Try watching soccer.

Porto recently won Championchip League and now its best team in Europe, although I'm big fan of AC Milan from Italy. Red Star is still my favorite team.

Euro Cup 2004 starts soon. Hopping for Czech Republic to win it all.

 

If it's not a foot injury or not in game 3, will you defer?

 

I'm not saying that it is fixed. I mean the players that have comments like "I play when I want to" or the ones who feel like they don't have to practice just bug the heck out of me. Some people would "kill" to play at any pro level. Then there are the ones who will kill anyway, ie, Jason Kidd and still get away with it because they are atheletes. A little off subject but I had to rant.

 

I think you meant Jayson Williams, not Jason Kidd. Jason Kidd just hits his wife and then cheats on her.

 

a la micheal jordan, kobe bryant, and about almost all professional athletes today :shame

 

Olimpic games are soon. Just watch basketball at Olimpic. Serbia & Montenegro is gonna win it all again. We won last 2 World Cups (last one in Indianapolis in 2002).

p.c. stay off the drugs, that's why most USA Pro players doesn't play for National Team, but they still can play for their Pro teams.

 

Ummm ... No? Ever heard of the "Dream Team" at the Olympics? The NBA has a fairly strict drug testing program, more strict then the Olympics in a lot of ways.

The Olympic players are chosen by the coach of the US team. They don't play for the national team because it interfers with their normal schedule. So, except for the Olympics they let the college/amateur players go at it.

For the Olympics, they DO play. Before, the US didn't play pro players in B-Ball until 92 I think it was, because the were supposed to be AMATUER players.

<sigh>

 

What do you mean by interfers with their normal schedule? World Cup, Olimpics ... are every 4 years and always during the summer, when NBA season is over. How do you think Divac, Stojakovic (Sacramento Kings), Drobnjak, Jaric (LA Clippers), Radmanovic (Seattle Sonics), Rebraca (Atlanta Hawks) ... find time to play for Serbian Olimpic team?

By the way, did you watch World Cup 2002 in Indianapolis? Man, I will never forget Serbia & Montenegro (at that time called Serbia) - USA game in 1/4 finals. Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics) was killing us, but thanks for Milan Gurovic and Marko Jaric Serbia came from 10 down late in 3rd quarter and won 81:78, made it to semi-finals and later won the World Cup.

For the drugs things ... You do know what you're allow to use drugs and still play in the NBA? Best example is Shawn Kemp, he addmited he's been using drugs for while, he's even been in rehab few times. On World Cups, you are not allow to use drugs and still play. Its honor to play for national team, but I guess NBA players don't get that. Just recently Kidd, both O'Neals, McGrady, Garnett ... canceled to Larry Brown.

 

Yes, World Cup and Olympics are both in the summer -- and last time I checked, most NBA players play then ... The normal touring schedule for international games happen throughout the year, and Team USA (as well as Serbia & Mon.) use other players then.

And yes, tis true that a player can test positive for certain drugs on multiple occasions and still play and only suffer suspensions ... However, go check the career stats for Roy Tarpley -- at one time considered the next "great player" in the NBA.

All I'm saying is your 2nd post and the first post say two entirely different things. The 2nd post is 180 degrees from the 1st which claims no NBA player plays for their Team USA. Wholly not true. Then you turn around and claim NBA players PLAY FOR SERBIA AND MONTENGRO. Wouldn't the same logic apply for drug use to all NBA players? I wouldn't completely disagree with your 2nd post if it stood on its own, however the fact of the matter is your first post pretty much the 2nd point useless in my view. They contradict each other.

Dude, I know your proud of your country, but be a little fair in applying logic. We (US Citizens) are just as proud of our country (despite doofs like Bush). From what I can gather your first post basically said all US Citizens are drugs freaks and Serbians and Montenegrians (forgive me for not knowing what to call you) are saints who hung the moon and save kittens from rottweilers. Have a little respect for others in this thread and others.

Just like the US, your country has problems. Don't let the love of your country blind you to that. Also, be careful how you posistion your psost. You realize over the course of two posts you've managaed to insult 300 million people who claim to be US citizens?

As far as canceling - not all players canceled because they're on drugs, if they are, I'd like you to somehow show proof. Many have canceled because of the likely hood of a terrorist attack in Greece.

This is off-topic, but I felt it deserved a public response. If you'd like to continue this civil discussion PM or email me.

 

You didn't understand me man. I'm talking about people in sport, not people in general. During Olimpic games no one checks players for illegal drugs in their body (this includes steroids). During European, World ... Cups, they do check players for that. How do you think Karl Malone's muscles are so huge? Not by working out, that's for sure. Now, I'm not saying that people from other nationalities don't use that, but in Europe is not as common as it is here. I guess you know who Predrag Stojakovic from Sacramento Kings is. He doesn't have any muscles at all, but he's still 2nd leading scorer in the NBA. I know that NBA season is long (compared to regular seasons in Europe), but still NBA players should play for National team. Its an honor to play for National Team. Since Jordan left USA Dream team in 1996, USA doesn't have dream team anymore. When Garnett, Duncan, McGrady, Bryant, O'Neal, Kidd, Wallace ... play together, that would be a Dream Team. But when you have Marion, J.O'Neal, LaFrentz, Finley ... that is not a Dream Team.

But back to the topic. We already know that Lakers are gonna win the finals. Karl Malone and Gary Payton came to LA to win the championchip, and they can't retire until they do that.

 

I love the Kings and HATE the Lakers too... I do like Shaq though... lemme guess, Peja is your most favorite player? Your from Serbia & Montenegro and so is he... you probably like Vlade a lot too... GO PEJA!