And in case you haven’t heard, they haven’t awarded Team USA with the Olympic basketball championship just yet.

And while Team USA looks primed to win gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, one team that may shock the rest of the world yet again is Australia. They are set to meet on Wednesday and the Aussies sure look the part of show stoppers.

After pounding Germany 106-57, Team USA has been the poster child for dominance in the Olympic Games. Other than Michael Phelps, the US basketball team gives the United States a better shot of winning a gold medal in Beijing.

Of course, with NBA stars like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul, that gold medal is for Team USA to lose more than win it. Hell, Olympic officials could just hand them the gold medal already and none of the countries competing in this already one-sided basketball tournament will contest.

But then again, there’s Team Australia.

After beating then undefeated Lithuania in emphatic fashion, winning by a whopping 31 points, the Aussies showed the dominance on the hardwood you’ll…

Read More » People, Australia can beat Team USA on Wednesday

I don’t understand what the big fuss is all about.

In case you haven’t heard, a photo showcasing the Spain national basketball team taken prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics generated a big uproar recently. The photo, which appears to show all of Spain’s players slanting their eyes, was taken by the media as something that might offend its Olympic hosts in Beijing.

Of course, the Spanish team claims that they did it to pay homage to this year’s hosts to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, saying that they did it, thinking that it was going to be something nice, and I buy it.

After all, who in the right frame of mind will even dare to offend a country hosting the Olympic Games? Do that and you might as well kiss your hopes for a gold medal goodbye. The Spain basketball team is one of the top contenders to win the gold medal and trying to offend China won’t be good judgment on their part.

Jose Calderon is as puzzled as me about all the bad publicity…

Read More » Spain basketball players Pau Gasol and Jose Calderon, likes to make fun of the Chinese in Photo Opportunities

Another injury, surprise surprise…

In case you missed the USA - China basketball game in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Yao Ming, the face of this year’s Games, suffered yet another injury while trying to lead the Chinese national team in its futile attempt to beat the powerhouse collection of NBA talent from the States.

After having his fair share of injuries playing in the NBA, I wasn’t that surprised to see Yao Ming limp off the court again. And now knowing that the seven-foot Chinese phenom is this ‘’fragile,'’ is it about time for him to just say no to China and just rest his body for the NBA wars?

Sure, playing against the States while playing for China in the Games of the XXIX Olympiad was huge for Yao. After all, that was the first time in China’s history that their collection of local stars faced-off against the biggest names in the NBA.

But puh-lease, Yao is an NBA player now and if he wants it to remain that way, it’s probably in his best interest not to waste his time getting his ass injured somewhere else other than an NBA arena.

That is, of course, still depends on the Chinese people.

‘’They will continue to pressure him,'’ one high-ranking…

Read More » After suffering another injury in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, is it about time Yao Ming says NO to China?

Yep, USA made their 2008 Olympic debut and boy, was it a statement game.

The Olympic basketball team from USA came to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games with a sense of urgency, trying to redeem themselves from the debacle they suffered four years ago in Athens.

When they had the chance to finally make their debut against China, Team USA made sure that they will be able to prove a point to whoever has begun to doubt if they still are the kings of the hardwood.

And after beating Yao Ming and his Chinese national team 101-70, it looks like USA has more than proven a point. They looked like a team ready to redeem themselves since 2004, heck, these guys looked like they really want the gold medal this time. Well, at least after one game.

In what was probably the biggest basketball game in China’s history, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and the rest of the Americans made a mockery of China’s defense, throwing it down every single time they had an opportunity to dunk on any of the giant Chinese players unfortunate enough to find themselves under the rim.

Hell, I even saw Deron Williams try to dunk the ball on the seven-foot…

Read More » Redemption in the 2008 Beijing Olympics begins for USA

That’s right, the NBA has released its schedule for the coming season.

And while we’re still preparing for the coming football season ahead, the schedule for the 2008-09 NBA basketball season has arrived, teasing us on what we can expect in Boston’s first season since the 80s as world champions.

And speaking of the Boston Celtics, they have LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on opening night at the TD Banknorth Garden where they will receive their NBA championship rings.

Cruel huh? Nights when you receive championship rings are suppose to be a night of celebration but with LeBron James and company coming to town, I’m not expecting Boston to remain in a celebratory mood after five minutes.

NBA Finals runner-up, Los Angeles Lakers, will be hosting the Portland Trail Blazers as Greg Oden finally makes his long-awaited debut in the NBA after sitting out the rest of what was suppose to be his rookie season.

Is Greg Oden really worth all the hype? I have a feeling Kobe Bryant will…

Read More » 2008-09 NBA Regular Season Schedule is Here

They should have something to prove come August 8.

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is merely a few days away and the USA basketball team wants one thing and one thing only, GOLD. You don’t need a rocket scientist to figure that one out.

While other countries may be satisfied with a silver or bronze, Team USA don’t have the same luxury. Showcasing the best athletes in the world, there is no excuse on God’s green earth that the red, white and blue shouldn’t retrieve what to them is rightfully theirs.

Taking a deeper look on Team USA, it is fun to watch these players take pride in every sport that they play.

They are backed up by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). The Committee supports American athletes, specifically Olympic athletes and selects which athletes will participate in the Games of the Olympiad, the Olympic Winter Games, and the Pan American Games. The Committee also provides training centers, funds, and support staff to elite athletes.

The USOC also acts as the United States representative for all Olympic matters, including for the…

Read More » Redemption for Team USA in 2008 Beijing Olympics?

Who would love to play for the Clippers anyway?

As we inch closer to the brand new 2008-09 NBA basketball season, we already have two players who were fortunate enough to get out of that Clipper uniform. Elton Brand is already in Philadelphia and Correy Maggette is now with Golden State.

What’s left is a Los Angeles Clippers team with absolutely no stars whatsoever. Hell, they can’t win with both Brand and Maggette anyway and with both of those guys gone, how in the hell can people expect them to start winning next season?

It’s understandable why players wouldn’t want to be in this shithole. I know I know, at least the Clippers are not as pathetic as the Miami Heat yet but with the rate that they are going, they’re going to be sooner or later.

And unfortunately for Marcus Camby, he was traded by the Denver Nuggets to this team. And as far as that goes, I can’t blame the guy for being this mad to his former team for trading him to a team like the Clippers.

You read it, the Denver Nuggets traded away Marcus Camby, the epicenter of their defense and the league’s leading shot blocker for the last…

Read More » Camby hates the Nuggets for trading him to the Clippers

Jeez… Now that’s screwed up right there.

The new 2008-09 NBA basketball season is still months away and while teams are starting to rebuild their respective rosters, hoping that it will bring them the Larry O’Brien trophy by season’s end, their players have started going elsewhere.

You read it, while some of the best international basketball players in the world are joining the NBA, NBA players have started to look for a job elsewhere outside the States.

Yes, it’s hard to believe that some of the more established NBA players have already decided to leave the league and play for some international team in Europe. But those are the facts and with the kind of money those guys can earn outside the NBA, YES, it’s still hard to believe but I can’t say I’m surprised.

We already have five NBA players who have decided to leave the league for Europe; Bostjan Nachbar left the New Jersey Nets for Dynamo Moscow, promising NBA star Juan Carlos Navarro left the Memphis Grizzlies for F.C. Barcelona, Toronto Raptors forwards Carlos Delfino and Primoz Brezec will join Khimki BC and Virtus Roma respectively, and finally…

Read More » NBA Players have started going International

You just know that it’s officially ON now.

The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China is almost here and as far as the national basketball team of Germany is concerned, they made it just in the nick of time, thanks to NBA German phenom Dirk Nowitzki of course.

You read it, Germany has qualified for the coming Beijing Games on August 8, joining the American team in what should be a very strong Group B basketball division in the Olympics.

It was the LAST available spot in Beijing and Germany seized the opportunity, making sure they will have that one remaining spot. Led by Dirk Nowitzki, Germany beat Puerto Rico, 96-82, to finish in third place at the Olympic qualifying tournament.

The Dallas Mavericks German superstar finished with 32 points to earn a possible rematch with the powerhouse United States team in the Olympics. The last time the Germans met the Americans in an international basketball tournament, it was in the semifinals of the 2006 world championships when the Germans came up with an upset win over this American team flooded with NBA talent.

Although Germany was defeated by Spain in the end…

Read More » Dirk Nowitzki led Germany to 2008 Beijing Olympics spot

Right now, Oklahoma is Sooners country.

Would that still be the case once the 2008-09 NBA basketball season gets here? Now that the team once called the Seattle SuperSonics have moved to Oklahoma City, you just know that the franchise will hope to do just that.

And just in case you haven’t heard, the team once known as the Seattle SuperSonics has now moved to Oklahoma City courtesy of business tycoon Clay Bennett after paying the $45 million settlement, which leaves Seattle with the Sonics’ name and history.

In addition to that, Seattle will receive an additional $30 million from Clay Bennett if the Legislature approves funding for a new arena or KeyArena remodel in its next session and if a new NBA team does not move into that facility by 2013. Nevertheless, it’s still a victory for Bennett, who purchased the Sonics in 2006 from Starbucks Corp. chairman Howard Schultz for $350 million, as he moves the franchise to his hometown.

Bennett initially faced harsh criticism in Seattle for his efforts in trying to build a…

Read More » Can the team once dubbed as the Seattle SuperSonics replace the Oklahoma Sooners in Oklahoma City?