Okafor gets last Olympic spot

The_herd · 06-23-2004, 05:55 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=1826868

Quote:

ESPN.com news services

UConn center Emeka Okafor will be invited to join this summer's US Olympic basketball team, league sources tell ESPN.com's Marc Stein.

Okafor is expected to formally accept the invitation shortly.

The USA Basketball Selection Committee opted to fill its final roster spot with a power player instead of a perimeter specialist such as Milwaukee's Michael Redd.

Team USA coach Larry Brown had recently pushed for the inclusion of a top shooter like Redd or Rip Hamilton, but Hamilton and Detroit Pistons teammate Ben Wallace declined invitations.

It was believed that Redd was next in line, but the selection committee reversed its position on Denver rookie Carmelo Anthony and invited Anthony to join the squad Tuesday. As ESPN.com reported Tuesday night, Anthony, who had criticized the selection process earlier this month, eagerly accepted.

San Antonio's Tim Duncan and Philadelphia's Allen Iverson are the only original members from Team USA's "core" group of nine players still on the roster. Five players were officially named in the first wave of replacements: Cleveland's LeBron James, New York's Stephon Marbury, New Jersey's Richard Jefferson, and the Phoenix tandem of Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire.

So, are we even going to being playing for a medal?

Abe Sargent · 06-23-2004, 06:04 PM

I like how Carmelo wanted to play in the Olympics so badly that it doesn't matter to him how little playing time he gets or how late in the process they offer him the spot, he jumps on it immediately. A lot of character in that Anthony guy.

-Anxiety

lcjjdnh · 06-23-2004, 06:04 PM

At least we know the players going are actually going to want to play basketball. 'Melo seems real pumped to be going to Athens, as he has been complaining about not going for quite a while. I would rather have second tier players who want to go out to and represent the country then first tier players who are going to mail it in.

JeeberD · 06-23-2004, 07:36 PM

As long as teh guys play team ball I think we'll do fine. No matter who we play we'll still have the most talented team on the floor...

atatange1 · 06-23-2004, 09:23 PM

I no the team we're sending isn't the Dream Team but I really like this team. Maybe, it's me but I really like the fact that the team is all guys who really want to be there.

06-23-2004, 06:04 PM	#2
Abe Sargent Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Catonsville, MD	I like how Carmelo wanted to play in the Olympics so badly that it doesn't matter to him how little playing time he gets or how late in the process they offer him the spot, he jumps on it immediately. A lot of character in that Anthony guy. -Anxiety __________________ Check out my two current weekly Magic columns! https://www.coolstuffinc.com/a/?action=search&page=1&author[]=Abe%20Sargent

06-23-2004, 07:36 PM	#4
JeeberD General Manager Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Town of Flower Mound	As long as teh guys play team ball I think we'll do fine. No matter who we play we'll still have the most talented team on the floor... __________________ UTEP Miners!!! I solemnly swear to never cheer for TO

06-23-2004, 06:04 PM	#3
lcjjdnh College Prospect Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: NJ	At least we know the players going are actually going to want to play basketball. 'Melo seems real pumped to be going to Athens, as he has been complaining about not going for quite a while. I would rather have second tier players who want to go out to and represent the country then first tier players who are going to mail it in.

06-23-2004, 09:23 PM	#5
atatange1 High School JV Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: WA state	I no the team we're sending isn't the Dream Team but I really like this team. Maybe, it's me but I really like the fact that the team is all guys who really want to be there.

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