1. Another 'Yankee go home' for the US team who have not seen a gold medal for 3 (I think) of World Tournaments.

That is a rough, but welcome, stretch. The game has declined in the US. Maybe with enough losses on the international stage it will influence the way we play the game here.

2. The Japanese fans were chearing for ...the US. Having being nuked and all that I would expect them to support anyone but. I ll never understand the Japanese...
They like Michael Jackson too. Maybe they have a way of looking beyond the ills and appreciating the skills.

3. The US is at the moment, undoubtedly, the most hated nation in the world (thanks to its administration). A rumour has it that the Greek victory was publicly cheered allover the world (Especially Arabic countries and Serbia)...Can anyone confirm this?
I'd like to see a continent by continent rundown with top 3 most hated countries. Good spinoff topic for the backroom.

4. None of the 12 Greek players players (despite being European Champions) play at the NBA. ...So much for NBA Scouters...
Maybe they couldn't sign the top prospects because their current teams were asking for too much. Of the 12 do you think even a third of them would be worthy of the investment to scout and recruit them ?

5. Isnt it time for the Americans to learn how to play defence?
Maybe the players are convinced that they actually have competition now. Maybe they'll start to try a bit harder. They used to be able to sleepwalk through the poor competition. People have caught up. Sleepwalking isn't enough now.


6. Nash, Nowitzki, Gasol, Ming etc are non-americans and star at the NBA. Team usa cannot even reach the final. Is this the end of the US basketball talent?
Of course not. The talen has always been there. Its a question of drive for a lot of these players. Of the three you mentioned not a one of them has a championship ring and with the exception of Nash not one of them has sniffed an MVP trophy. Sans Nash the scouting report is pretty much the same: Tall guy who can sooot. Reboudning optional, defense soft.


7. Greece has a population of 10m , the US has 250m ( I think)

This might account for the 5,000 other sports the US does better.


8. LeBron James approached Sofoklis Schortsianitis after the game and asked him 'Why arent you playing in the NBA yet?'
Good question. An undersized post player who has heart and desire. Corliss Williamson, Ben Wallace, or Charles Barkley ? Haven't watched the guy personally and the scouting report I read was 5 years old, but it seems like his height fluctuates between 6-9 and 6-10. The NBA is littered with these types of players. Corliss being avg, Wallace being good, and Barkley being outstanding. If he's Corliss or below thats fine, but why wast time negotiating in Greece when you can draft an undersized guy out of college ?