Team USA Reaches Crossroad: Redemption Or Perdition?

TEAM USA REACHES CROSSROAD:   REDEMPTION OR PERDITION?

By Mio de la Cruz

With practically every NBA superstar in its roster, Team USA Basketball is certainly a force to reckon with in the Beijing Olympics. 

            Team USA is a coach’s “dream team” by any measure, but it has been rechristened the “redeem team” to underscore its mission, which is to seek redemption for its sorry losses in the 2004 World Olympics in Sydney, Australia and the 2006 World Basketball championship in Saitama City, Japan.

            The name alone represents America’s strong resolve to retake the crown it lost to Argentina four years ago during the Olympics and the World Basketball crown it also surrendered to Spain two years earlier.

            These losses serve as the prime motivation of at least four NBA superstars to continue serving the team as plain role players, with none of the prima donna privileges they enjoy as certified superstars in the NBA.

            After four games in the Olympics, the “Redeem Team” has made a strong statement against anyone standing way its way towards its goal of no less than an Olympic gold, including world champion Spain.  The famed Spanish Armada, led by NBA superstar Pao Gasol, succumbed, 82-119, against the mighty artillery of Team USA.

            Earlier, the Americans crushed China, 101-70; choked Angola, 97-76; and shamed former tormentor Greece, 92-69.  The Americans completed their 5-0 sweep in their division by destroying Germany, 106-57.    

            With US President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao at the stands, the Redeem Team struggled to a 49-37 halftime lead after the Americans launched a series of bum shots from outside the perimeter lane.  If not for the teamwork and unselfish attitude, Team USA would have succumbed to Yao Ming’s grim and determined hardcourt army and offcourt allies numbering thousands in the gallery and millions more on television sets across China.

            Against Greece which dealt them a shameful loss in the World Basketball championship two years ago, the “Redeem Team” was methodically ruthless in its first bite of vengeance, 92-69, ending the game with an aerial display of “alley hoops” and  “slam dunks” that totally destroyed its enemy.

            Their fifth game, this time against the defending world basketball champion Spain was supposed to be litmus test to check the US’ readiness to win the championship, but the assignment proved to be too easy as it coasted to an easy victory against the team led by Kobe Bryant’s LA Lakers’ teammate Gasol.  So far, Team USA has successfully sustained its winning posture to continue to terrorize the opposition with its current unblemished record as the undisputed lord of the rings.

Aside from USA, the four other countries tipped to win the coveted Olympic gold are Argentina, Spain, Greece and Lithuania.   After their unceremonial losses in the elimination round, however, Spain and Greece have been scratched from the list, leaving Argentina and Lithuania to seriously challenge the Americans for the title.

Assuming Team USA gets past Australia in the quarterfinals and Argentina in the prelims, it will meet either Spain or Lithuania in the finals, if the two get past Lithuania and China in the quarterfinals. 

The Americans need to beat the Aussies convincingly to keep its menacing psychological advantage going into the semifinals and the championship.  Against Australia, which defeated powerhouse Lithuania, 106-75, and ousted European champion Russia, 95-80, in the prelims, Team USA is faced with the same team that lost by only 11 points during a pre-Olympic exhibition match.  

In that match, Andrew Bogut, the 7’3”, 260-pound star of the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA did not suit up for Australia due a sprained ankle.  With Bogut in the starting lineup this time around, the team from Down Under hopes to spring a surprise against the heavily favored American team. 

If that happens, with just one loss, no matter how thin the margin might be, the Dream Team may never redeem itself anymore and could very well be consigned to eternal damnation, without ever hope of restitution until the next Olympics.