Men's Basketball - Gold medal game (USA vs Spain)

[ghazi]

Very entertaining game. Fernandez was awesome, D-whistle and Bryant made some clutch shots whenever the Spaniards were threathening.

I was pulling for Spain because I'm an antagonist son of a bitch, I like underdogs, I dislike many of the members of team USA, and I question the patriotism of the team USA members themselves. It all feels "fake" to me.

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by ghazi

... and I question the patriotism of the team USA members themselves. It all feels "fake" to me.

If you watched the end of the game and the medal ceremony and you still feel that way, then with all due respect....you're out of your mind.

[Bayliss]

I will not take credit for making it. I just found it on another message board:

[alby]

Originally Posted by Bayliss

I will not take credit for making it. I just found it on another message board:

YOU ARE THE MAN

[alby]

Originally Posted by ghazi

Very entertaining game. Fernandez was awesome, D-whistle and Bryant made some clutch shots whenever the Spaniards were threathening.

I was pulling for Spain because I'm an antagonist son of a bitch, I like underdogs, I dislike many of the members of team USA, and I question the patriotism of the team USA members themselves. It all feels "fake" to me.

As you can probably already tell, I feel the same way.

[jthig32]

Anyone saying the patriotism is fake either hasn't watched or is just looking for an excuse for rooting against them. Those guys cared. A lot.

[alby]

what should have happened this summer

[Flacolaco]

Originally Posted by jthig32

Anyone saying the patriotism is fake either hasn't watched or is just looking for an excuse for rooting against them. Those guys cared. A lot.

Ditto.

USA.

[dirno2000]

If there was a guy on that team who would trade his NBA contract for his gold medal, I too would be elated. Elated in a big way. But I don't see it.

I actually think that Dirk might trade his. Gasol, too.

Yea, Dirk and Gasol are like Brett Farve. They love the game so much they'd probably play for free. In the real world they play for about $20MM a year but don't worry about that so much.

[alby]

Bayliss, on which board did you find that gif? and do they have anymore from the game? (ie Ricky's cross on Paul)

[Dirkadirkastan]

I will never cheer for Kobe Bryant or Dwyane Wade as long as I live.

[The Crippler]

Without naming names, the Americans on this board that were cheering for Spain in this game because they feel like being "antagonists" or somesuch, yeah, you can go ahead and eat a dick. Just my opinion, of course.

USA! USA! USA!

[dude1394]

Trade a gold medal for a 20million/year nba contract..what ARE you smoking. Come on.

[rabbitproof]

Great game. Proud of our guys and I only expect to things get harder in 2012 as the international teams get stronger.

I wonder if our team sports are at a little disadvantage for communication reasons. Yes, we have code and slang but they know when we call "double" or "backdoor" but we don't understand what they call. Moot and useless point, I suppose..

Anyhow, go USA. What a way to cap a fun Olympics.

[LonghornDub]

I'm trying to wrap my mind around exactly what about Team USA's patriotism is "fake."

[Bayliss]

Alby, it came from insidehoops. But I don't see anymore.

[GermanDunk]

Originally Posted by alby

what should have happened this summer

Great picture. Congrats guys.

[alby]

Bayliss, thanks for the reply... Go Mavs

[ghazi]

Originally Posted by LonghornDub

I'm trying to wrap my mind around exactly what about Team USA's patriotism is "fake."

I just have a hard time imagining a bunch of young multimillionaires being genuinely patriotic. Someone like Carmelo Anthony comes to mind.

I guess it depends on the definition of patriotism. My opinion is that most of the team USA members do not fit my definition of the understanding!

Melo, Kobe, Whistle, CP3... these are players I don't root for in the NBA, so it translates over to international level. I wouldn't call it anti-American or distasteful or anything, we're talking about a basketball game here, not a war!

[jthig32]

So only poor people can be patriotic? Seriously, you're not making an ounce of sense.

[Dirkadirkastan]

We can't read into the minds of the players. But among us fans, I do find it funny when people who support government overspending and other things that are hurting this country question the patriotism of others who refuse to unconditionally support USA basketball jerseys worn by prissy pants drama queens.

[Flacolaco]

Did you watch them celebrate? Did you watch the medal ceremony? I don't know how you could say any of these things if you had all the facts at your disposal. I don't care much for Anthony either, but he was pretty much crying last night. They all get it. They were doing something for the right reasons for once in their life.

If you had paid closer attention to all the off the court things this team had done, seen the emotion last night, I don't know how anyone could question them. It's just ignorance or a refusal to believe what was right in front of your face.

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by Dirkadirkastan

We can't read into the minds of the players. But among us fans, I do find it funny when people who support government overspending and other things that are hurting this country question the patriotism of others who refuse to unconditionally support USA basketball jerseys worn by prissy pants drama queens.

Whatever dude. When the USA faces another country in competition, I root for the USA. Has nothing to do with politics. Indifference is one thing. Actively rooting against the USA is an entirely different thing.

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

Did you watch them celebrate? Did you watch the medal ceremony? I don't know how you could say any of these things if you had all the facts at your disposal. I don't care much for Anthony either, but he was pretty much crying last night. They all get it. They were doing something for the right reasons for once in their life.

If you had paid closer attention to all the off the court things this team had done, seen the emotion last night, I don't know how anyone could question them. It's just ignorance or a refusal to believe what was right in front of your face.

But he's a thug, so he can't be proud of what he accomplish as a member of his country's basketball team. Only completely saintly people like Dirk truly understand what it means to love a country and play with pride.

Seriously, those dudes were crying on that podium.

[chumdawg]

I noticed that they all held their hands over their hearts while the national anthem played. I'll be checking to see if they do the same before their upcoming NBA games.

[Bayliss]

Chum, they had their hands on their hearts because of Kidd. He told them to do that.

[horse900703]

wow, spain is the only team can make U.S.A won less then 20~

[BGMaverick9]

alby awesome find for that picture of Kidd and Redd.

This was a very enjoyable game to watch and it had twists and turns all over the place. I'm very proud we won and we did it the right way.

But...it's time to start disliking those guys again, lol.

[Flacolaco]

Originally Posted by Bayliss

Chum, they had their hands on their hearts because of Kidd. He told them to do that.

You got a link?

[LonghornDub]

I love the completely irrational and unsubstantiated notion that these guys can't possibly care about their country because they are rich and arrogant athletes. As if the two things are mutually exclusive.

[BGMaverick9]

Originally Posted by Flacolaco

You got a link?

http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/story/856724.html

I think it's cool he did that.

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

I noticed that they all held their hands over their hearts while the national anthem played. I'll be checking to see if they do the same before their upcoming NBA games.

Were they pledging allegiance?

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by LonghornDub

I love the completely irrational and unsubstantiated notion that these guys can't possibly care about their country because they are rich and arrogant athletes. As if the two things are mutually exclusive.

I haven't heard of that notion (except for ghazi). I have heard the notion that I don't care about them because there's a bunch of douches on the team.

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by jthig32

Kobe, despite everything I despise about him, is an ice cold assassin when it matters most. He's proven that over and over again.

And then he went and raped every Chinese man, woman or child that he could find.

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

I haven't heard of that notion (except for ghazi).

So you have heard of it. And, not coincidentally, that's exactly who I was responding to.

[ty]

I'm glad the racists lost.