Rec’ing On…Beijing Olympics – Part 16

The “Redeem Team” managed to do what they set out to do, win Olympic gold. I have to say, though, Spain performed so well that had they won the gold, I wouldn’t have thought them any less deserving. What a competitive and hard-fought game. Had the referees actually been consistently competent, then the game might have actually been a joy to watch. I hope the men’s side of USA Basketball takes to heart what happened here. Even with the three-year commitment of NBA stars, the gold medal winner was in doubt until the final minute or two of the game. So, to all you cynics who say that the U.S. should go back to sending college players: you’re freekin’ nuts unless it’s your desire that the U.S. always finish last.

That the Americans were actually giddy upon winning the medal was fun to see. Despite the multi-million dollar salaries, despite the fame they’ve garnered, this group of twelve men, at least for a moment, were boys on the blacktop again, expression only joy with no other agenda. In every way, this team redeemed USA men’s basketball.

They weren’t the only USA men’s team to win gold: the Volleyball team won in a fitting coda to the tragedy the team started with when the coach’s in-laws were brutally attacked at the beginning of the games.

I’d like to comment about the 4×100 teams, but I can’t—the power to my house went out for a couple of hours just when it was going to be shown, and NBC never sees fit to repeat the last day’s competition on TV. Grrrr.

Kudos, too, to Matthew Mitcham of Australia for breaking through the stranglehold the Chinese had in Diving, to win gold in the men’s 10m Platform event. Good on you, mate!