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Posted by: Qarl Aug 15 2004, 12:22 PM

Why the hell is Puerto Rico competing AGAINST the U.S. at the Olympics?

Aren't they a U.S. territory?

I say f-em and cut them loose!

They don't pay taxes anyways!

Posted by: Aaron Cox Aug 15 2004, 01:31 PM

heard a story bout this...

athletes didnt make the cut for the atlanta olympics so they joined the puerto rican(or jamaican) team. and competed against the US.

Posted by: ! Aug 15 2004, 01:33 PM

Well the second team is up 10 poiants right now.....dunno if it is delayed or not....

Iraq beat Costa Rico in Soccer...

Posted by: nebreitling Aug 15 2004, 01:59 PM

Posted by: Aaron Cox Aug 15 2004, 02:02 PM

Posted by: mack914 Aug 15 2004, 06:28 PM

BB is team, US not team. Shake&Bake doesn't make it.

Mack914

Posted by: nebreitling Aug 15 2004, 07:51 PM

Posted by: Gint Aug 15 2004, 08:37 PM

Posted by: Aaron Cox Aug 15 2004, 08:41 PM

Posted by: nebreitling Aug 15 2004, 10:45 PM

thanks gint!

Posted by: rhodyguy Aug 16 2004, 09:05 AM

there was an interesting piece about the u.s. bb team staying in some luxury suite on the queen mary, not in the olympic village. brick throwing, f-in primadonas. i think it's funny they forget to put the pill in the hole. how a team of motivated college players can't be assembled is beyond me.

Posted by: mack914 Aug 16 2004, 10:14 AM

College players like club players in Europe and the world are motivated, to prove that as a team they can overcome just about anying to win a metal. That may be their career highlight. Pros, especially of the last 5-10 years want individual status and cash. Put them together even on a pro team, they can't win. LAKERS.

Posted by: Cloudbuster Aug 16 2004, 10:22 AM

My beef is with NBC. We get friggin' Basketball from November to June, does it really need more coverage in the Olympics? I don't want to see more BBall featuring tall, ugly men. I want to see some of the more esoteric things. Like short, ugly men competing in Judo & wresting. Or more importantly, the womens gymnastic hotties, and beach volleyball! BOO! BOO! on 'normal / professional' sports in the Olympics.

Posted by: balljoint Aug 16 2004, 10:26 AM

Most likely the Queen Mary accomodations were at the request of the NBA wives. Keep those fellers away from all of the ultra-flexible 20-something female athletes please.

That said, I don't think the Puerto Rican team had any NBA players on it, and the USA team has mostly young guys not like the veteran laden Dream Teams of the past.

These guys are also probably a bit put out because they couldn't bring there usual entourage with them. I know that my performance at work slacks off when I don't have 20 people pretending to be my friend for money and constantly telling me that I am the best.

Posted by: iamchappy Aug 16 2004, 01:53 PM

I thought I should chime in on team USA's defense,

First of all team USA had only 4 practices together and six games before the Olympics,
the coach of team USA was upset from the beginning on the players that were chosen.
They only have 1 point guard and 1 center on the bench, and no outside shooters or jump shooters .

If the Detroit Pistons team were playing for team USA, it would be a completely different story.

Puerto Rico's point guard Carlos Arroyo who led the game in scoring (24pts.), is the starting point guard for the Utah Jazz.

Maybe in the future they will take more time and assemble a real team with players who want to play. Sadly most of our NBA players who were asked to play declined the invitation.
World competition has come a long way, look at how many of our NBA stars are from other countries. Many unsigned NBA and collage players from the US play on European teams. Dont assume that other countries basketball teams are bad, outside of USA's poor shooting, Puerto Rico played a pretty damn good game if you ask me.

Posted by: mack914 Aug 16 2004, 02:54 PM

They declined because they are even more arrogrant and self centered. They would have lost to PR by an even wider margin. As far as the Queen Mary, its a vacation for them, and no one plays BB on vacation. Make them pick up the tab if they don't qualify, give them something to play for.

Posted by: red914 Aug 16 2004, 03:02 PM

most of the problems would dry up if "professional" athletes were excluded. yes, yes, i know that there is no longer a clear line between pro and amateur. still, i think it has changed the nature of the games.

Posted by: lagunero Aug 16 2004, 08:00 PM

Did anyone find out the answer to this threads question? (I don't know it). Two words: INTERNATIONAL RULES. All the little things that throw these fine tuned machines out of whack. It's kinda like seeing that hottie without makeup (no not the 13yr old gymnast), she's still the same person but... Oh and I don't think I'd want to jeopardize my millions by getting knee checked by some player that can't stay with me. I must admit it was refreshing to see some of the lesser known players diving for loose balls, trying to salvage what the "stars" left. Money talks and NBC listens closely but if the team continues to lag maybe they'll do what they did in '92. It is sad when someone doesn't want to represent their country with the respect it deserves, even when it's the same country that gives them the freedom to do so. On the brighter side, no steroid scandals here