It's a bad dream, team

J's World, by Jeremiah Bartz

Since the United States began plucking players off National Basketball Association roster to form its Olympic men's basketball teams, the U.S. has been expected, by everyone, to run straight over the competition right toward the podium to receive their gold medals.

With each Olympics, there is another chink in the mighty armor that was Jordan, Bird, Johnson, Malone, and now an Allen Iverson-led team is facing the legitimate possibility of watching from the stands as the medals are awarded.

It's no longer the "Dream Team," it's now just a bad dream.

There is not just one reason why the U.S. men's basketball team is struggling to secure wins against international competition. There are many reasons. It's the style, it's the attitude -- it's the intensity they lack, and the three-pointers they loft. It's the post-up or hurl-it-up mentality of the NBA that is making it difficult to beat the likes of Australia or setting up losses to Puerto Rico.

There are many problems, and it is time to just wipe the slate clean.

First say good-bye to Larry Brown. Legendary NBA head coach -- yes, but find someone who will treat the Olympics like a championship game and not an All-Star festival. Say good-bye to the glut of small forwards who play the game the same with their either drive or shoot from the distance mentality. This isn't NBA Jam folks. Say good-bye to the slashers who can't hit a jump shot. Say good-bye to those who can't play defense or those who will not do squat without the ball. By now the entire team is probably gone.

The reasons why this Olympic team could ultimately fail are very similar to the reasons why the Los Angeles Lakers failed. The object is not to put as many all-stars on a roster as possible, but as many good players that fit your system as possible. Pick an all-star and build around him. Pick Shaq or Tim Duncan or even Iverson and his mighty 1-for-10 from three-point land. But don't be afraid to pick a Brent Barry or Michael Redd -- players who can hit the three when asked. Don't be afraid to add college players. College players are still hungry for success. They don't have the shoe deals or guaranteed contracts. A gold medal may sound much better to a Jameer Nelson, than a Shaq, who probably has a toilet seat made of gold. Get rid of all the NBA guys if you like. A team of collegiate players may have a better opportunity. The collegiate style is more similar to the international style, and again the athletes have not peaked.

Sign the Olympic athletes for multiple years. Have a roster that has played together at a World Championship before throwing them together a month before the Olympics.

And hire a coach, whose lone responsibility is running the U.S. teams. Get a Bobby Knight to lead the squad.

The medal round of the 2004 Olympics has not even started, and the U.S. could come home with a gold. But right now it looks like they aren't even playing for bronze. Maybe copper or aluminum. Everybody is gunning for the U.S. squad to lose, even fans in the U.S. That is the biggest indication that change must be made.

Jeremiah Bartz is the Frontiersman sports editor.