We were chatting today at lunch about the Olympics, and how ‘well’ the Americans were doing overall (not counting the Chinese divers and gymnasts, and Usain Bolt). One of the younger guys piped up about how ‘great’ the basketball team was and that “Kobe” had apparently made a statement about how they were the best team ever…
Lemme see… 1992… First year the US pros were allowed to play…
Michael Jordan, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippin, Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Chris Mullin, Charles Barkley and ONE college kid, Christian Laettner… Everybody except Laettner is in the hall of fame!
Chuck Daly, Mike Krzyzewski, Lenny Wilkens, P.J. Carlesimo… Everybody except Carlesimo is hall of fame!
They didn’t call them the Dream Team for nothing… I firmly believe that is the ‘best’ sports team ever assembled! Bar none!
I remember we were in Rota, and found out there were some tickets available for Aug 2 which was either Saturday or Sunday. We hopped a flight up to Getafe, got a ride to the train station, piled on a train to Barcelona, got there about three hours later, got to see the Dream Team play Spain (and I remember the Spaniards cheering for the Dream Team, which was TRULY strange)… I think they won by 40+ points…
Back to the train and retraced our steps to Madrid, and then a bus back to Rota. I don’t think I was real effective the next day at work… But I’ll never forget that experience!
And NO “Kobe” and the rest wouldn’t be able to beat them, they might, just might get within 20 points…
Lemme see… 1992… First year the US pros were allowed to play…
Michael Jordan, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippin, Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Chris Mullin, Charles Barkley and ONE college kid, Christian Laettner… Everybody except Laettner is in the hall of fame!
Chuck Daly, Mike Krzyzewski, Lenny Wilkens, P.J. Carlesimo… Everybody except Carlesimo is hall of fame!
They didn’t call them the Dream Team for nothing… I firmly believe that is the ‘best’ sports team ever assembled! Bar none!
I remember we were in Rota, and found out there were some tickets available for Aug 2 which was either Saturday or Sunday. We hopped a flight up to Getafe, got a ride to the train station, piled on a train to Barcelona, got there about three hours later, got to see the Dream Team play Spain (and I remember the Spaniards cheering for the Dream Team, which was TRULY strange)… I think they won by 40+ points…
Back to the train and retraced our steps to Madrid, and then a bus back to Rota. I don’t think I was real effective the next day at work… But I’ll never forget that experience!
And NO “Kobe” and the rest wouldn’t be able to beat them, they might, just might get within 20 points…
Wow! The Spaniards cheering for the other team. I guess that is the power of celebrity.
You’ve got better memories of Rota than I.
The Dream Team showing that ego and flash can (and did) take a back seat to patriotism and pure sportsmanship. The Team members even held lessons for opposing teams and local schools.
Concur. There’ll only be one Dream Team.
On a vaugely related note:
Surely I’m not the only one who noticed this. As the American Women took the field for the award ceremony in soccer, the commentator mentioned the nice new “bomber style” jackets that the US team was wearing. You know, to accept the medal after defeating Japan.
Anyone else remember what happened on August 9th?
Yeah, I’m with Ed. You have better memories of Rota than I do. My cruise book says I was there, but I’m doubtful.
I was up in the mountains at Zaragosa. Someone rented a car and we road-tripped down to Barcelona. Had lunch and beers at The Hard Rock Cafe, then drank our way down towards the harbor.
Beautiful town.
Andy- Yep, it was truly strange! They’d cheer for a Spanish basket, but they also cheered for the US!
Ed- ‘Most’ of my memories of Rota are not fun either…
Rev- 🙂
Phred- Nagasaki…
Don- See above! 🙂
MSgt- LOL, I don’t think we ever got to the harbor! And that is the ONLY time I’ve ever been there…
Did ya see or hear Larry Bird’s reply when Kobe said this team could beat the original Dream Team?
“They probably could. We’re all old now, and I haven’t played in 20 years.
Caused me to spew coffee all over the floor, it did.