I’m not just talking about Team USA’s 114-69 victory over Puerto Rico last night. I’m talking about the actual physical makeup of the Puerto Rican team.
More on the basketball in a second, but first, I defy you to name any two teammates in history, in any sport, as ugly as Peter John Ramos and Daniel Santiago. These men are to ugly what Liberace was to gay. Ramos is 23 years old, and he looks like Edward James Olmos. Santiago isn’t quite in the same stratosphere, but with the headband and the goofy glasses (I think the Rec Specs were more dignified), he’s not anything you want to look at. They’re both good basketball players, and I’m sure they’re fine individuals, but someone Rodney King’d those guys with the ugly stick.
Anyway, onto the game. It’s just one game, and I’m not going to get ahead of myself, but… I’m encouraged. To be honest with you, there were minutes early in the game where I was near apoplectic at some things that I saw. Just some terrible defense, guys overrunning things, playing defense with their hands, some poor high-screen and roll defense, and some very bad shot selection… but Coach K chalked it up to nerves and overexcitement, so I’ll take his word for it.
After that opening quarter, we just rolled. Forced a ton of turnovers, scored a lot of easy buckets, and Puerto Rico gave up at some point a few minutes into the third quarter. And at that point, it began to resemble a Globetrotters vs. Washington Generals game, and it was hard to learn too much then.
I’m giving last night’s MVP award to Shane Battier. Every time he stepped on the floor, the team got better, and I think that’s something that will continue through the tournament. He was the best defender on the floor, grabbed some offensive rebounds, he did all the things you’d want him to do. We were a far better team when he was out there. Other guys I was impressed with include, but aren’t necessarily limited to, Elton Brand and Kirk Hinrich.
So, all in all, I’m pleased, but I think ESPN can relax with their 1992 comparisons, based off of one game against Puerto Rico. There are still a ton of things I still want to see. When Puerto Rico did force us into a halfcourt set, most of the time, there wasn’t a lot of fluidity. And I like the pressure man defense, but our help defense is going to have to get better. A lot better. I think things are going the right way, it looks like Coach K was indeed the perfect choice for this gig, but there’s still more that I want to see against teams who will be a lot better and a lot better disciplined than the Puerto Rican team.
aussiesportsblog Says:
August 4th, 2006 at 8:30 am
You think you’ve seen ugly? I’ll tell you two people who are uglier than those guys. George Bush and Dick Cheney. Man, what an awful sight those two are :P
(and alright, so maybe they don’t play sport, but then again, can you imagine George-two-left-feet on a basketball court? lol.)
WBRS Sports Blog Says:
August 4th, 2006 at 10:09 am
Is it me or can this team still not shoot?
Dave's Football Blog Says:
August 4th, 2006 at 10:44 am
I knows me some ugly!
And you, you is ugly!
(How ugly?)
You so ugly, ugly sticks get ugly when they hit by you.
You so ugly that your baby mama tried to put a spoon o’ mushy peas in your ass.
I knows me some ugly!
And you, you is ugly!
This is Dave, singing ZeFrank songs so you don’t have to.
matthew Says:
August 4th, 2006 at 12:00 pm
Chris Kaman and Sam Cassel.
They, too, are on the same team.
And I still say, individually, Tayshaun Prince is the ugliest man to play sports, hands down.
BamaboyinUT Says:
August 4th, 2006 at 12:26 pm
I don’t know about teammates, but Lorenzo Mata on UCLA’s basketball team is the ugliest I’ve ever seen. It was hard watching the tourney last year, just cause I knew I’d have to look at him.
SmilesD Says:
August 4th, 2006 at 12:48 pm
Last night’s game was beautiful. I loved every second of it. It was nict to see some real hustle and defensive effort.
If any of you guys are interested, I just started up a TEAM USA hoops blog. I’ll be following them and all that stuff there.
So do me a favor and check it out so my efforts aren’t in vein.
http://usahooops.blogspot.com/
Zee Says:
August 4th, 2006 at 1:42 pm
Ladies and Gentlemen men can i introduce Tyrone Hill
http://www.nba.com/playerfile/tyrone_hill/index.html
SmilesD Says:
August 4th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
My fault guys. I gave the wrong link earlier.
http://teamusahoops.blogspot.com/
Fightclub3230 Says:
August 5th, 2006 at 12:44 am
Am I the only one who thinks that the USA is completely going to destroy the rest of the world? Everyone is sounding like we’re not expected to win, but it seems like this team is lightyears ahead of 2004 simply because Carmelo, Dwayne Wade and Lebron are older (and Marbury is nowhere near the team). I can’t wait for 4 years from now, when they’re all 26 or so. Actually, they probably won’t want to play, so nevermind.
the mighty mjd Says:
August 5th, 2006 at 1:30 am
I actually think there’s a very good chance that we’re going to kill everyone, with a possible squeaker here or there when he have an off-day. Off-days are going to happen.
But yeah, I think it’s really possible. I’m not ready to commit to the idea yet, because I think it was sorta hard to tell a few things from what went down last night, but… it certainly could go down that way.
Fightclub3230 Says:
August 5th, 2006 at 4:01 am
Yeah, anything could happen and you never know for sure, but it seems like a lot of people on ESPN and SI are trying to make it sound like we might barely win if we’re lucky, and that seems ludicrous. I mean, we’re great, and everyone knows it!
SmilesD Says:
August 5th, 2006 at 12:14 pm
It was mentioned that Marbury being off the team is a help. I’d also like to add Paul Pierce’s absence as a plus this time around too.
Jeff Says:
August 7th, 2006 at 11:09 am
Paul Pierce was not the problem on the 2002 team. His averages of 19.8 ppg., 4.6 rpg. and 3.9 apg while shooting 48% from the field (not to mention 49% from three) seem to indicate that he was about the only thing that was right about that team.
Taran Says:
August 7th, 2006 at 1:45 pm
UGLY?? Have you seen Larry Bird and Dennis Johnson? Horribly ugly, plus the added horror of those tight, wayt-too-short shorts. It ruined basketball for me as child: going to the Garden for my first NBA game and seeing these failed thyroid experiments dressed like they had just escaped from Freddy Mercury’s tour trailer. Just the thought of makes me want gouge my eyes out.
Babs Says:
August 7th, 2006 at 8:15 pm
Look, I totally think the USA team SHOULD kill everyone. I don’t think that’s the right question. Question is, will they? Yah, you can have an off night, but it should still be embarrassing to lose. It’d be like the Canadian women’s hockey team NOT winning the Olympics. (No offense intended, but I couldn’t come up with a comparison in team sports that has had a more dominant record in recent years, nor a more obvious player pool advantage. Please feel free to hurl invectives at me.)