I had my first chance to watch the USA men's team play this morning, and I was more than impressed. Not by their athleticism...although that's impressive enough in itself.
But I was more impressed by their selfless style of play, their enthusiasm, their character, and their desire.
A combination of the right players...and the right coach to organize them. A thing of beauty, selflessness, and a group of people working together for a common cause.
More below the fold.
It was sometime in the mid 3rd-quarter when it hit me. Someone dished the ball to Jason Kidd and he had no choice but to take a shot. He nailed it...and the announcer said "Those are his first two points of these Olympic games."
Not his first points in today's game against Spain...his first points of the Olympics. Kidd is no slouch. He's an NBA star in his own right. But he's spent the entire games passing the ball to his teammates.
And it gets better from there. LeBron James led a fast break down the court. He had and easy dunk in front of him...but he chose to dish the ball to Carmelo Anthony. And Anthony promptly drained the 3.
I'm not even a huge basketball fan, but I was amazed by it. The selflessness, the team play, the willingness to give up the ball to another guy. The willingness to work together for a common cause. Even the bench guys were on their feet and cheering when Team USA was up by 20 points, and the game was all but over.
We've sent some selfish basketball teams to the Olympics over the years...guys who played for themselves and didn't really care. But this group is different --reminds me of the original Dream Team of Jordan and Magic -- and I hope they're indicative of something larger going on in America.
They work together for a common cause.
Part of it is Coach K...he always brings out the best in his players. But part of it is also the character of the players involved, and their willingness to put aside their egos and play together as a team.
Maybe it doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things...but after watching that game, and reading diaries like this, it makes me feel like the America I thought we were is coming back.
You need a good leader at the top...and the team has one, and so do we.
And you need people who are willing to put aside their egos and work for a common purpose. To do what needs to be done, to finish the job. The team has that, and so do we.
Call me a starry-eyed optimist, but I like our chances for a gold...and our chances of electing a president.