By Josh Bogorad
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Thursday September 5, 2002
The 2002 World Basketball Championship tournament is in full stride heading toward the medal round and all sports fans are asking the same question ÷ "Who cares?"
The answer is · no one.
Imagine all the die-hard fans who are unable to sleep the night before a highly anticipated battle between the Americans and powerhouse Angola. Think about the way experts will spend countless hours analyzing the match-up between Paul Pierce and Jean-Jacques Conceicao. Wow, I'm starting to get fired up just thinking about it! This is a guaranteed SportsCenter Showcase.
Ten years ago, the International Olympic Committee decided that NBA players should be eligible for international play. Since that time, the United States is 54-1 against the best the rest of the world has to offer and was never even seriously challenged until last night's loss to Argentina.
It might be time to even the playing field just a tad and make the games a little more exciting. In addition to being more exciting, there is a way to ensure that the games are played with more enthusiasm and desire than the current U.S. players have.
The solution is for the U.S. team to dress college players.
In 1992, "The Dream Team" made headlines by being the first NBA players allowed to compete in the Olympics. Yet, they were more than that. They were the best basketball ÷ and perhaps sports ÷ team ever assembled. This was a team that brought 11 future Hall of Famers and one college standout together to undeniably prove America's full possession of basketball supremacy. It was a team that, among others, saw the likes of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley and John Stockton. It was a team that brought Magic Johnson out of retirement so he could participate. It was a team that could never be rivaled.
But that was 10 years ago, and that was the one and only "Dream Team." The novelty has since worn off and the sports world has gotten bored with seeing the United States destroy a bunch of no-name squads. This tournament is not even for a coveted Olympic gold medal. It's for the World Basketball Championship. The players don't even care about these games. It's completely evident in their lackluster performance up to this point, and was especially so in last night's loss. But even playing uninspired ball for most of the tournament, the United States is still winning games by an average of more than 25 points per game.
This year, the American team is comprised of many players who only received the offer after it was denied by other players. This team is not the best that U.S. basketball has to offer. That being the case, why should the fans be subjected to watch basketball games that are about as entertaining as upper division economics classes?
Right now, the United States is in a no-win situation with international basketball. It is supposed to blow out its opponents every game. When it wins, it means nothing. But if it loses ö like last night ö it is a disgrace.
Fielding a team of college players would give future NBA prospects a chance to play at a level they are not used to. It will provide the college game with better exposure to the rest of the world. But most importantly, it will put passionate players on the floor and make the games better to watch. Even if the collegiate Americans were to win the majority of their games, they still play basketball with a kind of energy and emotion that is rarely seen in the NBA
The "Dream Team" no longer exists. Jordan, Magic and Bird have been replaced by Andre Miller, Antonio Davis and Jermaine O'Neal. With all due respect to the latter three, that drop off makes the Grand Canyon look like a second story window.
Where are the best players that America has to offer? Where are Shaq, Kobe, Carter, McGrady and Iverson?
Are they all too busy to compete in the WBC? No, they just don't care. Well, maybe Iverson does, but with only six months a year to polish up his rapping career and clear his name from any charges facing him, he just can't seem to find the time.
So, rather than play the 3rd or 4th All-NBA squad who really aren't that into it anyway, give an opportunity to some kids who really would appreciate the chance.
The fans would probably appreciate it, too.
For the time being though, I suppose the fans will just have to deal with these make-shift challengers and try to find ways to make the games exciting.
In fact, I think the United States has an upcoming game against Lebanon. The spread will probably be something around 43.
Where's my bookie's number?
