Beijing 2008 - USA outgun Spain to win gold
Eurosport - Sun, 24 Aug 15:50:00 2008
Hot favourites the United States won Olympic men's basketball gold by outgunning Spain 118-107 in a final of hard fouls and flying elbows.
The American players whooped with joy at the final buzzer before forming a huddle and dancing around the centre circle as chants of "USA, USA" erupted from the crowd of 18,000.
"USA is back on top again," LeBron James said. "Respect to Spain. They were unbelievable. We had a game plan and they countered with incredible plays.
"The game was never over. I'm watching the game all over again in my head. It will go down in history as one of the greatest."
Argentina, champions at the 2004 Athens Olympics, took bronze by outmuscling Lithuania in a 87-75 victory earlier on the final day of the Games.
World champions Spain were down by as many as 14 points in the first half but pulled to within two on a Rudy Fernandez three-pointer with 8:13 left in the gold medal showdown.
Jolted into action, Kobe Bryant swished two huge three-pointers, putting his finger to his lips after the second which put the United States back up by eight with 3:10 left.
Dwyane Wade led the way with 27 points, sealing the game on another long bomb which he celebrated with a gunslinger's pose and a snarl of defiance to the crowd.
"I've always been able to step up and make big shots when the lights are brightest," said Wade, who made nine of 12 shots from the floor. "I just needed to be put in the position to do it."
Bryant, who turned 30 the day before the final, added 20 points. The Americans, relegated to bronze in Athens four years ago, have now won 13 Olympic men's basketball titles.
"What you saw today was a team," said Bryant, his gold medal around his neck. "Everyone talks about 'arrogant' NBA players but what you saw was us facing adversity and bonding together."
The only cheer louder than that for Bryant was when TV cameras spotted former England soccer captain David Beckham courtside and his face flashed up on the giant arena screen.
Crushed 119-82 by the Americans in the tournament's group stage, Spain hung on toughly in the final.
Fernandez scored 22 points and Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers team mate Pau Gasol added 21.
"We should be proud of what we accomplished," said Gasol. "We played a tough game. We never backed down."
With an injured Manu Ginobili watching from the bench in jeans and a T-shirt, Carlos Delfino stepped up to lead Argentina with 20 points against Lithuania.
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Comment 35 - 54 of 54
Iīm Spanish and proud of it, so excuse my english. I love basketball as Iīve been playing since I was a child, and for those who says Spain was defeated I had to say they are completely wrong. As I have no direct proofs about money, USA mega companys like NIKE and a long list, to maintain the ilusion they sell USA as the best and referees corruption at the final..., Iīm going to hung up to internet a video with all the referees help to the united states with details. I have more than 25..., beyond the so-called marathon that usa made at the final..., I love basket not rugby...).
Phate, and all those USA lameculos, we are not jealous here, we are really proud as we know, cos we have eyes, we have the best team in the world now, cos in the past, 20 years ago... sure you were the best players with no doubt, and besides, speaking about europe, if you make an european best players they can beat USA for sure, you just have to put Spain and Argentina together and they do it too.
You are not an State as us, you are 39? states together...the probability of found good players is higher...But instead of it a little country called Spain won you, why? becouse when you have the best team you canīt find better ones becouse they donīt exist. If referees had done their work correctly, I donīt care USA rules or FIBA ones, Spain was the gold metal as I proove in the video. Now itīs not like before, now our basket is as good as yours, and as everybody says in the world appart from USA, Spain should have won the gold medal. Just Admit it and expressions as 'handed you your @#$%' proove the kind of stupid blocks around the world and in your case, from USA too. Your own newspapers doesnīt have so clear with you. If you donīt understand basket and its rules better shut up!...
Whatever, nothing seemed to be fair in the Olympics with so many dodgy decisions from dodgy referees.
I have to say that BeiJing had a bizarre olympic ceremony. Oh, yeah. One bizarre olympic moment. Yes, I like it. Everybody, thanks for your support. Our heroes wrote some blog articles on ***UniformedMate*** See those blogs there. Please support our heroes.We should continue to support them.
two European ref and one south American ref favoring usa come on you guys are just sore losers.
all those guys talking about FIBA rule should just Shut UP. USA has played the whole competion with FIBA rule in place a rule NBA players dont play week in week out like most of the players in the other team including Spain. USA beat u Guys playing your own rule, if Spain is so good and USA is so bad Tell the Spanish to come play USA in a game with NBA rule and do what USA did. I dont think they will last half the match so just accept when someone is better than you.
Djohny, I am glad you think that way.
I must admit that between an Euroleague match and a NBA match the contrasts are somewhat different. I like them both. One for its stunnng spectacularity (NBA of course) and the other because It's more a passion thing for me.
About best players, that's a relative issue but for sure most play in the NBA but it's also the other way around when a bunch of ex NBA players play for European clubs these days. Well I think we just found common ground in our arguments. Cheers.
Cool Jessy,..let's shake on that. I agree with you that gaps are geting closer n staying at the top is more difficult than ever. N also money talks,...a nature in modern sports these days,..a good example is in UK that lottery money is being provided to athletes in record amounts n they produce results. If the world was a fair place would be nice 2 c african or south american countries competing in sports such as track cycling, rowing or sailing but with no money thats "impossibe".
But also we have 2 understand culture,..for americans basketball is culture (along with NFL) n loads of people play it so stats would favour them 2 have a better team. I know Spain loves also their basketball n they have huge talent in depth. Since I was a kid I use to read the NBA spanish magazine "NBA" n watch the guys in Canal Deportes (bold guy with glasses n small ties) n I have to say they fuelled my passion for the game n going outside n play. Still 2day the coverage n passion of the spanish press for the NBA is better than anywhere outside america (maybe thas why they r exporting n producing talented players). But come on be honest u prefer to watch NBA playoffs or Euroleague? N where are the best spanish n international players playing,..NBA or Euroleague? I still believe that with todays players USA would have more than one team that would beat any spanish team with perfect calls n integrity from referees. But you know,...I love competition n I want teams 2 get closer n its just a shame we dont have more international competitions with the best players in the world...I love this game,...I love it,...You love it,...WE REALLY LOVE THIS GAME
Thanx Djohny for your stunning findings.
But I must point out that from understeemating your opponents come the sudden downfall!
I don't share the view of ecah country is good above anybody else at one very sport in particular.
I repeat the basket USA Team is beatable if playing with FIBA rules fully applied!!! (See argentina, urss, Puerto Rico, next!) There is no more dream team. Every country have their own top advanced technical research centres these days for the use of their own top sportsmen. So the gap between good and mediocre competitive countries these days is nearly zero practically obsolete save for some few exeptions.
You see Brazil in football is not great anymore. Argentina beat them recently. And so any other European team any day any time. Baseball Cuba is tradionally better and much talented than a USA team but a South Korea team beat them recently in the Olympics. China was never that good at several sports and after heavy investment in better facilities, foodreserach, education, training technicks, a team of dedicated motivational psychiatrists and so on have contributed to raise the competitive levels of performance endurance and success. So we are not far away. Nobody is top of the pops anymore. I apologize regarding my comments on drugs usage by the USA team but when someone talk rubbish you trash him/ herbach with more rubbish. Anyway we do not want to see a team of aliens from another planet winning everything because the drugs usage is a constant issue cyrcling anybody's frustrated head.
Fair sports and fair referees please!
Jessy,...Jessy!!! is that ur real name? sound 2 american for me,...so can't be :) Spanish come on,...why u so upset? Silver is cool,..after all that was the only medal available for the others teams n u should be proud,.. u have it. But enough of ur silly comments,...just nonsense! The fact is that americans will rule always basketball (coolest game on earth), brazilians (football), canadians (ice-hockey), and spanish (pelota,..oh no thats Argentina),..well,...(hummm oh yeah Padel,...that sport that no one else plays,..ahaha (Federer is still has better achievements/merits than Nadal if u ask any1 so dont go there) -- come on with or without FIBA rules no one can beat the USA ( iam a neutral 2 be honest 2 u, no british,..no american,...no nothing...I just love basketball n NBA n I understand the game,...can you clearly tell me than in a best of 7 or 5 the Spanish team would win against this "not the best" US team? Dream on (what is good),..with Fiba/NBA rules or one leg/one hand,..they just 2 deep in talent - like ur best football teams have 2 have brazilians (even in the national side) - I am not a huge basketball expert but you dont have 2 be in order 2 c who has a better team!!!?!!! all the world love the big guns to lose (in any sport) so people/writers/journalists can spread their wings n imagination in written new things,...but this story for the time being will have the same script,...when USA wants gold in basketball they will get it even if the refs from Spain,..ahahah - all cool dude,...- by the way NBA players are tested n were tested in beijing,..unlike some spanish cyclist they came clean! Ole!!!
AMERICA, F*CK YEAH!
'cause FREEDOM is the only way yeah!
To post 43. I was waiting for a stupid post like yours for long!!!
You know of basket as musch as you talk bull****!!!
NBA basket play with different rules to European Basket moron!!!
If USA team succeeded it was not because of the quality of their home players alone but because the referees did not apply fiba rules which were supposed to be fully applied!!!
And I bet your naked sister Spain beat the USA team anytime anyday provided we play with FIBA rules else I do not care.
Talking about drugs, the USA team is the only dirty dodgy team in the world who must have an agreement to allow his players to take any illegal drugs they want which of course are forbidden over here. You guess!!!
Spain who till now are still the World reigning Champions so far came second in the Olympics but not far away the favoured USA team. Besides if you are from United Kingdom, what history do you have to speak with so much authority? Because as far as I know it's ZERO!!! You are nobody. However Spain is a powerhouse in European Basket alongside with other countries like Lithuania, Italy, Greece or Yougoslavian States. And UK is nowhere to be seen because they are utter RUBBISH!!! (mark my lips my friend) UK's got no history no tradition no shi-te no knowledge of the rules like you!!! Even the USA Team recognised that at a certain point during the final they were shaking fearing Spain could beat them but thanx to the miserable referees they won at the very end!!! Do me a favour. Get a life ar se ho le!!!
some of these pro-spanish comments are ridiculous,..there must be 100 teams in the US that could beat the Spanish team,..obsviously in just one game you cant always win for more than 30 points or so,...but the result is always the same,..USA will win anytime,..anywhere,... n for you guys comparing NBA with Euroleague,.."Say No to Drugs" -- please,...the Celtics were NBA champs n none of the guys where there,..was this teh best possible US team,...ahahahaha,...think again basketball lovers,...
KG/Pierce/Arenas/Amare/Shaq/Duncan/,..please eeeeeee spagnoles !!!
USA will always rule basketball,..no matter what,..better athletes and defense,..even thou sometimes in the past we lacked the team spirit and suffered a bit of a superiority complex for the other teams.
Because USA basketball wanted the Gold Medal so badly no one could stop them,...no Spain,..Argentina (with or without Ginobli). It was just another written script,..Kobe n Company smilling with the Gold and Navarro silver tears and all the spanish people wondering why they could not do it even thou they managed the Euro (not WORLD CUP), Tour (without the best cyclists) and Wimbledon (heads off to Rafa),...Please amigos, just accept that you cannot win it all,..n by teh way Hamilton is leading F1 n Rossi the MotoGP,... lol :)
nice , do love it
Congratulations to US because they won, with a little help of the referees!, and congratulations to Spain, the best team ever of Europe.
typical, not in soccer, not in basketball...
"if I lose, that's referees' fault, not mine"
I can see that Spain is way stronger & better than any European Basketball team including Serbia, Greece, Italy.
Common France for 2012!
It has been made very clear that the highest paid and most decorated superstars of NBA cannot even come close to dominating Spanish players who nobody knows about except Gasol. Kobe Bryant has again shown why as he did against the Celtics, he cannot come e close to carrying his team to the Championship ring because of his below par shooting percentage. If Dwayne Wade, as shown the more consistent superstar did not carry the USA team with his offense, the gold medal would be in Spain's.
Exactly there!!!
Three inconsistent referees they should not be.
The Argie a sore loser perhaps because Spain won the world Champonships against them and now was pay-back! The Lithuanian another sore loser just being dispatched by Spain in the semis. And the Finn, well what experience n tradition has Finland had in basket? Zero.
In sum three incompetent un-professional jealous sore losers looking for vengance and some dodgy drugs handled by the USA team as a reward.
Referees: Romualdas Brazauskas (Lithuania) - Pablo Estevez (Argentina) - Carl Jungebrand (Finland)
Saying that the three international referees were more lenient toward the USA team is absurd.
Spain should have realized the Spanish speaking referee from Argentina could understand their obscenities. It is only natural that the technical fouls be called.
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