Heading home
Posted September 3rd, 2006 by bwindhorst
Tokyo — I haven’t been in the States in three weeks, so I’m not sure how the U.S. bronze medal performance came off back home, where I’m headed now. I’ve written about it and talked about it a great deal. I’m not going to rehash it. It was a quality win over Argentina and it is a good basis to build on.
This team is improved and it is on pace to take the gold in Beijing, no matter what the perception is. It might not happen, sure. You know what, after watching Spain rip apart Greece in the world championship game last night even without Pau Gasol, I’m not sure the U.S. would’ve beaten them. It was their time.
It has been a wondrous 20-day trip here, where I learned a lot about international basketball and Team USA that I tried to pass on to all of you. Here’s a list of my interesting experiences, in random order:
–Seeing a guy wearing a T-shirt that read "Voyeurism."
–Watching a live bug be deep fried.
–Seeing the Japanese fans attempt to do "YMCA."
–Making an eagle on my first ever hole of park golf.
–Watching the Japanese load and unload a 747 in less than 20 minutes.
–Hearing Dwyane Wade say "As a grown man, I never say I miss another grown man" when a journalist asked if he missed Shaq.
–Seeing a guy wearing a T-shirt that read "I’d (blank) me."
–Witnessing ESPN’s own Chris Sheridan attempt to get a beer after last call in a British-style pub by demanding it in an Australian accent and claiming he was from London.
–Seeing the Tokyo streets crawling with businessmen at 3 a.m. in Ginza on the weeknights, pouring out of clubs where Americans weren’t allowed.
–Being offered to have a my palm read by a Geisha with a flashlight.
–Seeing a girl wearing a T-shirt that read "I No Fake."
–Being served a shrimp with the head still on it.
–Hearing LeBron say "I love FIBA basketball."
–Having my french toast come with "gum syrup."
–Being charged 4,500 yen ($40) for six chicken kabobs.
–Seeing smiling couples coming out of "Love hotels."
–Seeing a guy in a T-shirt that said "Zero Facsination."
–Being excited about a 13-hour flight…because it is headed home.
September 4th, 2006 at 5:35 am
Brian thanks for all your coverage - Japan sounds scary.
September 4th, 2006 at 8:00 am
Am I the only one who sees this? Carmelo is not an asset, but a detrimant to team U.S.A. His only quest is to score points….yeah I know he shot great, but his play will never allow the team to become a cohesive unit. Dominique Wilkins could score at very high level, but there was no way the hawks were ever going to win anything. Unless Carmelo has a reduced role for team USA they will never win an international championship.
September 4th, 2006 at 9:52 am
Kobe could make Carmelo odd man out in the future. The team would then have the three best players in the world on the floor at one time.
Only over-coaching could stop such a team, but I suspect that’s what’s been happening the last decade or so anyway.
Why not force the American game on international teams, rather than vice-versa? And why pair pros with a college coach? It’s a real mishmash.
September 4th, 2006 at 9:25 pm
I agree: Carmelo is more detriment than help to USA.
Also, where does Coach K come in anyway? I mean, from Colangelo’s standpoint, I’d think D’Antoni would be the obvious decision as head coach, having played and coached the international game. He knows it better than anyone.
I think adding Kobe to D-Wade and Bron, with some beasts like Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion, and perhaps another ‘pure’ shooter or two…USA would be unstoppable. Who would say otherwise when posed with lineups of:
PG: D-Wade/Chris Paul
SG: Kobe/Michael Redd(or another great shooter)
SF: LeBron/Shawn Marion
PF: Amare Stoudemire/Chris Bosh
C: Dwight Howard/Elton Brand
Good Lord. Imagine D-Wade, Kobe, LeBron, Amare, and Dwight all on the floor together. Throw in some swing-men who can play several positions (Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce) and you’ve got a team.
September 5th, 2006 at 10:07 am
That would surely be a great team for the U.S. but right now I’m imagining Wesley, Snow, and Newble, all on the floor together. It’s going to be something!
September 5th, 2006 at 10:35 am
But if Wesley, Snow and Newble were on the team, maybe Z would actually get some touches this year.
September 5th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
I want to throw up in my mouth every time i think of the guards on our team.