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Baltimore’s Carmelo Anthony has waited four years for the chance to win Olympic gold after his U.S. team settled for bronze in 2004 in Athens. He’ll get his chance next month in Beijing. — AP
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Carmelo Anthony’s commitment toward helping restore the U.S.’s dominance in men’s basketball began on an airplane nearly four years ago after the team’s disappointing showing at the 2004 Olympics.
Flying back from Athens, Anthony was distraught over the United States’ bronze medal finish, which marked the first time a “Dream Team” failed to win gold.
It was on that flight that Anthony, a Baltimore native and Towson Catholic graduate, made a pledge with fellow NBA stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carlos Boozer they would not leave the 2008 Olympics in Beijing without the ultimate golden bling.
“Every offseason for the last three years has been about preparing for the Olympics,” Anthony said. “We are a much better team now than the one four years ago and we know what to expect now from in the international game instead of just being thrown to the wolves. Winning a gold medal would be the best feeling I’ve had other than the birth of my son.”
Anthony, a forward for the Denver Nuggets, said the core of this year’s team is much more mature than it was when it headed to Greece just a month after completing their rookie seasons in the NBA.
“What happened in 2004 wasn’t the best for myself, Dwyane and Carmelo,” James told reporters. “It was a bad situation, we didn’t play as much as we thought we should have and it left a bad taste in our mouths. We wanted the opportunity to get better and make an impact on the USA team and now we’re going to be able to do that.”
But it will be against a much more competitive field than the one Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird ran through as they led the inaugural “Dream Team” to gold in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. In the last Olympics, Argentina won the competition, as the Americans went 5-3 after defeating Lithuania, 104-96, for the bronze medal.
“There is only one Dream Team,” U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters. “That was 1992. The mistake that American people make is calling then every team after a ‘Dream Team.’ This isn’t Rocky one, two, three and four. It’s Dream Team one forever, and the next teams have to get their own identity. This team will have to work at developing its identity.”
And it all starts with getting a dozen great individuals to play as one great unit — something the team did not do four years ago. For Anthony, he’ll know how far this year’s team has come when it faces China on Aug. 10 in the first of five games of pool play.
“We don’t think of this group as 12 stars,” Anthony said. “We’re one team. We’re going to put USA Basketball back on the map.”
rsnyder@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
10:47 PM MST on Tue., Sep. 30, 2008 re: "Steinmetz: Warriors’ nucleus not among best in West"
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2:55 PM MST on Thu., Aug. 14, 2008
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Iwi said:
Kings will be a good team
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I think that this is a fair summation of the warrior off-season moves. They appear to be one more "star" type player short of the playoffs, and that is assuming Ellis, Biedrins, and Randolph all develop as projected. Hope you are right about Williams at point, because we are asking a lot from Ellis there.
4 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
You neglected to mention Morrow, the free agent who tore up summer league for the Warriors. He was one of the best looking players in the summer league according to those in the know.
6 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
To the guy who wonders why Kosta Perovic didn't play much last year. Kosta was just terrible, he made Zarko look like an All Star.
7 agree | 6 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Do you talk just to hear yourself talk? this is the dumbest peice of no thought crap that you have ever writin and if the refs called games fairly Kobe and company would'nt even have been in the playoffs and thats why Kobe gets more calls than 411
7 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Continuing my post: Warrior's are not unproven in scoring department. We are in D. We can't guard PG, PF and C's. The way we solve this? Our depth. We have Buike guard the PGs, Jackson on the SF's, Monta on SG. and have Turiaf and Beidrins clog the middle. Even though they don't take up much space they can try slow them long enough for some help D. Look for the Warriors to have a kind of flowing zone this season. Lots of help D and a whole lot of agressiveness and pressure on the ball.
7 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Well first off, since Artest is going to the Rockets (presumably), you can shift the Suns down a spot and let Houston rise. As for Utah and the Spurs, NOH is way better than them. Yes NO lost to the Spurs in the playoffs, but now the Spurs are one year older and have not made any significant changes and NO has a playoff berth under the belt, another year of experience and James Posey to boot. Now for the Warriors. I believe that they deserve that 8th spot, if not the 7th. For right now I will just look at the core/starting 5 and not consider depth, overall play, and injury/age. Portland: Oden, Roy, Aldridge. Baylees? Outlaw? Mavs: Kidd, Terry, Howard, Dirk, Diop. Warriors: Monta, Jackson, Maggette, Harrington, Beidrins. Greg Oden is highly unproven and still has to fully recover. The others are well rounded and can put up serious numbers, but they do not have a good PG. Mavs have a chance but they need more heart. Warriors can score in bunches, but need D. I need letters.
6 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I agree with matt...to an extent. the key to the dubs success isn't all on the core (as it is with many other teams). This team is DEEP. They can eclipse many teams in the west with contributions from other players that aren't core. Not many other teams can make that claim. Well done Mully. Now go get Josh Smith!!!
7 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Wright and Randolph are the secrets to the Warriors future. Harrington, Jackson, Magette, Azu offer real fire power, in addition to Biedrins and Ellis. Warriors are one of the best balanced teams in the West in my opinion IF Nelson makes Wright and Randolph go to guys; i.e. if GSW play less run and gun, and more run and bring ball inisde, play more pwoer game, and play defense.
7 agree | 7 disagree
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Paul Huff said:
Hey Genius. Dallas has a nucleus of DIrk, Howard and Jason KIDD...but go ahead and throw Terry in there for a foursome. And putting the Mavs under such an unknown in Portland? Thats why you're a beat writer and not a true analyst. I look forward to watching the Mavs rraape the Warriors this year.
7 agree | 7 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Matt-- If the Warrior's competition won't win as many games because many teams have improved, doesn't that make it together for the Warrior's to get as many wins also?
7 agree | 8 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Matt, the Warriors could be a lot better this year. They have some young players that are due to have breakout years, like Beleneli, Wright, and this new kid Randolph. Last season I though the Warriors gave too many minutes to players like Barnes, Croshere, and even Kelena Abuzuke, who played just fair. The Warriors future is these young guys. While the loss of Baron hurts, the team will be awfully potent next season offensively. With Monta, Magette, Jackson, and hopefully Beleneli they will be shooting the lights out this season. The Warriors will be a better rebounding team too. You seem to have little confidence these young players will step up. Basketball belongs to the young guys coming up, not aging veterans.
10 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
My only problem is, if he planned to go he could have allowed GS to use the trade clause giving the team a chance to use it.
10 agree | 10 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Rich Walcoff: Warriors wise to let Baron fly south You hit the nail right on the head, Richie, in every way. Kudos.
9 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
i can see why you dont write for the chroicle
11 agree | 11 disagree
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noah said:
So, we're going to require all basketball playing college freshmen to sign a contract promising to stay in college for two years? It seems very unlikely that such a contract provision would be enforceable, at least absent collective bargaining.
11 agree | 11 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
"It was tough for me growing up in the streets"..... Yeh, I'd like to hear that on tape. Never, ever, ever believe what you read without a sense of humor and pity for the angle the reporters are going for. The boy is educated, polite, and has always been far from the streets... Except, apparently, for the day this interview happened.... Good lord....
12 agree | 13 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
So a week ago you state "Do you still think the Rockets are better without Yao Ming?" Yet in todays trash from you you state they go backwards when he comes back. Please tell me you don't get paid for this
18 agree | 17 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
so are all comments that disagree with the article deleted? Doesnt matter, you lost all your credibility when you said Josh Howard was the best player on the mavs. I'm still rolling on the floor over that one.
18 agree | 15 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
What you are forgetting is the play of Houston's rookies down the stretch. Add Yao into that mix with Scola and Landry with a year under their belt. Houston is a contender - I cannot see how you say a team will go backwards when you get the most dominant inside presence back in the line-up.
18 agree | 15 disagree
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Yinka Dare said:
Actually, Matt, David West played all of 111 minutes in a first-round playoff loss in '04. He is a stranger to the playoffs. Does experience count when you have only experienced losing? Why hate on the Toronto/Orlando series starring two of the league's best young bigs, instead of, say, the Hawks/Celts or Pistons/Sixers?
19 agree | 18 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
"True, the Warriors have yet to lock up a playoff berth, but that is something that is outside of their control." Outside of their control? Isn't it completely in their control? Steinmetz is unbelievable.
20 agree | 18 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
nellie needs to give his bench more playing time and believe in them more. he doesnt have to ride his starters for 40 minutes when the bench is very capable. Lastly, why didnt he leave the same lineup in that got them back within 6 points of the kings?? It was an off night for Jackson and Davis. A comeback was killed off and much need rest for your starters was lost.
22 agree | 23 disagree
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Steve in Concord said:
Perovic just recalled from D-league after avg. 18 rebounds and 35 minutes in two games. Significant?
21 agree | 20 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay warriors will win it all this year
22 agree | 21 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Hi, Could you please ask Don Nelson why he isn't playing Kosta Perovic?? It's really puzzling. When Kosta came into the game in Milwaukee, he dominated Andrew Bogut. Kosta looks a lot more agile than he's been given credit for and he sure can cover a lot of ground. When the Milwaukee guards were driving towards the basket they thought twice when they saw Kosta's huge presence in the lane and instead kicked it out to Bogut who Perovic got to with 2 large ground covering steps, just enough to disturb Bogut's release point so he missed. Plus, Perovic has professional experience, so he knows what it's like to go up against older guys. Kosta also looks stronger than Brandon and Patrick. I just wish he'd reward Kosta for his impressive defense against Milwaukee. Thank you!
47 agree | 55 disagree
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timgreen79 said:
I know we shouldn't sleep on the Spurs but I think they'll probably have too tough of a road if their record doesn't get better. As a 5 seed they'd play (in current standings): 1st - Utah on road, 2nd - Hornets on Road, 3rd - Lakers or Suns on road. Wow. They have experience on their side but will miss the athleticism and depth that the Suns and Lakers have. (That is if they could even get by Utah)
58 agree | 49 disagree
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Bob said:
Good point that we need to wait 20-25 games to evaluate Shaq. Personally I think Phoenix is going to drop in terms of overall record (because their SOS gets tougher), but then will come on in the playoffs. Which really is the only point of the Shaq experiment.
61 agree | 55 disagree
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Matt (SF) said:
I just posted a comment a few hours ago that was removed. Am I being censored? All I said was that the inclusion of Turkoglu and Noah in this article makes no sense. Steinmetz doesn't know what he's talking about - Hedo's having a great year and Noah has been above average. So why put them on your hate list, Matt? Please censor this comment again. I'm watching.
61 agree | 55 disagree
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J Barnett said:
I know Matt can't write but he was a quality baller for F&M College. And he's quite handsome in person.
63 agree | 58 disagree
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Ben R said:
I've already come up with the best solution to problem that is Matt Steinmetz, don't read the column. Go Lakers.
65 agree | 62 disagree
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Caleb B said:
How can you have an anti-NBA player list without including the likes of Stephan Marbury? I can't figure out the pattern in your list but Francis should be given a pass - he's injured and playing for cheap. And Hinrich? He's on team USA. Lot's of former and current knicks made your Top 15. About the only thing I agree with.
72 agree | 77 disagree
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