USA Basketball’s “Redeem Team” moves on to the Gold Medal round to face off against Spain

I’ve been a big supporter of TEAM USA for so many Olympics. I remember being so involved as a young kid for the 1980 Winter Olympics and watching the “Miracle on Ice” when the USA beat Russia and then Finland.

But I have always been passionate about USA Basketball at the Olympics. I started getting into it back in 1988 for the Seoul Olympics, knowing that professionals from the NBA couldn’t compete but seeing David Robinson on the team was exciting. USA Basketball came in third with a bronze medal but the following year, when the announcement came that USA Basketball can now bring in professional players, who would imagine a team with the greats of Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pippin, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Chris Mullin, David Robinson and Christian Laettner all together for one team.

That was just amazing and I remember buying everything “Dream Team” in 1992. The cards, the soundtrack, Olympics merchandise… You name it!

In 1996 at the Atlanta Olympics, Dream Team II was back with a few from 1992’s Dream Team making a return and some new comers on the team such as Anfernee Hardaway, Grant Hill, Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, Reggie Miller and Mitch Richmond won another gold!

But in 2000 at the Sydney Olympics, despite having Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Gary Payton, Kevin Garnett, Steve Smith and other talents…the team nearly lost against Lithuania who nearly beat the USA team with a 3-pointer. USA won gold but this close game was a sign that International Basketball was no longer the same as the years of USA professionals will now have to counter with their own fellow NBA superstars from other countries.

And then came the 2004 Summer Olympics at Athens, Greece. I watched this one and hoping with the addition of the new young stars like Carmello Anthony, Lebron James, Dwayne Wayde would be in it but when many pro’s pulled out because of injuries, I figured there were still a good number of professionals that can win the gold. And I just remembered sitting in awe and watching Team USA losing against Spain 102-94 and then against Argentina 89-81. The team managed to capture a bronze medal but this was a team that comprised of NBA professionals. Has International Basketball come to the point where the years of USA dominance was a thing of the past?

Well, here we are in 2008, TEAM USA aka “The Redeem Team” has beaten Argentina 101-81 and will be going against Spain for the gold medal.

This team has really been exciting to watch with Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wayde, Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Tayshaun Prince, Chris Bosh, Jason Kidd, Carlos Boozer, Michael Redd and Derron Williams again dominating the boards and fortunately, with the exception of one game against Australia, TEAM USA has won in a considerable margin.

Of course, there is one more game left! And I’m excited about it! Hope to see the “Redeem Team” win the gold