Cheering against USA Basketball = Borderline Racism?

[DeltaSigStan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...hitlock/040826

I disagree. I'd like to see them win gold, and I think we've already clued in to how bad NBA style ball is compared to the international game. But I don't blame that on racism.

[Lady Pi Phi]

I thought it was a poorly written article.

He started off the article with the premise that the American people are are racist because they don't like the all black basketball team and they are showing this by saying they hope the team loses. Okay, that's his premise, let him run with it. I was think to myself, "is America really racist and this is how they are expressing it? Or is America just frustrated by the earlier performance and have become so apathetic to the team that they don't care if they win or lose?"

But then he goes off on another tanget saying that the NBA style and International style are different and if the US wants to compete they have to change their style of play. Then proceeds to compare it to the 1972 Summit series. How does style of play relate to racism??? Some one tell me because the writer sure didn't?

Finally his conclusion is the opposite of his thesis. He basically says thet the US team doesn't care about whether they win or lose because they are already making money and that money is important to them and the Olympics is just a fun vacation away. So basically he's saying that the Olympics should go back to only allowing amatures.

Three completely different ideas in this opinion piece. What a bad article. It makes no sense. I have to stick with the first though that America just doesn't care about the basketball team.

[Kevin]

This guy is changing the definition of patriotism.

Patriotism is love for one's country.

It is NOT supporting everything that comes out of your country.

By his definition, anyone who dislikes our President is not patriotic.

That being said, if the US men were to make a comeback and win the gold, that'd kick some ass.

[ztawinthropgirl]

I think this is absolute crapola! I am SICK, listen to me, SICK and TIRED of the racism always being pulled.

As Andy Rooney says, "I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything but numbers."

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by ktsnake
By his definition, anyone who dislikes our President is not patriotic.

Hmmm. Read the Politics thread. Some GC'ers might agree.

However, it seems to me that the answer to this thread is much less insidious than racism or patriotism.

The American sports fan -- with exceptions -- is notoriously fickle. Nobody worried about race with the original Dream Team when they dominated. But this team has lost some games, and the American Sport Fan has turned against them. Americans want "their" team to be a winner. Any chink in the armor and the fans turn their backs.

In addition, many of the real superstars of the NBA won't be bothered with the Olympics. This team has real talent, but does not portray the very best of the NBA.

Some national teams are as good, and we don't want to admit it.

[AlphaSigOU]

Bingo... DeltAlum nailed it on the head.

American sports fans have been trained and indoctrinated from a very early age to always love a winner and hate a loser. Which is why you see so many 'fair weather fans' around.

Your favorite team is winning championships? Almost impossible to score season tickets, let alone for individual games. And when your favorite team is a permanent inhabitant of the 'cellar', tickets are practically given away.

[KSigkid]

I think a big reason is the resentment the public has towards those who turned down invitations - the US basketball team now represents a group of athletes who would not (or could not) represent their country.

The guys who actually went are taking the brunt of those criticisms, even though they're the ones who went.

I read an interesting solution to all of this - just have anyone who wants to try out be eligible, whether they be college or pro. That eliminates the embarassment of having so many players turn it down. I'm not sure how well this would work, but it's a though. Something has to change though; the "Dream Team" concept just isn't working as well as it should.

[tinydancer]

Originally posted by AlphaSigOU
Bingo... DeltAlum nailed it on the head.

American sports fans have been trained and indoctrinated from a very early age to always love a winner and hate a loser. Which is why you see so many 'fair weather fans' around.

Your favorite team is winning championships? Almost impossible to score season tickets, let alone for individual games. And when your favorite team is a permanent inhabitant of the 'cellar', tickets are practically given away.

You are correct, sir!! Now lots of people may make fun of my favorite teams, or may not like them, but I'm loyal to them win OR lose.

[DeltAlum]

We had to deal with a most graphic proof of this a few years ago when our TV station did the weekly Bronco coach's show.

It had room for a live studio audience of around 100. If the Ponies were on a winning streak, we turned people away. If they lost two in a row, we were sometimes lucky to get ten of the producers family members to come.

Try shooting 10 people and making it look like a full studio.

And this is in a town that John Elway, among other pundits call the best football town in America. Well, at least one of the best.