watch Federer and Nadal for example? At least the Football competition has it right...a U-23 tournament.

[Islandman]

I don't think it is going to be that one-sided PeterR. Some of the European teams are pretty decent.

World basketball teams have come a long way since the Dream Team. The mere fact that these guys call themselves the Redeem Team tells you how disapointing the US has been in world tournaments recently.

From wikipedia:

The "Dream Team" won the gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. With the introduction of professionals, Team USA was able to spark a second run of dominance after capturing only a bronze medal in 1988. A team of professional players competed in the 1994 Basketball World Championships, finishing first. In 1996 and 2000, Team USA once again captured gold medals.

However, Team USA's renewed dominance has lessened in recent years. Facing increased competition from international teams, helped in no small way by the expansion of basketball sparked by the 1992 Dream Team, the USA failed to win a medal at the 2002 World Championship, finishing sixth. The 2004 Summer Olympic team lost three games on its way to a bronze medal, a record that represented more losses in a single year than the country's Olympic teams had suffered in all previous Olympiads combined.

Determined to put an end to these recent failures, USA Basketball has changed its philosophy and has looked to field complete teams instead of piecing together rosters of NBA All-Stars at the last minute. Team USA won their first seven games at the 2006 World Championships in Japan, losing against Greece in the semi-finals. After coming away with a bronze, Team USA is still striving to recapture international gold.

[Gamma]

oh yeah? consider that brasil has never won an olympic soccer gold medal PLUS the US is neither world champion nor defending olympic champions in basketball....

[Lionpaw]

U know how long USA no win onlympic gold or World Basketball Championship? A whey da bredda ya come from?

[Peter R]

I know they haven't dominated internationally but still who want to watch Kobe Bryant in the Olympics?? and Nadal and Federer? some sports have their own forum; I'd rather watch Wimbledon any day than Olympic tennis...