What Happend Team USA?

[SFDMALEX]

Well what happend? Loosing to the Greeks? Playing for the Bronze? Isnt that sad. You have the NBA and still manage to loose to countries in which basketball popularity is as high as football(soccer) in the States.


There is one thing that I very much disliked about North America (Canada including) when I got my self off that immigrant boat. And that was the arrogance of the sport media here. They have very little to no respect for foreign teams, fighters etc.

So I just love seeing Canada and the States loose at the things they should dominate in.

So now North Americans dont dominate in neither hockey nor basketball. All whilst having the biggest leagues. NBA and NHL. Sad sad shit.

I mean does anyone expect for the South Americans and Europeans to cease the domination in football? No :P


I suggest TSN, ESPN and co. start giving respect to those damn foreigners before loosing more and more. Or else you'll keep getting schooled by Greeks in Basketball, Scandinavians and co. in hockey and by Ukrainians and co. in boxing :P



Comments? Please do. I want to see what the world has to say.



P.S. And no, no ones gives a shit about grid iron and baseball. :P

[blinkmeat]

High paid players in NA sports don't generally give a fuck about international play -- They'd rather be buying bling :wink:

[gangajas]

Well what happend? Loosing to the Greeks? Playing for the Bronze? Isnt that sad. You have the NBA and still manage to loose to countries in which basketball popularity is as high as football(soccer) in the States.


Basketball is the national sport in Greece.

[stmoritzer]

Well, it's not the first time the high-paid-stars got their ass kicked. :lol:
they only got 3rd in Athens and 6th at the (home) worldchampionchip in Indianapolis... the last title was 12 years ago

btw, Greece is European Champion

as mentioned above, the US media and the players often are arrogant => underestimating the other teams and therefore they aren't prepared enough.
And with lots of stars coming together, teamplaying is probabely not very common.

same goes for the Brasil soccer team IMO

[SFDMALEX]

Basketball is the national sport in Greece.


Thats all nice and all but still the fact remains that NA has NBA.

[SFDMALEX]

High paid players in NA sports don't generally give a fuck about international play -- They'd rather be buying bling :wink:

Indeed, and the sad part is they are not that highly paid :P I mean except for a few highly paid NBA players the wages in comparsion to what top footballers in Europe get arent that great.

[SFDMALEX]

as mentioned above, the US media and the players often are arrogant => team IMO


Well same goes for the Canucks. Not just Americans.

[Mr.Vercetti]

Basketball is the national sport in Greece.

Indeed. And Greece is the European Champion. So... at least that will somehow ease your pain SFDMALEX.. USA lost by the best. 8) 100 pts?... Wow.. thats a lot... :P And dude, the Mediterranean Basketball is considered to be a lot more technical than the NBA. NBA is all about showing off and making slam dunks... :P

[stmoritzer]

as mentioned above, the US media and the players often are arrogant => team IMO


Well same goes for the Canucks. Not just Americans.


ooh,I see! I though canada is a state in america like California j/k

like Sweden and Switzerland is the same for most Americans :wink:

other question: the Canadian national team, I don't remember seeing them in big tournaments (semifinals or so). How good are they ?

[nthfinity]

uh...... this is the off season; people dont care?

there was a time when the US dominated international basketball.... and i today, you see a lot more international players right here in our NHL, NBA etc.

Honestly, the rules have changed dramatically in this time too... particularly the NBA. I think Team USA 1992 would still be winning 130-54 against 95% of the teams out there... let alone the 1990 Pistons would've creamed the 2004/5/6 Pistons.

i think the sports are more accessible, and that is why other teams are able to succeed. It isn't just the media that get arrogant, but the players as well....

our original dream teams actually got along with each other; today they are all about their own personal "greatness" ... just look at Kobe for example. Those who don't work as a team will likely still suck against worse players. The days of partisan sports playing here seem to be neigh over.... there isn't the same sence of comrodary that they are representing the country i guess.

I dont know what team USA you speak of... WNBA/ NBA/ whatever? I think a few days ago at my dads house, ESPN was on, and the womens NBA team had missed 30 3 pt attempts, and still managed to win.... but with such a low percentage; winning seems umpossible ;)

also... didn't US women goto Europe to play professionally before the WNBA was set up here? that explains a lot of why countries like Greece might be that good.

[SFDMALEX]

That's because we OWN europe in both... :wink: :P


No its actually because no ones gives a shit about grid iron and baseball ;)


Around the world people knows these sports:

Football
Hockey
Basketball
Boxing

[SFDMALEX]

Honestly, the rules have changed dramatically in this time too... particularly the NBA. I think Team USA 1992 would still be winning 130-54 against 95% of the teams out there... let alone the 1990 Pistons would've creamed the 2004/5/6 Pistons.


I agree with you man. However Im talking about today.

USA still should dominate in basketball, but the "bling bling ching ching dawgs" are being embarresed by the opposition. That just shouldnt happen.

I mean look at the names on the US team...Now look at Greece...I dont follow NBA closely but I still know 80% of the names on the US team. Greeks I know none :oops:


And the arrogance is more about hockey then anything. Epecialy Canadian hockey. Arrogant arrogant cocky bastards :wink:



And who cares about WNBA :lol: :wink:



My theory is that NA has plenty of hockey and basketball potential, but the cocky attitude and arrogance is not winning them any games. No need to defend the players saying its the dolla dolla bills making them play like shit.

Bottom line is that USA at the FIBA WBC is playing now for 3rd place, with more stars on their team then there is the night sky.



Just bad attitude in general in north American pro sports.

All this association with escalades is getting ya'll knocked out, out played and out pointed.

[Mr.Vercetti]

^^^^

Dude put aside for a while the stars etc and Ill put aside the fact that Im Greek... did u see the match?.. The basketball that USA played was to say the least shity.. on the contrary, the basketball that we played was... genius. Its all about mentality mate... menatlity and brains... As for Greek teams, you must at least have heard of Panathinaikos, 3 times European Champion.

[Mattk]

Indeed, and the sad part is they are not that highly paid

At least they get paid more than most people. And NBA referees get contracts!


That's because we OWN europe in both...

...because nobody else is interested in such mundane activities. Seriously, baseball is really boring, and grid iron not much better.

The Dream Team is not a real team. It is too full of individuals who all want to play their own way.

[nthfinity]

Quote:

That's because we OWN europe in both...


...because nobody else is interested in such mundane activities. Seriously, baseball is really boring, and grid iron not much better.
except baseball is better, as is the "grid iron" who would want to watch Aussi soccer? and that "cricket" thing? you must be kidding me. (we love them, you dont have to... and visa versa.


The Dream Team is not a real team. It is too full of individuals who all want to play their own way.

the dream team used to be a team, that is my argument. Todays basketball superstars are now just that, and they are that on thier own.
look what happened to the Bulls when Pippen, Rodman, and Jordan left town they were the superstar team within a team... todays guys just aren't able to play as a team IMHO

[SFDMALEX]

^^^^

Dude put aside for a while the stars etc and Ill put aside the fact that Im Greek... did u see the match?.. The basketball that USA played was to say the least shity.. on the contrary, the basketball that we played was... genius. Its all about mentality mate... menatlity and brains... As for Greek teams, you must at least have heard of Panathinaikos, 3 times European Champion.


Easy mate, I have nothing agains the Greeks. If anything Im happy for you :wink: Id just expect USA to kick anyones ass in basketball like I would expect Greece to beat USA in football.

[Mr.Vercetti]

^^^^

Im not attacking you or anyone else... :wink:

[gangajas]

Greek basketball has changed a lot. In the past they used to win matches scoring 50-60 points, it was incredibly boring. But nowadays I think they have the better players of his history, Papaloukas and Spanoulis are amazing players.

[SFDMALEX]

Greek basketball has changed a lot. In the past they used to win matches scoring 50-60 points, it was incredibly boring. But nowadays I think they have the better players of his history, Papaloukas and Spanoulis are amazing players.

I hope they keep winning, unline the rest of Europe Ukrainians and Greeks at least have religion in common :D And Crimea and Odesa are very "Greek" construction wise :D

VIVA GREECE!

[joe2tiger]

I love it when arrogant assclowns like the guy who started this post spout off about shit they don't even understand.

There is a VERY simple reason why the United States does not dominate in basketball: Many of the European teams where basketball is much smaller in popularity still manage to beat the USA because they play together all year round whereas the American teams are cobbled together from the best (suppossedly) players in the NBA who dont normally work together throughout the season and then given a relatively limited amount of time to mesh as a team. Basically, these guys are actualy enemies for most of the season and then, woops, all fo a suddent hey are told to cooperate and win as a team with only limited time to actually train together when compared to the European and other teams they must face. This illustrates one simple fact: teamwork and cohesion is FAR more important then just putting together a "team" of players who are all stars and the "best of the best" in thier own right.

But of course for morons such as yourself, it presents a nice opportunity to give a big "F-you" to America. Whats funny is that it only shows your complete lack of understanding of the nature of team sports such as basketball. If you had any, you would realize that, in cobbling together big time stars who are used to being the number ones and two's on their teams and making them suddenly act as a team with players they usually play against and may not even like, the United States puts itself at a huge disadvantage.

Personally I think the US should just field the NBA champ team and they would do much much better. Even then, the Europeans have some great teams and stand just as much chance of winning as the US or Canada. Basketball is getting bigger and bigger in Europe by the day. It only makes sense that they should have some excelent teams able to stand toe to toe with America. To me it makes for excellent sport and not a childish opportunity to belittle America.

Second point: Many of the "European" teams you speak of are actually using AMERICAN players as thier stars who PLAY IN THE NBA but then switch teams to play for their country of origin!! So its basically still NBA (read AMERICAN) players simply playing for thier home countries. These players fill a void in skills and experience but without destroying the unit cohesion of the European teams because thier numbers are small enough to where they provide a boost in ability without destroying team dynamics.

Oh and here is one more point. To Americans, players and fans included, USA basketball just doesnt matter. It doesnt get the ratings in America and players have little incentive to actually play hard other then, perhaps, national pride. Its similar to the all star games in baseball. They have become just a big show. Everyone knows the real winners and losers are decided in the regular season, at least from the American perspective anyway.

So while you piss and moan about how America sucks and losses to Greece, most Americans couldnt care less. Im sure the Greek team is great and all, but how could you NOT beat a team that is suddenly cobbled together from different teams who are enemies the entire season and told to play as a team against some Euro teams and, oh yeah, your country doesnt give a shit and won't even be watching you play. Just dont get yourself injured and F-up the regular season ok! Thats the deal for USA basketball. Understand that and you understand why we lose. Then again, you may just prefer to allow yourself to believe USA sucks and stuff....which if it makes you fell warm and fuzzy inside is probably all the incentive you need to believe as you wish and not as things are.

Oh and on top of everything, you insult the European teams by acting as if they should stand no chance against America simply because basketball is "bigger" in the states. As one poster put it, "basketball is the national sport of Greece". I bet you didnt even know that you little twit. Why shouldnt the greeks be excellent at basketball eh!?!?!? Why shouldnt the Kiwi's?!?! Maybe because NZ has only 4 million people and no nation with such a small population should have any chance eh?

You spout off about how arrogant Americans sports casters are and such and yet the only person who sounds arrogant to me is YOU.

[SFDMALEX]

Fuck you too you piece of fucking shit :D


Have you fucked off yet? Well fuck you. Do let the door hit you.

P.S. Fuck you too. :D



P.S.S I shit on AMERICA :roll:

[Mattk]

and that "cricket" thing?

Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world. Not just Australians like it. All of India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka like it (literally), as well as much of the non-American English-speaking world. Even the Americans and Canadians play it (poorly). Aussie rules I can understand, because some in Australia don't like it. South Africans like it. Irish folks also like it, because they made it up when they got here.

The US have a habit of not sending their best teams to major int'l comps. In the Dream Team, LeBron James is probably the only one you would call a huge international star. The others are no doubt good and reasonably well-known in the US, but they're not really the "big names". I read an interesting article by Eric Hobsbawn which, amongst other things, talked of the new-age sports stars being too self-absorbed in their own individual monetary gain to bother with such voluntary trivialities as the world champs or the Olympics.

[nthfinity]

Even the Americans and Canadians play it (poorly

no self respecting American would touch a cricket bat for "true play" but perhaps for initiation rights for sports teams, adn fraternaties.

[Mattk]

no self respecting American would touch a cricket bat for "true play"

And no self-respecting man or woman of any other nation would strap on shitloads of padding just to play football. ;) But I guess it allows for shoulder-charges without fear.

[nthfinity]

And I won't keep quoting your post 'cause all the arguments are plain dumb. Just accept it... american players don't give a shit about anything, only their own ego and their own wallet... ah - and their 'bling bling' Cadillac Escalade! And that's why they lose against teams which believe in their abilities and possibilities to defeat the USA.


it really depends on the player.

I just think its gotten worse these days; where it used to be a national unification a decade ago

[SFDMALEX]

Well what do you guys now....idiots and morons trying to belittle america :roll:

[Mattk]

It's actually true. American sports stars don't like playing in int'l tournaments because they don't get paid.