By the way, if the German team with Chris "The Retard Mercenary" Kaman on board wins the gold, I will have a fricken epileptic fit and then stomp off to The Red Lion in Silverlake and burn that schnitzel factory to the ground!

GO LAKERS!

First?

The Question of the Day should be: Why aren't your reporting on Kobe's comments about bolting to Europe after this season?

mike t.

10. This is huge to me. I don't see how you can be a fan of the NBA and not enjoy this. It's a great team with a lot of the NBA's biggest stars and rising stars. Best part? No Celtics!

GO USA!

It's not a no brainer question. Got national pride?

Would you be willing to forgo your Celtic hatred if, say, KG was playing? OR would you secretly hope that Kobe wins the game with KG on the bench after 0 points and 5 fouls?

The stories of the last 2 games went under the radar.
These opening ceremonies were other worldly and the global aspect of the China setting is compelling stuff.

But when it gets down to international basketball on TV, it matters that Kobe is playing... and no Celtic is.
GO USA.

kobee is talented but has already shown in the Finals that he is not the leader to take a team to ultimate victory. Team USA needs everything that D-Wade can give them, especially given the absence of AMARE.

Luckily, D'ANTONI is there to give Team USA its brightest hope. D'ANTONI knows the international game best and would be especially helpful if he were to suit up and replace jellybean jr.

Speaking of USA's chances, there is a distinct lack of size. Most teams are bigger than USA and this could prove fateful. It would have been smart to include real bangers like Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins.

If USA loses, it'll be because AMARE is not playing, and if they win the gold, it'll be because D'ANTONI is the coach.

Hating to disagree with you BK (well I don't hate it THAT much...)but I think the REAL lead header on the blog should be what Kobe said in Beijing yesterday.

For those who haven't read it, here are some highlights...

"Kobe Bryant won’t sign a contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers until he has tested the global market, the U.S. Olympic basketball star told Yahoo! Sports on Saturday.

Asked whether he plans to solicit overseas offers before signing an extension, Bryant flatly said "Yes - I think free agency now is becoming a global thing …."

Bryant spent several years of his childhood in Italy and loves it. When Bryant was asked whether he held intrigue with owning and playing on a team together there, he said, “Absolutely.”

The whole article is here:
http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/basketball/
news;_ylt=AtP3LCc1H.RMVti9JhlvJ3.8vLYF?slug=aw-
kobeeuropenewser080908&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

WHAT DO WE THINK? Is this a REAL possibility?

I'm at a 8. I'm gonna try and watch the games that I can. The fact that Kobe is in it makes it much more interesting. And I do hope that USA will win gold. If they don't, then its disappointing but it would be more of the administration's fault than the players. I think they should have another big, one less point guard, and more time playing together as a team.

Now that we've swept the medals in fencing, what can be left but disappointment?

But how about that opening ceremony? We knew they'd have the best fireworks, but 2008 angry smiling drummers? Holy crap!

I hope we never have to fight those guys.

Sonnybelfast

I'm not especially patriotic. But I feel a deep sense of pride when it comes to Team USA. You're right, basketball is an international game now, and the rest of the world is catching up. That's why these gams are so important. It's important to me that the United States show that we play the game of basketball better than anyone else.

In years past, we had excuses. There are no excuses this time. Aside from KG and Duncan, Team USA is comprised of the best our country has to offer.

On a scale of 1-10, how much do I care? I'd have to answer with a 10. I'm watching as a fan of basketball and as an American.

Cheers.

I would say 6 for how much I care about the US hoops team winning. Almost all of the interest is due to the fact that Kobe is playing. In general I care more about watching good basketball throughout the Olympics. I wouldn't mind if Spain wins because of Pau, or if China does well in part to a good performance from Suin Yue. I still would prefer the US team to win so I could safely say I'm watching the best basketball on earth when I tune into the NBA.

I read that Lebron would accept 50 million per year, and Greece's Olympiacos was considering it.

If this is the case, the NBA must increase the ceiling on the salary cap. There's no way the NBA can lose LeBron and still say it produces the best basketball in the world. There's no way.

If that happened, it would be a sad day to be an American.

BK

"The Olympic basketball tourney is about to start (word is that Kobe guy is playing). I'll admit, in terms of attention paid and depth of emotional investment, I've been pretty lax regarding both the hoops contest and the Games in general"

BK

This is not a surprise at all that this is your attitude.....considering you are the product of a very insular country not to mention.....national media. We are very arrogant here in this country and just do not appreciate anything unless we can control it. I watched that little chinese guy that walked alongside Yao Ming last night respond to the U.S. interviewer's question last night.......IN ENGLISH!

How many Americans speak more than English? How many languages do you speak BK? I watched members of the Russian team last night mob Kobe and right before the broadcast cut away you could see Kobe ask the Russian people......How do you say thank you in Russian? ..........and just think......Phil Jackson called Kobe arrogant and Narcissistic. I wonder how many languages Phil speaks?

This world is becoming smaller everyday and to not think globally will just limit your possibilities in this world. Sports for the most part is a microchosm of life.............it opens doors to different cultures, people, and experiences from which we can evolve and continue to grow.

I was very moved to watch the parade of countries and the very creative show put on by the Chinese people. Personally I disagree with the Chinese Governments role in the situation in Darfur.........but I also understand that America's hands are too bloody to be a moral judge.

Through sports....particularly basketball the world is becoming acquainted with one another......the world is talking to one another.......and through sports maybe the world will begin to understand one another and not drop bombs on one another.

If this doesn't rank a 10 on the American's viewer scale...........I wonder what will?

P.S. It is estimated that more than 3 Billion people will watch the game tomorrow between the USA and China........THAT'S NOT A KOBE EVENT OR A HOOPS EVENT........THAT'S A WORLD EVENT!!

"...honestly I don't see it as a credible threat at this point,..."

So you skip it for this creampuff subject matter. How will people feel if we don't bring home the gold?

Easy answer? The same way we felt when we didn't bring home the gold in 2004.

Interesting!

mike t.

A better question would be...do I care more because Kobe's in there lol.

The answer to that is unequivocally yes, 12!

But mostly, 8.5. I care more about winning the medal race against China.

can someone explain exactly how the brackets/work in trying to win the gold medal, how many games can the us team lose before they get the final game?
thanks

Mike-

Kobe's opt out is a year away, whereas the Olympics are happening right now. So even if I'm wrong and Kobe really is a threat to go overseas to play (again, I don't see it happening) we have a year to go over the story. That's why I asked the question I did. That said, nobody is going to stop you or anyone else from debating it.

Your reasons certainly make sense, but I don't think he'd actually make the move. Even he said it would be "almost impossible" to leave the Lakers. I'm sure this is a topic we'll kick around for a while.

BK

pfunk-

Of all the completely self-absorbed, off-the-charts arrogant and presumptive things you've posted on this blog- Lord knows there are many- this likely takes the cake. You automatically equate my lack of emotional attachment to the US winning the gold in Beijing to a narrow world view? Or assume that I haven't gotten full bore into the Games generally because I'm unwilling to look beyond American borders?

Part of the reason I don't get wrapped up in the US team's performance in basketball is precisely because I understand that the assumption of American dominance in the sport is misplaced, that the world has caught up, and needs to be respected for its collective basketball talent. This, by the way, is a good thing

But beyond that, why would you assume that I'm somehow narrow minded, only interested in things I can control, and draw the conclusion that I simply don't care or concern myself with the rest of the world, simply based on the short intro to a question? You don't know nearly enough about me, my background, my family, my cultural history, my interests, my travel habits, my politics, my reading habits, and so on to make that leap.

Nor should you assume that somehow I don't comprehend or appreciate the global value of sport from a cultural nad socio-political standpoint simply because I don't really care if the US wins a gold medal in basketball.

I generally find it ironic that you're willing to lambaste people you don't know and make broad (and negative) assumptions about them based on virtually no (or at the very least, incomplete) information, connecting dots that have no business being connected, all the while espousing yourself to be a bastion of enlightenment and open-mindedness.

If you're curious about my world view, how I see things, how I view America on a global stage, my view of China, our foreign policy, culture, language, or whatever, you're more than welcome to ask. We might even be able to have a reasonable conversation about these things. Instead, you rush to your high horse in an effort to try to make me look small or narrow.

I don't really get it.

BK

BK the answer is a 10. What else are we going to watch as basketball fans? I hate this time of year normally. No basketball, no football, what are we supposed to watch "I want to work for Diddy." As a video game fan, this is exactly what this is going to be. Kobe, Lebron, Wade, Melo, and Chris Paul on the same team, who wouldn't watch? And Kobe, MVP, what a year to be in the olympics. Its all good for laker fans, just as long as he doesn't ... well im not even going to say it.

Jon K, the real QOTD is whether or not Kobe goes overseas. I listened to 570 KLAC today around 2 and all callers talked about was KOBE THE TRAITOR. I couldn't believe it. The guy said he would beat up somebody for not taking a 50 million a year offer for an overseas deal. So what! It was a joke, a negotiating ploy. You know what he's really saying. He's saying he's not taking less money like Arenas did. And for me that's ok, cuz he aint gilbert. Should Jordan take less. Not that he's Jordan, but we all agree he's the closest thing to it. Kobe deserves his money and the lakers are going to pay it and thats that.

He will not leave, I repeat he will not leave the Lakers and I'm going to tell you why. First of all Kobe wants to be the best player of all time. That means he has to surpass Jordan. Technically that means he has to get 4 more rings and thats not happening before his contract is up. A championship in Russia or Italy means squat and he knows it. And I think we can agree that Childress going to Euro league means get your money when no one else will give it to you. Kobe going means selfish, non-loyal, fake-nationalist,ex-rapist, pscho crybaby leaves states for blood money. This man is loved and HATED by more people than anybody. His haters would grow times 10 and I don't think he could repair his image if he left and tried to come back.

But this is the QOTD, and maybe no one wants to really address it because you all know it will never happen. Its not realistic. Its possible and financially logical, but its not realistic. Kobe is on pace to be the best Laker ever, and I'm a Magic diehard so that hurts just saying it. But he is, and he could very well catch Jordan as well. That can only happen in the states, and the Lakers are the team that can offer him the most money in the states. Things couldnt be better this season. Bynum back, Odom for 1 more year, Sasha showin signs of a true baller. Its all good and as Laker fans we just have to remember that DRAMA is our middle name. Its always going to be a soap. Especially with Kobe because he's a (cough) rock star in hollywood. And Mitch is on a roll on the craps table right now. Do you realize that Bynum could be an allstar next year. That all Mitch and the goofy Buss guy throwin the dice. Not Jerry West, not Kobe, and not Magic. Its the new core trustin Kareem and his staff to make informed decisions. Its all good yall.

$50 million>$20 Million

'Nuff said.

Raise that salary cap David Stern!

pfunk36 and BK,

You guys are getting way too personal on this. I think you are both over-reacting a bit.

GO LAKERS!

I'm watching as a Kobe fan and supporting Team USA.

I want to see Team USA win, but I won't be surprised if they lost. Just as how I was guarded with my optimism when the Lakers played the Celtics (I still don't know how we were the favorites when we should have been the underdog considered we were missing Drew - people seemed to forget that the Celtics had the best record of all teams prior to the playoffs - I knew the Lakers would beat everyone in the WC, just not the Celtics)

I see lots of teams that cause problems for TEAM USA. Like Spain, who I can easily see winning the gold, Argentina, Australia ... all heavy contenders for the gold.

So I'm watching these games with guarded optimism. It's obvious Team USA is talented, but they still have some hiccups in their offense and defense.

Obviously it's something we can all kick around, but honestly I don't see it as a credible threat at this point

Actually, if the league isn't taking the potential encroachment of FIBAnation seriously -- as some press reports conveying NBA denial suggest -- I'm sure Nike, Reebok, Adidas, ABC, ESPN, TNT et al. are.

FIBA-NBA have been able to maintain a delicate dance of "safe" partnerships precisely because the NBA still perceives (and treats) FIBA as a harmless stepchild suckling at the teat of NBA nourishment rather than the monster in a box it actually is -- an inherent danger of David Stern's rosy-hued megalomyopic delusion of unfettered, unchallenged NBA globalization (domination).

As you say, that domination is still true to a point. But only to the point where FIBA poaches its first superstar from the NBA's first galaxy.

Otherwise, NBA merchandisers would line up to crap unholy cows on Stern's doorstep if -- or rather WHEN -- they find ex-NBA now-FIBA superstars suddenly NOT wearing the apparel NBA merchandisers paid gazillions for viz. endorsement contracts because FIBA superstars would conceivably be "free" to upwardly rework existing deals or demand new deals to accommodate new (FIBA) teams, new (FIBA) uniforms, a new (FIBA) league and new non-NBA (various Euro) broadcast outlets.

Ditto cowpies from NBA broadcst partners left holding the billion-dollar bag for a product -- exclusive rights to broadcast NBA games featuring once-exclusive NBA superstars -- facing devaluation for every superstar who heads overseas.

Kobe, LeBron and Wade might be joking about the numbers -- but you can *bet* FIBA teams and Euro corporatists are serioiusly exploring ways to make those numbers work, sooner rather than later.

Unlike Commissioner Nero Not Neo Stern.

all this talking about kobe and lebron leaving for outside countries has to stop. they are not going anywhere ok.

ding how in prattville

FROM KOBE BRYANT:

“As players, the business of the game (is) evolving,” Bryant said before a Team USA practice at Beijing Normal University. “I think free agency now is becoming a global thing …. When players become free agents, the team they’re currently with – their competition is no longer the rest of the teams in the NBA. But it’s global. So, the market’s opened up. So we’ll just have to see how the league responds to it.”

___________________________________________

I like the way Kobe says: "...So we'll just have to see how the league responds to it."

Notice how he didn't refer to the Lakers? This is about the league salary cap and luxury tax. Man for the league to do away with the salary cap is just to say that ticket prices would go through the roof.

Just like Kobe is preaching America, right now, being more important than an NBA title, well more than your country is your family.

That money Kobe could make in Europe is all about his family. If the NBA is intent on keeping a luxuary tax...going against Euro money? The global market is a serious thing. Just think of it in terms of: God, Family, Country. And country can be dealt with every 2 years with the World Championships and Olympics.

Kobe's walking and so are a few other stars.

mike t.