I have liked Wade less and less as this year has gone on.

 

 

Haven't cared for him much since March of 2003.:madman:

Haven't cared for him much since March of 2003.:madman:

 

Sounds like my hate-hate relationship with Tyler Hansbrough.

The Olympics had always been amateur and maybe they should've stayed that way. I'd like to see a time when the Olympics is in its proper place -- an afterthought -- and the best basketball competition is played at the FIBA World Championships. Basketball is the best game on the planet and it deserves its own time to shine, not one event in a larger competition. If we were to elevate the World Championships to their proper place and have them as the most important, I could get behind the notion of paying them for that, just like World Cup athletes are paid in soccer.

If the other countries play with pros we should play with pros, IMO. Their pros are better than our amateurs.

If the other countries play with pros we should play with pros, IMO. Their pros are better than our amateurs.

 

 

Agreed, we play to win darnit. :taz: Well actually they do but you know what I mean.

In regards to what Wade had to say about all of the jersey's that they sell, where exactly does that money go?

 

 

I believe it's used to fund other Team USA ventures.

The Olympics had always been amateur and maybe they should've stayed that way. I'd like to see a time when the Olympics is in its proper place -- an afterthought -- and the best basketball competition is played at the FIBA World Championships. Basketball is the best game on the planet and it deserves its own time to shine, not one event in a larger competition. If we were to elevate the World Championships to their proper place and have them as the most important, I could get behind the notion of paying them for that, just like World Cup athletes are paid in soccer.

I think I could get behind this. I like how the Olympics gives athletes in sports which receive less coverage the spotlight.

I would be fine if they removed basketball from the Olympics completely and competed separately. I do disagree that basketball is the best game on the planet. That would be American football.

 

I think Getslow devalues the importance of the Olympics, though. In no way is it, or should it be, an afterthought. The sports represented, and the athletes, are simply amazing. As Americans, we tend to value ourselves, our athletes, our culture and our sports as "better" than any other nation's. I personally don't mind seeing other countries success in sport, and really enjoy many of the sports that are dominated by other countries. I love seeing if Americans in those sports are able to be competitive, considering the utter lack of support and finacial emphasis they get from our three-sport dominated culture.

I really don't like that any player has this mentality, especially Ray Allen, who has been my favorite player for a while now.

 

I'm glad Lebron James gets it, not often I've been able to say that.

They do get paid $25,000 for bringing home the gold. The basketball team also lives the poshest of lifestyles compared to other American athletes. Really what it becomes is an all expenses paid 45 day vacation at nice resorts around the world and for a few hours a day they play basketball. What has become "difficult" in the eyes of these guys is the every other year commitment at the World Games, Qualifying, etc. Though I have a hard time believing these guys are not playing hoops anyways. From the perspective of players playing basketball - even in the Olympics - it is for pure entertainment purposes.

I would be fine if they removed basketball from the Olympics completely and competed separately. I do disagree that basketball is the best game on the planet. That would be American football.

 

I think Getslow devalues the importance of the Olympics, though. In no way is it, or should it be, an afterthought. The sports represented, and the athletes, are simply amazing. As Americans, we tend to value ourselves, our athletes, our culture and our sports as "better" than any other nation's. I personally don't mind seeing other countries success in sport, and really enjoy many of the sports that are dominated by other countries. I love seeing if Americans in those sports are able to be competitive, considering the utter lack of support and finacial emphasis they get from our three-sport dominated culture.

 

I think you misunderstand me. I don't think the Olympics should be an afterthought in general. I love the Olympics. I just think they should be an afterthought as far as basketball goes, just like Olympic soccer is an afterthought and bears little resemblance to actual, top-level international soccer.

They do get paid $25,000 for bringing home the gold. The basketball team also lives the poshest of lifestyles compared to other American athletes. Really what it becomes is an all expenses paid 45 day vacation at nice resorts around the world and for a few hours a day they play basketball. What has become "difficult" in the eyes of these guys is the every other year commitment at the World Games, Qualifying, etc. Though I have a hard time believing these guys are not playing hoops anyways. From the perspective of players playing basketball - even in the Olympics - it is for pure entertainment purposes.

 

That seems more than reasonable considering the popularity of basketball worldwide. I believe you get $32,000 for winning the FIFA World Cup.

I would be fine if they removed basketball from the Olympics completely and competed separately. I do disagree that basketball is the best game on the planet. That would be American football.

Football may be the best "game". But the best "sport" is most definitely amateur wrestling. Nothing else close...

Football may be the best "game". But the best "sport" is most definitely amateur wrestling. Nothing else close...

 

I'd argue swimming trumps amateur wrestling.

 

I think you misunderstand me. I don't think the Olympics should be an afterthought in general. I love the Olympics. I just think they should be an afterthought as far as basketball goes, just like Olympic soccer is an afterthought and bears little resemblance to actual, top-level international soccer.

 

I did. I completely thought you were referring to the whole Olympics.