What a Nightmare: U.S. Men Thumped by Puerto Rico
OK, let me see if I've got this straight. The NBA sends some of it's best American players to Athens, and this fabulously talented group loses to PUERTO RICO? By 19 points?
No disrespect to the Puerto Ricans, who should be applauded for taking it to the Americans, but who are these guys?
Puerto Rico, with only two current NBA players, wasn't considered a serious threat for a medal. Yet the manner in which the game played out, with U.S. players complaining to officials and slumping on their bench, left Coach Larry Brown saying he was "angry" and "humiliated."
"I think these guys played the game the way it's supposed to be played," U.S. guard Allen Iverson said of Puerto Rico. "They think the game out."
Yeah, great. We lose to a team with two NBA players and a bunch of globetrotters. Actually, I'm not nearly as upset by the loss as much as I am the lack of effort on the part of the Americans. If you're going to represent your country, at least make an effort display some pride in that fact. Showing up would be a good start.
