Irwin Blitzer (John Candy) in Cool Runnings: "Those guys have earned the right to walk into that stadium and wave their nation's flag. That's the single greatest honor an athlete can ever have."
Question: Is waving your nation's flag and competing against other nations still the greatest honor an athlete can have? Has this ever been the case?
Lebron has caught a lot of hell lately; he deserves it. 1: He has a tattoo that says "KING" 2: He said they'd win multiple championships before they won a single ring. 3: He had a show to announce where he would play. 4: He continually backtracks off of stupid statements. 5: He needs a brush.
My question is what's worse: doing these 5 things, or turning down a chance to represent your country?
In the summer of 2008 I stayed up pretty late a few nights to watch Kobe, Dwight Howard, Lebron, D Wade, and Carmelo "redeem" USA basketball from the "nightmare" team of 2004 captained by Iverson and Duncan. As much as I hate Duncan and Iverson, they devoted their offseason in the midst of declining careers to represent their country. Hell, Iverson wanted to play again in 2008 but wasnt invited.
Last summer, the World Cup caught fire in the United States (until mighty Ghana knocked us out). Of course, not watching made you anti-American, but that's for another time (wonder how many of these people watched basketball and luging with the same resolve in 2008). Anyways, say what you want about Donovan and Altidore, but they go out as underdogs, knowing many of their fellow countrymen root against them and they bust their asses- the effort and emotion they put into it is unquestioned. Correct me if I'm wrong Schiv, but with the exception of jackasses like De Rossa who play for other countries, when USA Soccer comes calling, people don't turn it down.
Here's a list of some NBA guys who refused to represent their country in the Olympics at some point in their careers: Shaq, Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O'Neal, Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Tracy McGrady, Richard Hamilton, Rashard Lewis, Jared Sullinger, Kendrick Perkins, and Tayshaun Prince.
Here's a list of MLB players who wanted no part of representing their country in the World Baseball Classic: John Danks, John Lackey, Tim Lincecum, and Joe Mauer. I understand the World Baseball Classic is new and not that important but these are all young, well-liked guys, and they wouldn't play for USA.
So along with trying to portray Lebron in a little bit of a positive light, has the greatest honor for an athlete ever been to compete for one's country? If so, why do so many guys turn it down? You'll never convince me of a good reason not to play for your country. If you're injured, they won't want you.
Refusing to play for your country is worse than any "Decision" or stupid tweet one can have.
If Lebron turns down Coach K in a few years, I'll hate him too.
7 comments:
Turning down the chance to represent your country is probably the biggest crime you could commit in sports in my opinion. I think it's a disgrace. Tiger Woods had an issue that he wouldn't make any money playing in the Ryder Cup a few years ago. Here is the best player in the world and he's threatening to hold out playing on the U.S. team because of a few bucks that he doesn't even need. That's the problem these days. I don't want to see athletes like him represent our country. I want ones who care and bust their asses because they realize how great of an honor it is to represent this country. So if you wanna be a jackass on your own time, go right ahead. But when your country calls, I expect our chosen athletes to represent the country as well as they can.
'Merica- 'nuff said!
Timmy Chandler could play for Germany, but he's said he'll play for us and will anchor our back line for years to come. He's one of the top 4 backs in the Bundesliga.
Bayern Munich?
Nurnberg. They would not let him play in Copa del Oro
What was going on at 4:11am Barstool? You weren't running on the loop with your shirt off like one of the Porters were you?
There are very few reasons to turn down a chance to represent your country. There are reasons, such as maybe a family situation or something like that, but id imagine that they are rare. If your reason is bc you fear injury or you're not getting paid, then I cannot sypathize w you. That excuse makes no sense to me.
With that said, your argument that this makes Lebron any less of a douche, is nothing more than a red herring. He also doesn't have AIDS so he must be a better person than Magic Johnson.
There are plenty GREAT things abt Lebron. To name just two, he's one of the best basketball players in world, and he represents his country proudly. BUT (!!) let's not for a second confuse these two things w why people dislike him. He's an easy target and he needs a lesson in pr. If I were him (not an awful comparison in terms of athletic ability - I've been working on my jumper), Id just accept the role that the media has portrayed me as. That is, just act like I don't give a shit. For christ sakes, Kobe rapped a person and still the media portrays him positively.
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