Pay for play on Team USA?

IatricSB · 05-02-2005, 06:53 PM

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3586846 I have no idea what to say.

Green & Gold Heart · 05-02-2005, 06:56 PM

Poor babies. That's ridiculous.

streetballer67 · 05-02-2005, 07:00 PM

If it makes em play then I'm all for it. Last year's losses were embarrassing.

Joe Canadian · 05-02-2005, 07:05 PM

If you have to pay a millionaire to play for their country then they don't deserve to be on the team in the first place... If I were an American I'd rather the Dream Team loose every game, then have to resort to paying the rich for what should be an honour.

sebastian0622 · 05-02-2005, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Canadian

If you have to pay a millionaire to play for their country then they don't deserve to be on the team in the first place... If I were an American I'd rather the Dream Team loose every game, then have to resort to paying the rich for what should be an honour.

I pretty much agree. Olympians shouldn't have to be paid to compete. If that means we have to send out a team made up of college guys or guys from regional hoops leagues, so be it.

jazzrack · 05-02-2005, 07:16 PM

go back to the college players, at least they want to be there.

Joe Canadian · 05-02-2005, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sebastian0622

Olympians shouldn't have to be paid to compete.

To a certain degree they should... the struglling amateur athletes need the money... however the rich NBA players don't.

canadiancreed · 05-02-2005, 07:24 PM

another nail in the decency coffin of the NBA. Absolutly patheitc.

SoxWin · 05-02-2005, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Canadian

If you have to pay a millionaire to play for their country then they don't deserve to be on the team in the first place... If I were an American I'd rather the Dream Team loose every game, then have to resort to paying the rich for what should be an honour.

"

Beyond pathetic, but nothing that comes from the NBA surprises me anymore.

We make a lot of money, but we spend a lot of money too......

TonyJ · 05-02-2005, 07:43 PM

The line was already crossed by allowing professionals to compete in the Olympics in the first place. Basketball was not, contrary to popular belief, the first sport for which professionals were allowed to participate in the Olympics. Once that line has been crossed, it's not that far a stretch to pay them for it. Note that I'm not making any value judgement about either professionals participating or being paid for their participation, I just thought I would point it out.

boilermaker · 05-02-2005, 07:48 PM

Shouldn't pride be enough? I mean, we can honestly say right now that American NBAers can't hack it internationally.

/end 1/3 hyperbole, 1/3 bitterness, 1/3 truth

Eckstein 4 Prez · 05-02-2005, 07:58 PM

I'd say "no" to the pay for play deal, although I can see why it's been proposed.

QuestGAV · 05-02-2005, 08:23 PM

I can't say I see the huge problem with this. Is there another Olympic sport where the league they play in has such a high profile compared to the Olympic version? All other athletes stand to gain massively in the form of increased profile and world standing. Basketball players don't, unless they already aren't successful in the NBA. Carlos Arroyo is a good example of a guy who benefited from playing in the Olympics, but I can't think of any other examples like that.

Should playing for your country be enough? Maybe. But don't pretend other athletes aren't getting something out of it that the NBA players won't get. Olympic basketball gold is small potatoes for them career wise which isn't true for most other Olympic athletes.

I suppose you could make the case that soccer players are in a similar position but even then the Olympics are second fiddle to the World Cup. And don't they get paid for World Cup matches?

Jonzard · 05-02-2005, 08:55 PM

Woody Page said it well on PTI today. Yea, pay them. They should be paid.

Pay them $5.50 an hour.

SoxWin · 05-02-2005, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuestGAV

I can't say I see the huge problem with this. Is there another Olympic sport where the league they play in has such a high profile compared to the Olympic version?

Hockey a few years back. I guess I'll ask this then. If you start paying NBA'ers to go to the Olympics, will you really get more willing guys then you do now?

If you're Shaq, Kobe, or any of the other multimillionaires in the league, how much money do you need to make it worth it? I mean, you can't just offer them 50K or something as that's peanuts to them. Who pays this money, and is it really worth it?

canadiancreed · 05-02-2005, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonzard

Woody Page said it well on PTI today. Yea, pay them. They should be paid.

Pay them $5.50 an hour.

too much.

QuestGAV · 05-02-2005, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoxWin

Hockey a few years back. I guess I'll ask this then. If you start paying NBA'ers to go to the Olympics, will you really get more willing guys then you do now?

That's a fair point, I don't know the answer to that. I do know the current solution does not work.

canadiancreed · 05-02-2005, 10:03 PM

from what I recall only one player didnt want to go represent his country in the Olypics in hockey last time around. wasnt like half the dream team saying "no thanks" for basketball?

Jonzard · 05-02-2005, 10:05 PM

International hockey is a much bigger deal to pro hockey players when compared to NBA players and international basketball. That says something about either international hockey or about the NHL.

twins15 · 05-02-2005, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonzard

Woody Page said it well

Never thought I'd see the day.

05-02-2005, 06:53 PM	#1
IatricSB Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: California Posts: 3,493	Pay for play on Team USA? http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3586846 I have no idea what to say. __________________ Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body; but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "Wow! What a Ride!" Chicago(N) - Boys of Summer Oakland - 20th Century League Bakersfield - Wild Things Brooklyn - QBA Dodge City - NBSL California - ABC Dodger's Senioriest fan on the OOTP Boards

05-02-2005, 07:00 PM	#3
streetballer67 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 2,004	If it makes em play then I'm all for it. Last year's losses were embarrassing. __________________ Visit Here!!!

05-02-2005, 07:05 PM	#4
Joe Canadian All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 1,296	If you have to pay a millionaire to play for their country then they don't deserve to be on the team in the first place... If I were an American I'd rather the Dream Team loose every game, then have to resort to paying the rich for what should be an honour. __________________ My Twitter \| My Blog \| My Music Fan of the Blue Jays, Maple Leafs, IceCaps, Lakers, and Broncos.

05-02-2005, 07:16 PM	#6
jazzrack Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: still kicking Posts: 3,229	go back to the college players, at least they want to be there. __________________ . "Never confuse composure for ease" Was once Head Cheese of Corporate League Baseball

05-02-2005, 07:24 PM	#8
canadiancreed Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 11,660	another nail in the decency coffin of the NBA. Absolutly patheitc. __________________ PT21 PT22

05-02-2005, 06:56 PM	#2
Green & Gold Heart Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,242	Poor babies. That's ridiculous.

05-02-2005, 07:43 PM	#10
TonyJ Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Gassin' Kurds Posts: 2,019	The line was already crossed by allowing professionals to compete in the Olympics in the first place. Basketball was not, contrary to popular belief, the first sport for which professionals were allowed to participate in the Olympics. Once that line has been crossed, it's not that far a stretch to pay them for it. Note that I'm not making any value judgement about either professionals participating or being paid for their participation, I just thought I would point it out. __________________ My Podcasts: Talk Democratic Dysfunction Name Two Bands with Andy and Andy

05-02-2005, 07:48 PM	#11
boilermaker All Star Starter Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,956	Shouldn't pride be enough? I mean, we can honestly say right now that American NBAers can't hack it internationally. /end 1/3 hyperbole, 1/3 bitterness, 1/3 truth

05-02-2005, 07:58 PM	#12
Eckstein 4 Prez Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: The OC Posts: 6,358	I'd say "no" to the pay for play deal, although I can see why it's been proposed. __________________ Looking for an insomnia cure? Check out my dynasty thread, The Dawn of American Professional Base Ball, 1871.

05-02-2005, 08:23 PM	#13
QuestGAV Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,008	I can't say I see the huge problem with this. Is there another Olympic sport where the league they play in has such a high profile compared to the Olympic version? All other athletes stand to gain massively in the form of increased profile and world standing. Basketball players don't, unless they already aren't successful in the NBA. Carlos Arroyo is a good example of a guy who benefited from playing in the Olympics, but I can't think of any other examples like that. Should playing for your country be enough? Maybe. But don't pretend other athletes aren't getting something out of it that the NBA players won't get. Olympic basketball gold is small potatoes for them career wise which isn't true for most other Olympic athletes. I suppose you could make the case that soccer players are in a similar position but even then the Olympics are second fiddle to the World Cup. And don't they get paid for World Cup matches?

05-02-2005, 08:55 PM	#14
Jonzard Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,647	Woody Page said it well on PTI today. Yea, pay them. They should be paid. Pay them $5.50 an hour. __________________ For a scientist must indeed be freely imaginative and yet skeptical, creative and yet a critic. There is a sense in which he must be free, but another in which his thought must be very precisely regimented; there is poetry in science, but also a lot of bookkeeping. — Sir Peter B. Medawar FTB

05-02-2005, 10:03 PM	#18
canadiancreed Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 11,660	from what I recall only one player didnt want to go represent his country in the Olypics in hockey last time around. wasnt like half the dream team saying "no thanks" for basketball? __________________ PT21 PT22

05-02-2005, 10:05 PM	#19
Jonzard Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,647	International hockey is a much bigger deal to pro hockey players when compared to NBA players and international basketball. That says something about either international hockey or about the NHL. __________________ For a scientist must indeed be freely imaginative and yet skeptical, creative and yet a critic. There is a sense in which he must be free, but another in which his thought must be very precisely regimented; there is poetry in science, but also a lot of bookkeeping. — Sir Peter B. Medawar FTB