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back and forth, back and forth, back and forth

Woo hoo! Verbal fight between Cuban and Nellie !!
Yeah!
Before dissing Cuban and latching onto Nellie's feel-good comments, take a moment to think about what he said.
He does have a point - that private enterprise is footing the bill for US Olympians, when the government should play a bigger contributing role. If an athlete gets injured during the Olympics, the NBA owner pays the price, which is a bit unfair.
Not that Nellie's patriotism is wrong or anything, but keep in mind that Nellie is trying to pick a verbal sparring round with Cuban more than anything else.
- JL

but keep in mind that Nellie is trying to pick a verbal sparring round with Cuban more than anything else.
- JL

And he should.......enjoy the ride. Nellie supposedly feels like I do. We need to win the damn gold back. These athletes represent the integrety of the NBA too...the supposed superior league in the world. We will see.

Woo hoo! Verbal fight between Cuban and Nellie !!
Yeah!
Before dissing Cuban and latching onto Nellie's feel-good comments, take a moment to think about what he said.
He does have a point - that private enterprise is footing the bill for US Olympians, when the government should play a bigger contributing role. If an athlete gets injured during the Olympics, the NBA owner pays the price, which is a bit unfair.
Not that Nellie's patriotism is wrong or anything, but keep in mind that Nellie is trying to pick a verbal sparring round with Cuban more than anything else.
- JL
Jay L. | 06/19/08, 07:49 AM
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JL,

What you are saying seems to make sense. It is logical. The thing people don't consider is what the players will be doing during the off season anyway. If a player wants to improve his game while working out at the gym and practicing here at home then he is thought highly of yet he faces the same posibility of injury! Even further, take a look at the injuries to players that have nothing to do with basketball. I've heard some ridiculous stories about different ways players of all different sports end up injured while not playing/practicing their sport. If it were up to Cuban and some others the players would immediately be put into a coma for all the months they are not playing for the NBA. After all, they could get hurt walking around and as far as Cuban and many are concerned the players are basically the property of the team. It's ludicrous.
On top of all of this I believe that playing in the Olympics can really help to improve the game of many of these players as they pick up good things from other players around them. If nothing more you had to say that it builds character. Some things are worth the financial risk. I believe this is one of them.

TheDude - very insightful post.
I hadn't thought of it that way. I think you are essentially correct - that many NBA players continue to practice during the off-season anyway, so whether he does so in the Olympics or in some other context should not matter.
- JL

Some things are worth the risk. But the players risk nothing. If they are injured, they still get paid by the NBA owner. There si no way the player's association woudl allow any payroll waivers. NBA owners - especlally those in small markets, or with lousy teams, have a minimum salary foisted upon them. I have yet to hear an agent say " Well, he had a lousy year, so we are returning half his salary"

Yes, I would like to return to world dominance. Yes, I would like to see the best players on the court. But none of that lessens the validity of Cuban's point. The Olympics have become a big ATM machine. Most ofthe principles of amateurism and fair play ong ago left the stadium. So why delude ourselves. It is not different than the notion fo Student Athletes on the Miai Hurricans football team. We can pretend all we want. It doers not change the truth. And - like it or not - Cuban spoke the truth.

I love Nelli. But he just say an opportunity to slam Cuban. If the NBA players want to give back to this great country, then join the Reserves, and go spend a tour in Iraq, like the real heroes have done.

A) Its not once every 4 years. Now that we have a national program they compete every summer.

B)The NBA is the best not because its America's but we have the best players in the world. We have Germany's best player in Dirk, Spain's best in Pau, Argentina's best in Manu, Canada's best in Steve, China's best in Yao.

C) It is all about the gold for the players. They have already proven themselves in the NBA. They are all great players no matter what.

i understand cuban trying to protect his financial interests and his players; i would expect nothing less from a billionaire business man. but as nellie said, there should be nothing wrong with these athletes wanting to represent their country and showing there loyalty to their home country; giving what they can give back to their country. by playing in the olympics it allows them in a very small way to show support to the country that allows them to have the luxurious life they all enjoy.

Man these posts are too long ........ interesting, but its like reading an article or the first chapter of a book.

I am over the Olympics, when I was a kid it was USA vs. evil USSR.
Now it is just a big love fest.
X Games is much more interesting.

but Nellie is right and Cuban should just find something else to do like fix his
Mavericks

I like the fact that Nellie won't let Cuban talk his stuff without getting after him. Nellie is not scared of Cuban one bit. It would be a heck of a back alley fight with those two but unless Cuban boke the rules and brought in thugs to help him, my money would be on Nellie.

Rip him Nellie. Rip him good.

Cuban is right in pointing out that the Olympics are about money, and Nellie is right in pointing out that the athletes play mostly for pride.

Let's put these guys in a cage match, once and for all.

This is useless gossip and news...media driven junk...

Cuban = loudmouth jackass

Cuban = smart billionaire
ed18 = jealous

Nellie-
Why don't you dhut your mouth and maybe MAKE A FINALS.

Maybe because your PRIORITIES are in the wrong place
is why you have NEVER WON anyting as a coach.

the olympics is PURELY about $ now-
maybe not 30 years ago....but now?........ALL $$$$$$$

Why dont they just kiss and make up