The Last of the Mohicans

On the road to gold

Kidd gets instructions from Coach Bozeman

California dreams

“In 1995, you’ll twist to this, as you raise your fist to the music...united we stand, yes divided we fall...together we can stand tall.”

Chuck D – Brothers Gonna Work It Out

The summer Olympics are a dream come true, as I can watch sports on several networks for a full 24 hours. I’ve watched everyone from Usain Bolt, Guo Jingjing, Misty May, Kerri Walsh, Shawn Johnson, Natasha Liukin, and Michael Phelps, to Sue Bird, Candace Parker, Cullen Jones, Angela Hucles, Hope Solo, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Cat Osterman, Jessica Mendoza, and the Cuban women’s volleyball team.

However, the main event in my narrow opinion is Team USA...affectionately known as the Redeem Team. Now that pool play is over and the United States have remained unscathed with a record of 5-0, they enter a daunting lose and go home format beginning Wednesday morning against the pesky Aussie’s.

This team has yet to be tested as they have outplayed the competition with ease, nevertheless, it seems that everywhere I read and turn; the so-called experts are out doing themselves pointing to the bronze medal of 2004, saying that this team can lose the gold at any given turn. Yes these are the Olympic Games with the best talent in the world, but in my mind team USA is that much better than everyone else. Here are a few reasons why:

• First and foremost, this is not the NBA. I repeat, this is not the NBA, therefore the games will be played at a different pace than you are used to watching. Just because the United States are playing in a very close game in the 1st quarter...that doesn’t translate into the opposing being extremely good. The next time you see a close 1st quarter, ask yourself, can this team stay close over a 40-minute span? That answer is usually spelled no, in both English and Spanish.
  
• Dwyane Wade has regained his top form of a few years ago, playing sans injury with a high basketball IQ and energy off the bench. With Wade, Bosh, and Chris Paul leading the charge of the second unit, this team is difficult to defend.
  
• Camaraderie, this squad is a very close knit group both on and off the court. They keep one another accountable, and the jokes never stop with Kobe, LeBron, Dwight Howard, and Carmelo Anthony. This team is loose playing with one mission to bring the gold home.
  
• Jason Kidd. I shouldn’t have to explain this one, however I reluctantly will. Who is the only member of team USA with a gold medal? Kidd, he won Olympic gold during the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney. Who has an undefeated record in exhibition and Olympic play? Jason Kidd, who has an impressive record 43-0 (50-0 including exhibition matches) Who is a superior talent at the point guard position? You guessed it, number 5, as he led the NBA in triple-doubles during his rookie season...enough for him to share the 1995 Rookie of the Year honors with Grant Hill. Who was named USA Basketball’s 2007 Male Athlete of the Year? Kidd, as he averaged 1.8 points per game, while handing out 4.6 assists per contest. He may not score but he understands the game better than most, and if you are open, he will find you.

I have often said that Kobe Bryant will not let this group come home with anything less than gold, and while I believe that to be true, this is a team game, as this ship has a strong anchor in Jason Kidd. His basketball expertise and international familiarity place this team in a different category than the 3rd place 2004 team. Nothing against the bronze medal the United States earned, because that team didn’t have the years of planning, and preparation that this team has enjoyed...and at the end of the day team USA still earned a medal. You have to look at the bright side, because imagine what the “experts” would have said if they didn’t win a medal...just something to think about?

For more on Jason Kidd watch the video below: