USA Basketball — Back to Vegas?
Next summer’s Tournament of the Americas might be trading spaces. Anyone want to double down?
After Team USA lost to Greece to knock themselves out of medal contention during the World Basketball Championships, I started thinking about next summer. Because now that they were eliminated from a gold medal in the WBCs, in order to qualify for the Olympics Team USA was going to have to compete in the 2007 Tournament of the Americas. Heck, I thought, if it’s anywhere near NYC maybe I’ll roll out and cover it for SLAMonline.
So I got on the internets and looked and discovered that the Tournament of the Americas would be held in…Venezuela?
Yes, Venezuela, where President Hugo Chavez is not the biggest fan of the USA. (After all, he called President Bush “the devil” today). And while I’ve never visited Venezuela and would love to see the country, I was thinking that it might just be easier for everyone involved if I skip the games and cover them via the couch once again.
Then word broke today that, according to ESPN.com, Venezuela missed their payment plan and the games are back up for bidding. Which means the US is back in the bidding. Which means the 2007 Tournament of the Americas might be played in…Vegas! And I like Vegas.
You know, the more I think about it, we really should have someone there to cover this in person…
14 Responses to “USA Basketball — Back to Vegas?”
Sep.20 at 5:22 pm
Chris O'Leary says:
Is this the first time in the history of The Links that you’ve linked an ESPN article, Lang? Without even making fun of them? At least call them the follower, or make a Chad Ford joke.
Sep.20 at 5:26 pm
Dean says:
maybe you should go cover it Lang?
Sep.20 at 5:31 pm
Lang Whitaker says:
No, I’ve linked to The Worldwide Follower before, back when they had Chad Ford and his headshot was him holding that oversized phone to his head.
Sep.20 at 5:40 pm
OKNARB says:
“After all, he called President Bush “the devil” today” “Then word broke today that, according to ESPN.com, Venezuela missed their payment plan and the games are back up for bidding.” Hmmmmm… coincidence?
Sep.20 at 7:16 pm
Marcel Mutoni says:
you know, Lang’s a busy guy. i could always fill in for him and cover the thing in vegas. i’m nice like that.
Sep.20 at 10:25 pm
Dblizzy! says:
Lets send Myung to cover it and he can write us a ‘war and peace’ sized recap of every half of every game!
Sep.20 at 11:05 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Wait, Bush ISN’T the Devil????
Sep.21 at 12:54 am
Dutch Rich says:
What’s up Lang, Was in Vegas 2 weeks ago for the Photoshop World Conference. It’s like a couple miles of Times Square with a roof over it and a constant ringing of slot machine bells. Day two I almost started to hyperventilate from constantly being inside in an airconditioned environment. But in my 4 days spent there I kept thinking about your article. I flew out in the morning and got to see the landscape from the the sky. That’s when you realize that it’s all FORCED ENTERTAINMENT. Not even cacti are able to naturally survive in that crater. Moon watch out!!
Nevertheless I wish to quote your words. So true!!!! “The Strip, in all of its glittering glory, winking at me, daring me to return. And you know I will”
Sep.21 at 11:56 am
albie1kenobi says:
haha Russ. what a completely out of place comment. LOVE IT.
Sep.21 at 12:54 pm
OKNARB says:
Hey Russ.. I don’t believe Bush is smartest guy on the planet.. but know this: If Kerry were President you would be writing about the Afghani national bball team right now and your kid would be cleaning camel dung for quaters. Say what you want but they are bent on taking over the world. Thinking that .. perhaps he is not so eveil after all
Sep.21 at 12:55 pm
jomay33 says:
Indonesia should win the bidding so Myung can cover the games. Playin’!
Sep.21 at 1:55 pm
Will says:
Myung is from Indonesia?
Sep.21 at 4:18 pm
Pablo Favarel (from Argentina) says:
I don´t think this games should be played at Venezuela because Chavez is completely crazy. But I think that the other place where it definetly SHOULDN´T be played is in the States. Rumors here in Argentina have begun to fly like crazy, saying that after their yet another dissapointing performance in Japan, and now having no chance but to play for a spot at China, the Americans are using all the power they have in their hands to make FIBA play the Qualifiers at home, because they know they´ll have the best chance to get to China. Playing at a hostile environment, plus the previous losses in international competition would be too much to handle for USA Basketball. Of course everybody is hating on FIBA right now in here because they say they are the “dogs” of USA basketball, so they´ll do whatever they tell them to do. It´d be funny, though, to see the Americans come to play here in Argentina for a spot. I am pretty sure Lang has watched plenty of soccer from here (he told me he supports Boca Juniors, which I hate), so it´d be funny to see how they react to the fans in here. Of course, in the NBA fans just scream from now and then, but here people is absolutely crazy when it comes to sports. Not Venezuela, not USA and most definetly not here. I hope it ends up in Chile, because Puerto Rico is like another state of The States. Then again, that´s just me
Mar.15 at 9:15 pm
RedRum says:
I think Slam should start saying something about Spanoulis, the greek guard tha killed the US, getting bench splinters from JVG. V-Span and Papaloukas (the CSSK 6-7 greek point guard that finished with 12 assists) are probably the best pick n roll point guards in the world. Hand V-Span the ball, run a pick n roll with Yao, unstopable. oh, watch out for Schortsianitis (the 6-9, 350 pound fella that killed the US bigs down low) coming to the NBA next year.Be very afraid… and yes… I am greek (living in the UK though)