August 30, 2004

USA Basketball

I've moved. For the last week I've been in the process of moving from Saint Louis to Baltimore.

I caught the last two minutes of US-Argentina somewhere in West Virginia on a K-Mart television screen obscured by a blue light.

I've been reading a LITTLE bit of commentary on the squad. As a lifetime baller with middling skills, I've got one question particularly for the conservative commentators.

Has anyone suggested COMPETING for slots the next time around?

Open the team up to International players like Scoonie Penn, or even folks like Jarvis Walker. Open it up to high schoolers, to college players, and to pros. Make cuts. Hell, make it a reality show. Then put them on the road against competition a year ahead of time at least.


Posted by at August 30, 2004 12:42 AM | TrackBack

I remenber NBA champion goint on tour during 50s and 60s as ambasadors teaching basketball around the World.Bill Russell actually invested in property (rubber plantation)as I recall Lagos Nigeria;but the clinics brought bball to world ;well the pupil is coming of age,yes have a tryout an open .
tootsie

Posted by: tootsie at August 30, 2004 06:13 AM

Good idea. Obviously, it's not as important to have a roster full of name brands as it is to have a true team; one that's had time to practice playing together, understanding how to play the international game, one that has competent role players for all the roles required.

Posted by: memer at August 30, 2004 08:27 AM

I'd support it.

Posted by: molotov at August 30, 2004 11:02 AM

The suggestion of having try-outs to build the next USA basketball team raises some very interesting questions. First off let me say that I am all for it as well, but since US basketball is a high profile sport that seems to promote individualism over a strategic team first approach to playing, it would seem that the effort would only duplicate what has just been done. The players selected would still probably wind up being marquee caliber selected for their ability to help generate marketing dollars as mcuh for their skills on the court. The line that separates the technical aspect between sport-and entertainment-value has been effectively blurred to where many view this new And 1 breed of baskteball (which I admit I am a fan of as well)as the preferred approach to the game.

Posted by: chaplikat at August 31, 2004 05:02 AM

Where are you taking your talent to in Baltimore lkspence since you are leaving "The Lou" and Wash-U?

Posted by: chaplikat at August 31, 2004 05:07 AM

You're headed to Balimur?

Just when people are trying to get out? :-D

Posted by: EBrown at August 31, 2004 06:30 PM

I've been named a Kellogg Scholar in Health Disparities, and I'm working out of Morgan State. Been here for a few days, but because I've been grappling with moving stuff I haven't made it to the office yet. I like what I see so far. And I feel more like I've got my back covered in a few days here than i EVER felt in Saint Louis. But I'm still with Wash. U....so if you've got my wash. u. email it isn't changing anytime soon.

On basketball...

I do think that the tryouts don't solve all the problems of the squad. But they solve the problem of motivation. Anyone willing to tryout will be motivated to ball. And they SHOULD solve the individual problem as well. When they had college tryouts we were able to field a well rounded team. People will still slip through the cracks--remember that Barkley didn't make Knight's 84 team--but I'm thinking this should result in a much more interesting team to watch. And in as much as it should result in a TEAM if they practice enough, the squad should be better too.

Posted by: Lester Spence at August 31, 2004 09:43 PM

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Posted by: at September 14, 2004 07:26 AM