[Who Dey]

After the 1988 summer games there was a public outcry for John Thompson's head. I mean literally, people wanted to see this mans death. Over the loss of one basketball game they wanted to see the end of a human life, seems a bit extreme. Or was it just one game?

The 88' American Basketball team was filled with the best college basketball players there were to offer. They dedicated almost an entire year of thier lives to prepare and represent thier country in the manner it deserved to be represented. This was not good enough for the American people, we had to win, just trying your hardest wasn't good enough for us.

And so as the public outcry failed to die down people began to consider the option of allowing profesionals to represent the USA in the olympic games. Even though in the history of the olympics ametuer basketball players had managed to win every game they competed in except for two.

One of those losses, to the USSR in 76', remains steeped in controversy. The other was again to the Soviets under the leadership of Coach Thompson in 88'. Again, two losses were two to many, we needed Jordan, Bird, and Magic.

Last olympics the USA lost 4 games, twice as many games as college players had lost in the history of the olympics. Where is the outcry for Larry Brown's head as there was for Coach Thompson's in 88'? Why did we care then and we don't care now? To me it makes no sense.

Where are Bird, Jordan, and Magic now? In 1990 these superstars of the NBA begged and pleaded to be on the "Dream Team", why is there no such desire to do so now.

Only 1 player in the league has shown consistent desire to represent his country in the Olympics, Allen Iverson. But even AI is not willing to sacrafice the time and effort it will take to make an actual "team".

It takes practice. Yes I'm talkin' bout' "practice" AI. The NBA, who essentially is in charge of the American Olympic team these days has requested that each player devote one month to preperation for the Olympics. It is my estimation that this is the absolute minimun time it would take to put together a an actual "team." And even then, those would be very long days durring that one month.

I say the hell with it, give us the college kids back. If they lose, then they lose. But as long as they devote the necessary time and effort I will be happy. The 2004 showing was absolutely pathetic, and the way people just disregard thier performance and go right back to cheering for their fav. NBA team is just as pathetic.

We lost to Puerto Rico for Christ Sake, and we own Puerto Rico, literally.