The recently completed World Basketball Championships saw the US women's team fail in their usual fight to the gold as they managed but a bronze medal! This is the same 3rd place finish as the US men's accomplishment earlier in the summer in their WBC, however the difference between the two is drastic.
The men were lucky to medal at all. Though their players were more committed than in recent years, USA basketball's approach for the men is still completely wrong. They're still slapping superstars together with a very short training period and the players continue to underestimate other countries' teams.
The women's loss is a bit of a shock though. I know they're bringing in new, young players, and they lost Lisa Leslie, but they've been the best for so long it's unreal. The Aussies beat them this year in a scrimmage or something, but the US women's team has ~50 straight international wins in tournaments over the last decade.
Now, Russia and Australia are both powerhouse teams who compete very well against the US, but Team USA women's approach to international competition is exemplary. They barnstorm together, keep the WNBA season complementary with FIBA rather than flout them, etc. (though this year was a little rough). It might have just come down to the fact Lisa Leslie wasn't there because that is how phenomenal she is. Well, they handled themselves with class and grace which is always a question mark with the men. At least, I think they did. It's tough to tell since the goddamned TV channels didn't broadcast a single game of the women's WBC!!! Pure crap.
Anyway, I'm still proud of the women. And I'm amped about the upcoming NBA season, despite everything wrong with that league. With hoops on the mind then, and to celebrate the women, here would be my WNBA favorites/dream team starting 5:
Center - Lisa Leslie (still the best)
Power Forward - Lauren Jackson (I'm finagling here cuz she's gotta start, should be a center, D-Nasty a PF, and Tamika the SF)
Small Forward - Delisha Milton "D-Nasty"/"Sunshine", 2 great nicknames, tells you how her game is (she is my favorite. Period)
Shooting Guard - Diana Taurasi (I like her game. If I were basing a team on looks then she'd have to be subbed by Becky Hammon though, who's very good regardless. And somehow Stacey Dales would have to be in there too.)
Point Guard - Sue Bird (my 2nd favorite)
Honorable mention - Tamika Catchings (she's just a beast, in a good way). Candace Parker will be an absolute monster (again, in a good way) when she turns pro also.
I don't wanna jinx the Nets this year but I'm feeling good about 'em. Can't fucking wait!
Sep 24, 2006
color us bronze (unfunny basketball talk)
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2 comments:
Women's basketball, ahahahahaha...gasp...ahahahahaha. Thanks, I needed a laugh.
But seriously, it is so sad. One radio guy was saying it's a good thing other countries don't have NASCAR, because then we would have no sport at all that other countries didn't beat us at. If you can call NASCAR a sport. Which I don't. So we're screwed.
You laugh Migrained Monkey, but the US Women's team has been a lot of fun to watch. Especially compared to the men's team.
NASCAR's about as sportin' as a mullet. And even if it were, that Euro Formula 1 stuff looks much cooler.
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