More USA Basketball Perspective

Jason Whitlock, a writer I really like, offers a perspective on the U.S. Olympic Basketball team I tend to disagree with at ESPN.com. His Page Two feature implies that those rooting against the U.S. squad are borderline racists. He suggests that this team of NBA stars, contrary to public opinion, does care and is working very hard. He's wrong, in part, on all three counts.

First, let me clarify one thing. As upset as I am about the U.S. team's sloppy play, I have never rooted against them. Sorry, I can't. When Allen Iverson, Tim Duncan, LeBron James and their teammates agreed to play for the U.S., something that many other NBA stars passed on, they were my team. If that isn't the cool, politically correct, new world order thing to do, so be it.

However, just because I complain about them hardly qualifies me as a racist. Even a borderline one. Nor do I think rooting against them makes anyone a racist. While a certain percentage of those rooting against Team USA are certainly racists, that's not enough to suspect everyone of the same agenda. Some of us just don't like crappy basketball, especially when representing the United States on such a high profile stage.

Whitlock actually does a fine job dismissing his own assertions about caring and hard work. When he says that the U.S. men's basketball team cares about winning the Olympics, just not as much as swimmers and the track and field participants, that tells me they care, but only to a point. If you care, but only so much, are you really putting out your very best effort? If you aren't thrilled about practicing for the NBA season, the event you supposedly care most about, why would you really bust your behind to win a lesser title?

This is the reason such super patriots, as Whitlock calls people like me, are upset. I still place a high priority on winning the Olympic basketball tournament. Why? For the same reason Brazilians care about soccer and Canadians care about hockey. This is arguably the sport this country is known most for internationally. Our success is unmatched. To see the U.S. team struggle is not something I am going to accept happily.

I yell at this team, not because they are black or millionaires or NBA players. I yell because I want them to win the stinking gold medal. This usually gets me painted as jingoistic, not racist. Perhaps, this version of the U.S. Olympic basketball squad and I do have more in common than I thought. It seems no matter what we do, we are going to offend somebody.