Basketball

Baseball

Hockey

Tennis

Soccer


What exactly are we good at?

6/22/2006 12:09:34 PM

eating

oh nevermind. I forgot about Kobayashi

6/22/2006 12:10:27 PM

I thought the USA was good at most of those sports?

6/22/2006 12:10:35 PM

FOOTBALLLLLLL

The Pro Bowl should be NFL vs. CFL. The only question would be whether or not Canada would get the 12th man.

6/22/2006 12:10:44 PM

^^apparently not being #1 means you suck at it

6/22/2006 12:11:39 PM

#1????


We were a joke in every single one of those sports.

6/22/2006 12:13:15 PM

^^^
how big would the field be?
how many downs do they paly?

[Edited on June 22, 2006 at 12:13 PM. Reason : ]

6/22/2006 12:13:43 PM

who fucking cares

6/22/2006 12:14:08 PM

didnt we get bronze in bball? i dont really remember.

6/22/2006 12:18:07 PM

I think we could dominate in basketball, except that our players don't play together all year so they're not a cohesive unit, and our players don't seem to take it nearly as serious as they do the NBA Championship.

A lot of players choose not to even play on the team, afraid of injuries and such.

6/22/2006 12:20:39 PM

Ahahaha, Tommy Smyth just made this thread on ESPN.

6/22/2006 12:31:52 PM

we were a joke in basketball?

go sit in the corner and think about what you've done

6/22/2006 12:39:13 PM

dude our basketball team was a complete joke.

They lost to Puerto Rico for gods sake. Bronze medal games are essentially worthless because no one is giving it their all. Why do you think they got rid of the 3rd place game in NCAA basketball?

They went 5-3. THey beat superpowers like Greece and Australia in squeakers.





We got humiliated in hockey. We sucked donk in baseball. American tennis is complete garbage right now. And that soccer showing was pathetic.

On the international level we just aren't very competitive in sports right now.

6/22/2006 12:53:07 PM

We are good at track and field. And our women are good at all of those sports, sub softball for baseball (except maybe tennis since the Williams sisters and Davenport are always injured).

6/22/2006 12:54:41 PM

we are not good in men's sports, in women's sports we are still the most dominant.

6/22/2006 12:56:09 PM

add golf to that list. THANKS Mickleson. Let a fucking Aussie when our Open Tournament for the first time since the 50s.

[Edited on June 22, 2006 at 12:56 PM. Reason : .]

6/22/2006 12:56:17 PM

^ Yeah we always seem to fuck up at the Ryder cup (1999's comeback as an exception).

6/22/2006 12:57:34 PM

all the fucker had to do was shoot for par. When he fucked up the first shot... shoot for the playoff. He fucks up again. Literally hands it over to Oglby.

6/22/2006 12:58:27 PM

Quote :

"dude our basketball team was a complete joke. They lost to Puerto Rico for gods sake. Bronze medal games are essentially worthless because no one is giving it their all. Why do you think they got rid of the 3rd place game in NCAA basketball?"

so you dont factor in WHY the international competition has gotten so much better? because they came to the USA to play in the NBA and learn from us?

our basketball is no worse than it was when we were mopping the floor with cats in 1992...the competition however has gotten much better

6/22/2006 12:59:21 PM

Quote :

"Yeah we always seem to fuck up at the Ryder cup "

Then again, it takes a whole continent to beat us.

6/22/2006 1:03:51 PM

I'd like the NBA to take about 3 months to prepare with Shaq-Duncan-Garnett-Wade and a passive PG (trying ot think of one) and pound teams to death. All of these guys are unselfish, shaq would be used predominantly to draw double teams and dish, to the likes of Wade and Duncan. Garnett would be uses to crash the boards and draw their big men to cover his perimeter jumpshot. Oh yea, the rest of the roster could be anyone. But as everyone has mentioned before, chemistry and no egos is what would matter the most.

6/22/2006 1:13:11 PM

^^^ You are right. A team that starred Stephon Marbury and Richard Jefferson was every bit as good as the team with Jordan, Magic, Malone, Barkley, etc


Yep Puerto Rico can thank the NBA for letting their players develop over here. Oh wait, that only incudes Carlos Arroyo.

Jaskevicious sucked dick when he tried to play in the NBA.

Who does Argentina have besides Ginobili? That crazy hair guy for Cleveland? Oh no!!


I mean yes i realize that the olympic debacle was largely the fault of Larry Brown (benching Wade, Lebron, & Stoudamire) and whoever put that team together (not one jump shooter on the fucking squad) but still you have to admit we've fallen a long way in basketball.

Coach K should restore order next time around though...



^ you're falling victim to the same line of thinking that has plagued us recently... we don't need all those post players... they get SHUT DOWN by the zone defenses because the widened lane takes them too far away from the basket. Shaq would be worthless in the Olympics. We need shooters. Ray Allen, Michael Redd, etc... the only two guys who were effective last time around were Allen Iverson and Lamar Odom.

As long as its Richard Jefferson vs Foreign McForeignson in a jump shooting contest we are going to lose. You cant just load up on slashers and expect to compete, because those slashers arent that effective against the zone.



[Edited on June 22, 2006 at 1:17 PM. Reason : a]

[Edited on June 22, 2006 at 1:22 PM. Reason : a]

6/22/2006 1:14:26 PM

I guess you're talking to me? Yea, international teams have gotten better. I didn't blame anyone for the debacle a few years back. But chemistry is the number one factor in winning, not talent, as evidence lies a few years ago, which is why Iversonw ill not be there, and why marbury was last time, I don't know. Yea the dream team didn't win by less than 20 did they, in any game???? With Duncan, Garnett, Shaq and Wade with a few months to get some form of chemistry, I don't see how the US would lose.

And doesn't Jaskevicious play on an active roster?

Oh yea, what other rules besides widened lane and no cylinder interference are there in interntaional play?

[Edited on June 22, 2006 at 1:21 PM. Reason : .]

6/22/2006 1:20:50 PM

even if we aren't currently the best those sports. The top leagues/organizations for most of the sports are either solely or partly based in the U.S., so technically we must still be the best.

6/22/2006 1:21:23 PM

i honestly think they should go back to using college players for basketball, since the international game is more about shooting and defense then pure athleticism.

[Edited on June 22, 2006 at 1:23 PM. Reason : n]

6/22/2006 1:23:36 PM

the three point line is 20'9 instead of 23'9

Hence the need for shooters.


Iverson was a stud in the Olympics, without him we would have really gotten our asses handed to us.


Yeah, Jaskevicious played for the Pacers this year and he was miserable.


Id be fucking floored if Chris Paul isnt our starting PG in '08.

[Edited on June 22, 2006 at 1:27 PM. Reason : a]

6/22/2006 1:24:07 PM

Oh yea, I agree with Iverson playing his tail off, that's the point. You can't win with just Iverson, which is the way every team he's ever played for has done. He's tough as nails, but at 6 feet, he's not going to put a team on his back and win anything substantial, yes I understand he can put his team on his back and win a string of consecutive games, even a playoff game or two, but no rings or Olympic medals. He also has been depended upon to do everything we need more all around players who can pass and find the open man.

So basically, it's the college 3 point line? We should certianly get Ray Allen on that team. I thnk we should drop Vince Carter if he's on that team, but K would bench him anyway I bet for past reasons

Ok so take shaq out and put???? Are you saying 3 guards?

[Edited on June 22, 2006 at 1:29 PM. Reason : .]

6/22/2006 1:29:15 PM

ummm venus williams is the reigning wimbledon champ and is favored for this year. so how does the us suck in tennis?

men's tennis i'll give you, but saying we suck in women's tennis is laughable.

6/22/2006 1:29:21 PM

russia > usa

6/22/2006 1:30:22 PM

true enough. but we certainly don't suck.

also: to call sharapova russian is a bit of a stretch. she's lived in the usa since she was 10 or something.

and upon looking at men's rankings:
only the usa and spain have two men in the top 10 (ours are james blake and andy roddick)

clay court season always makes americans look bad anyway (men or women)

[Edited on June 22, 2006 at 1:38 PM. Reason : add]

6/22/2006 1:33:40 PM

the next dream team should include;
Chris Paul
Allen Iverson
Dwayne Wade
Lebron James
Kobe Bryant
Tim Duncan
Shaq
Vince Carter
Gilbert Arenas
Kevin Garnet

pick up another solid center and maybe another point guard.... we dont lose one game.

6/22/2006 4:58:01 PM

^More than half of those guys would decline, sadly.

6/22/2006 5:01:53 PM

Quote :

"Chris Paul Allen Iverson Dwayne Wade Lebron James Kobe Bryant Tim Duncan Shaq Vince Carter Gilbert Arenas Kevin Garnet"

How dare you include that cock puncher on the next dream team

6/22/2006 5:11:50 PM

Quote :

"even if we aren't currently the best those sports. The top leagues/organizations for most of the sports are either solely or partly based in the U.S., so technically we must still be the best."

World Baseball Classic:

1st - Japan - one MLB player, rest played in the Japan League
2nd - Cuba - no MLB players, all played in the Cuban League
3rd - South Korea - not sure but one or two MLB players at most, rest played in the Japan League and Korean League
4th - Dominican Republic - finally we find MLB players!
5th - USA - all MLB players

[Edited on June 22, 2006 at 5:14 PM. Reason : .]

6/22/2006 5:12:42 PM

sure we were a joke in basketball, just imagine if we actually fucking care (but we dont, because there is very little reason to)

the WBC was an absolute joke to begin with, but its not like the best athletes played in that either

6/22/2006 5:16:04 PM

The next USA basketball team, for the 2006 World Championships in August and the 2008 Olympics, has already been declared to be only the following. Coach Krzyzewski is making them commit to three years.

Quote :

"Following the failure of the previous "Dream Teams", USA Basketball decided to move in a different direction. It appointed Jerry Colangelo to be solely responsible for selecting the team. Colangelo made it clear that he would ask players for a three-year commitment—the 2006 Worlds and the 2008 Summer Olympics. The head coach picked is Duke University coach Mike Krzyzewski with assistants Jim Boeheim, Mike D'Antoni, and Nate McMillan. While some prominent players, such as Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett have already stated that they do not plan to play for the team, superstars Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Allen Iverson, and Shawn Marion have publicly announced their commitment for the 2006 Worlds and the 2008 Summer Olympics. Iverson, however, despite being the captain for the 2004 Olympic team, was not invited to train with the team. The team as said by Jerry Colangelo is to be built around the captain Kobe Bryant. [edit] Training camp roster Kobe Bryant, of the Los Angeles Lakers **Captain** Carmelo Anthony, of the Denver Nuggets Gilbert Arenas, of the Washington Wizards Shane Battier, of the Memphis Grizzlies Chauncey Billups, of the Detroit Pistons Chris Bosh, of the Toronto Raptors Bruce Bowen, of the San Antonio Spurs Elton Brand, of the Los Angeles Clippers Dwight Howard, of the Orlando Magic LeBron James, of the Cleveland Cavaliers Antawn Jamison, of the Washington Wizards Joe Johnson, of the Atlanta Hawks Shawn Marion, of the Phoenix Suns Brad Miller, of the Sacramento Kings Adam Morrison, of Gonzaga University Lamar Odom, of the Los Angeles Lakers Chris Paul, of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets Paul Pierce, of the Boston Celtics J. J. Redick, of Duke University Michael Redd, of the Milwaukee Bucks Luke Ridnour, of the Seattle SuperSonics Amare Stoudemire, of the Phoenix Suns Dwyane Wade, of the Miami Heat Greg Oden, of Lawrence North High School and Ohio State University Shaquille O'Neal of the Miami Heat has a standing invitation but has not made it clear if he wishes to participate. "

6/22/2006 5:16:33 PM

Quote :

"the WBC was an absolute joke to begin with, but its not like the best athletes played in that either"

We had enough of our best that we should have won anyway though.

We lost to Canada, who started a Double-A pitcher against us, and Mexico, who had no offense.

6/22/2006 5:18:23 PM

we totally run shit in french bicycle racing

6/22/2006 5:53:12 PM

We lost in the World Series of Poker this year too

6/22/2006 5:56:29 PM

jj redick.............................

6/22/2006 5:59:08 PM

I think we can make this mainstream and make it a curse. We just need a good name.

(lets keep it to men's national teams)

Basketball
-Have not won a championship since 2000 Sydney Olympics
-2002 World Championships (in Indianapolis) - 6th, lost to Argentina, Yugoslavia, and Spain
-2004 Athens Olympics - Bronze, lost to Puerto Rico, Lithuania, and Argentina

Hockey
-Have not won a competition of any kind since 1996 World Cup
-Have not won the Olympics since the Miracle on Ice at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics
-Only medal since was the silver in 2004 Salt Lake City Olympics
-Have not won the annual World Championships since 1960, and have only won three bronze medals since their gold (granted, we only send the players that do not make the NHL playoffs to the World Championships)

Baseball
-Lost inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, lost to Canada, South Korea, and Mexico

Soccer
-In the modern era of US Soccer (1990 World Cup to present), we made the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup
-In the modern era, US Soccer is 3-12-3 in the World Cup, including losses to Iran and Ghana among others
-However, US Soccer has won the Gold Cup (regional championship) in 1991, 2002, 2005



So we need a good name for this curse. Then I can copyright it and sell it for money.

6/22/2006 11:43:03 PM

we're still good in golf, nascar, women's sports, and eating

6/22/2006 11:47:36 PM

Quote :

"golf"

a foreign-born player wins at least one major every year

and lately the only americans to win are phil and tiger

6/22/2006 11:49:26 PM

we cant win everything

theres like a whole world out there

havent you seen the penn and teller episode on being the best

6/22/2006 11:51:43 PM

Quote :

"FOOTBALLLLLLL"

yes exactly. that is unless the Aussies and Irish learn how to play our brand of football.
its not long before alot of foreign players play in the NFL.

6/22/2006 11:56:02 PM

we finish top 3 in every winter and summer olympics

6/22/2006 11:58:03 PM

Quote :

"jj redick............................. "

international ball is based around shooting... as has been said in this thread 3-4 times. hate him if you like he can still shoot

6/23/2006 12:23:30 AM

Quote :

"we're still good in golf, nascar, women's sports, and eating"

The U.S. Open just got won by an Australian. And our U.S. national golf team has lost the Ryder Cup the last two times running and 4 of the last 5 (not won since 1999).

Nowhere else in the world does oval racing exist except as an American novelty niche export.

Women's sports are big only thanks to college scholarships and Title IX.

We kick ass in obesity.


But back to the topic at hand, we need a name for this national team curse so I can market it.

6/23/2006 12:34:59 AM

^^thats just because we have so many people competing


i know one thing we're good at. war. bush might not be the best coach but we've dominated for about 20 years now.

6/23/2006 12:37:01 AM

YEAH

WAR

THAT'S GOING PRETTY WELL

6/23/2006 1:00:49 AM