The United States won Olympic gold in men’s and women’s basketball.
Ho-hum.
The men have won every gold since 2008, the women since 1996. U.S. basketball is like the Soviet hockey dynasty that won seven Olympic golds from 1956-88: It’s only interesting when they get beat.
When the juggernaut loses, a movie gets made. When the juggernaut wins, it’s boring.
Unless it’s your country. Then national pride kicks in.
The U.S. men trailed Serbia by 17 at one point in the Olympic semifinal, by 13 when the fourth quarter began. The U.S. ultimately won by four, and it’s been painted as a triumph of the will.
There was an element of that, sure. But mostly it was a matter of far superior talent kicking into gear.
Serbia had Nikola Jokic. He’s one of the NBA’s very best. France, the U.S. foe in the final, had Victor Wembanyama. He’s on his way to being one of the NBA’s very best.
But the U.S. had more talent than either Serbia or France. The U.S. had more talent than the rest of the tournament combined.
The U.S. won gold. Didn’t cover the spread in either of the last two games. (Serbia was a 15½-point underdog, France 14½.)
Steph Curry hitting eight 3-pointers in the final was phenomenal. (However, those who said to hang his shots in the Louvre have never visited the Louvre.)
Mostly, though, the U.S. men merely did what they were supposed to.
As for the U.S. women, the first half of their final against France looked like two Mite hockey teams playing dump-and-chase. Sloppy beyond measure. The U.S. committed 14 turnovers in the first 20 minutes. It got better and, of course, the U.S. got gold.
The U.S. winning gold in women’s soccer was more impressive and energizing. It’s also good to see that team moving past the nonstop politicizing that murdered its image during the latter days of the Megan Rapinoe era.
So congrats to U.S. basketball. NBA commissioner LeBron James will now put the wheels in motion to get Curry and him on the same team. In the name of patriotism. Let’s relive Paris, 82 games plus playoffs.
Then, of course, in 2028, James’ son Bronny leads the U.S. into the Los Angeles Olympics. If LeBron isn’t still playing, he’ll be the GM. Perhaps formally this time.
The U.S. men’s team wasn’t likeable.
Except for seldom-used Tyrese Haliburton, who posted a photo of himself and his gold medal on X with this caption: “When you ain’t do nun on the group project and still get an A.” BIG POP.
The U.S. often came off as bullies. When LeBron dunks on somebody from South Sudan during a 17-point blowout and does his flexing routine, it looks stupid.
Kevin Durant said on social media that what fans think doesn’t matter. He said that it’s a brotherhood, and the fans aren’t in it.
Durant is right. I’m just surprised he said it out loud.
There’s never been a bigger or more obvious disconnect between athletes and fans. But it won’t stop the citizens from watching, buying tickets and otherwise spending.
I was rooting for Serbia and France to beat the U.S. men.
That’s not treasonous. It’s just wanting to see the better story and declining to support what might be the most entitled and arrogant team ever assembled.
Winning a sporting event while wearing “USA” on your uniform doesn’t prove that the American way of life is better. It’s not D-Day. It’s a game, nothing more.
The late Herb Brooks would have said that, and he posted America’s biggest win ever. Besides D-Day.
