Author Topic: Did the NBA destroy the Olympics  (Read 9390 times)

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Did the NBA destroy the Olympics
« on: June 11, 2016, 09:51:48 PM »

Offline Ogaju

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remember when the Olympic was all about amateur athletes competing for their country with pride and sometimes hope that maybe their performance may spur them onto fame and maybe fortune?

Well, enter the NBA into the Olympics and any pretense of amateurism in the Olympics was erased. The NBA players now consume the Olympics, the basketball is no longer competitive it is only a matter of how much will the USA destroy all comers. The opening ceremonies is now mostly about the NBA players, and do these spoiled NBA players appreciate the Olympics or embody the Olympic spirit? No, they do not. It is all about money for them.

Barkley famously insulted the player from Zaire that was so googly-eyed about playing with the USA that he tried to shake the hands of Barkley. What about the players refusing to show the Reebok emblem on their suits because they had endorsements with NIKE.





Re: Did the NBA destroy the Olympics
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2016, 09:55:22 PM »

Offline Eja117

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If I remember correctly other teams were already sending their pros. Also our pros have been beat so I'm gonna go with no

Re: Did the NBA destroy the Olympics
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2016, 09:56:34 PM »

Offline mctyson

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The olympics should be about the best athletes, period.  Why can tennis pros play?

Re: Did the NBA destroy the Olympics
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2016, 10:01:52 PM »

Offline Ogaju

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If I remember correctly other teams were already sending their pros. Also our pros have been beat so I'm gonna go with no

I was thinking about that,  but I don't recall when  our pros lost. When was that again?

Re: Did the NBA destroy the Olympics
« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2016, 10:04:58 PM »

Offline Celtics4ever

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Quote
remember when the Olympic was all about amateur athletes competing for their country with pride and sometimes hope that maybe their performance may spur them onto fame and maybe fortune?

This was true of us in basketball but many other counties had their version of pros playing.

Re: Did the NBA destroy the Olympics
« Reply #5 on: June 11, 2016, 10:09:20 PM »

Offline Ogaju

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Quote
remember when the Olympic was all about amateur athletes competing for their country with pride and sometimes hope that maybe their performance may spur them onto fame and maybe fortune?

This was true of us in basketball but many other counties had their version of pros playing.

I see that we lost in 2004 but partly because some of the NBA stars refused to go because of security concerns after 9/11.

Re: Did the NBA destroy the Olympics
« Reply #6 on: June 11, 2016, 10:36:09 PM »

Offline Celtics18

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Quote
remember when the Olympic was all about amateur athletes competing for their country with pride and sometimes hope that maybe their performance may spur them onto fame and maybe fortune?

This was true of us in basketball but many other counties had their version of pros playing.

I see that we lost in 2004 but partly because some of the NBA stars refused to go because of security concerns after 9/11.

The US also failed to win gold in the 2002 and 2006 world championships.  Eventually we will lose our dominant status over the rest of the world and the game will be more exciting for it. 

The rest of the world will catch up faster by competing against the US than they will by being protected against them.
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Re: Did the NBA destroy the Olympics
« Reply #7 on: June 11, 2016, 11:29:20 PM »

Offline RockinRyA

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Very nearsighted and america-centric view from OP. You do realize that other countries are sending their Pros as well? You do realize that without Pros, some countries (like ours) wont get to send a competitive team?

Re: Did the NBA destroy the Olympics
« Reply #8 on: June 11, 2016, 11:42:12 PM »

Offline KGs Knee

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Very nearsighted and america-centric view from OP. You do realize that other countries are sending their Pros as well? You do realize that without Pros, some countries (like ours) wont get to send a competitive team?

So do this, by nature, make yours an anti-American POV?

'Murica!

Re: Did the NBA destroy the Olympics
« Reply #9 on: June 12, 2016, 12:07:17 AM »

Offline jpotter33

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Quote
remember when the Olympic was all about amateur athletes competing for their country with pride and sometimes hope that maybe their performance may spur them onto fame and maybe fortune?

This was true of us in basketball but many other counties had their version of pros playing.

I see that we lost in 2004 but partly because some of the NBA stars refused to go because of security concerns after 9/11.

The US also failed to win gold in the 2002 and 2006 world championships.  Eventually we will lose our dominant status over the rest of the world and the game will be more exciting for it. 

The rest of the world will catch up faster by competing against the US than they will by being protected against them.

Eh, I just don't see that happening, not on an individual country level, that is. We have several main advantages that will keep us squarely at the top: 1) massive country population, 2) massive popularity within the country (much more than other countries, at least), 3) superior programs and opportunities to raise and develop players due to our affluent status and the sport's popularity.

I just don't think there will ever be a single country that could challenge us in basketball due to all of those factors. Hell, I still think that it'll be a long time before Team World could beat Team USA (the 2014 All-Star Rising Stars game notwithstanding).

Re: Did the NBA destroy the Olympics
« Reply #10 on: June 12, 2016, 12:19:42 AM »

Offline Denis998

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Canada will soon take over.
Murray - Joseph
Wiggins - Sauce Castillo
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Thompson - Powell
KO

Re: Did the NBA destroy the Olympics
« Reply #11 on: June 12, 2016, 01:42:05 AM »

Online jambr380

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Canada will soon take over.
Murray - Joseph
Wiggins - Sauce Castillo
Lyles
Thompson - Powell
KO

My, how the mighty have fallen - don't forget Bennett! ;0)

Re: Did the NBA destroy the Olympics
« Reply #12 on: June 12, 2016, 02:47:13 AM »

Offline ChampKind

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Did the NHL destroy the Winter Olympics?

Sadly, we have to sit and watch the best players in the world (and, occasionally, Christian Laettner) compete against each other.  It's a shameful day in sports when athletes are allowed to maximize their earning power AND represent their country at the same time.
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Re: Did the NBA destroy the Olympics
« Reply #13 on: June 12, 2016, 04:23:07 AM »

Offline RockinRyA

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Very nearsighted and america-centric view from OP. You do realize that other countries are sending their Pros as well? You do realize that without Pros, some countries (like ours) wont get to send a competitive team?

So do this, by nature, make yours an anti-American POV?

'Murica!

Of course not. Its not Black or White. Again, not everything is about America. just because I said that his statement is a one sided view doesnt mean I am anti-america. The Olympics is about the world, so to only look at it from a single country's point of view is just plain wrong. Is pointing it out make me anti-american? Other countries do have Pro Leagues fyi. These leagues send their players to these competition. The Philippines for example have 100% of their National team as Pros, same as China. The NBA isn't the only Pro League in the world.

Re: Did the NBA destroy the Olympics
« Reply #14 on: June 12, 2016, 06:57:46 AM »

Offline gift

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remember when the Olympic was all about amateur athletes competing for their country with pride and sometimes hope that maybe their performance may spur them onto fame and maybe fortune?

Well, enter the NBA into the Olympics and any pretense of amateurism in the Olympics was erased. The NBA players now consume the Olympics, the basketball is no longer competitive it is only a matter of how much will the USA destroy all comers. The opening ceremonies is now mostly about the NBA players, and do these spoiled NBA players appreciate the Olympics or embody the Olympic spirit? No, they do not. It is all about money for them.

Barkley famously insulted the player from Zaire that was so googly-eyed about playing with the USA that he tried to shake the hands of Barkley. What about the players refusing to show the Reebok emblem on their suits because they had endorsements with NIKE.

I'm only old enough to remember when the Olympics was about money. I do remember thinking differently as a child though, but that is likely my mistake rather than the Olympics somehow losing their way.