Throughout the last couple of weeks, we have watched as the United States “Dream Team” has made a complete mockery of sportsmanship in Sydney. Since the beginning of the Games, the so-called Dream Team has displayed such an incredible level of arrogance, speaking volumes about sportsmanship in the United States.
The American players have continuously criticized the other teams for their “lack of skills” and proclaimed themselves “unbeatable.” After their most recent scare against the Lithuanians, Ray Allen even went so far as to say, “If we had lost, I don’t know if we would have come back for the bronze-medal game.” You know what, Ray, why show up for the gold-medal game? Aren’t you insulted that you have to play against such an inferior opponent?
If getting a medal, any medal, in the Olympics doesn’t mean anything to you, step aside for a young college player to enjoy the moment. Not many college basketball players ever get the chance to play in the NBA, but I guarantee you an Olympic medal–gold, silver or bronze–would mean the world to them.
And in the event the U.S. team does win the gold medal, let’s hope they can accept it with at least half the dignity and honor the original Dream Team displayed–Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and the others. Let’s face it: These guys will never be as good as they were.
