The loss just goes to show what is wrong with the "basketball" culture in our country today, everything is all about style over substance. True, someone could make the argument that most of the best NBA players stayed home, but what does THAT even say when the best won't even step forth to represent their country?

On the other hand, you've got Rulon Gardner, who pulled off one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history, has been injured several times and came back to try to earn another gold?

It's all about heart...in case any basketball players out there are wondering what that is, just go ask a wrestler.

Right on man. To all those kids that say basketball rules, NOT!!!

Well, Kobe stayed home for court and the rest pulled out because they were afraid of terroist threats. So to me those seem to be pretty logical reasons. Don't get me wrong I'm not a basketball fan, but I can just see their points of view.

See...the WORST thing we could have done was to put the NBA all-stars on the Olympic team. These guys don't have a concept of what playing for American pride is all about...it's all about the friggin' bling-bling and the entourage and the chicks and the drugs...need I go on?

Why, yes...I think I will...

That's the great thing about sports such as wrestling and some of the other sports -- these are young men and women who are PROUD of their abilities and PASSIONATE about representing the United States in the athletic arena. No million dollar contracts -- no fawning gold-digging, saline-implanted bubblehead dimwits -- no Sunday Conversations on ESPN's Sportscenter -- just grab the lunch pail, display the Red White and Blue and go out and kick some a** in Athens.

THAT is what the Olympics and pride in American athletics is all about...they lost that in USA Basketball after the first "Dream Team" played in 1992.

God Bless The U.S.A.

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P.S. -- The next person who even MENTIONS the name Kobe Bryant or Scott Peterson or their legal proceedings will be getting a personal visit...I am so (expletive) sick and tired of hearing about these worthless court cases 24/7/365 that I am about ready to come un-freaking-glued.

STOP THE INSANITY!!!

(Yes, it's 2 a.m. and I'm not having any luck going to sleep...but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night...)