Olympic Basketball? Thhhhpppp!

A few quick words about the Olympic basketball "competition."

Are you watching the U.S. team play in the Olympic basketball tournament?

Are you listening to the pre- and post-game analysis? The sports talk between games?

Are you getting excited about the U.S. team and the possibility of a medal?

Are you kidding me?

The top 15 players in the world who are in the tournament all play on the US Olympic basketball team. You don't agree? You think Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili or Tony Parker outplays Andre Iguodala? Fine. Make that 12 of 15. 

Roughly forty-five of the top 50 players in the world are Americans. Half the teams in the tournament do not include a single NBA regular on their roster.

In what way is this a competition? I'd rather watch Barney Frank read banking regulation in his underwear. A U.S.-Tunisia match-up isn't just a rout; it's unappetizing. A squad of the 15 worst NBA players could name their score against the outclassed Tunisians. It's like organizing a pickup game between your schoolyard friends and the local middle school for mentally retarded kids. You'd be embarrassed to win.

This all stems from the humiliation felt by U.S.basketball insiders after the Soviets won a couple of gold medals in real competitions (and one suspect call) over American college squads. Failing to secure its birthright gold caused the basketball universe to explode. So U.S. Olympic bigwigs created the "Dream Team" and turned the Olympic basketball tournament into a nightmare. It's now as interesting as Michael Phelps swimming against your local summer rec league.

I will be rooting like mad for whoever is playing the Americans. The arrogance that created this sideshow could use another swift kick in the crotch. It's a futile wish, of course, but that's exactly the point.

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