Can’t get enough of Rudy Fernandez’s dunk over Dwight Howard in the Spain v USA gold medal game?? Here it is again, in super slow motion.
Archive for the 'olympics' Category
26
Aug
Oh Rudy…
ESPN’s Chris Sheridan just wrote up a pretty interesting article comparing the ‘92 Dream Team to the ‘08 Redeem Team. The article focuses mainly on statistical information, though dry, it’s still an interesting read.
Here’s an excerpt:
“I was pretty young (in 1992), but to me there was only one Dream Team,” Pau Gasol said after Spain’s loss. “That team inspired a lot of young people to want to go and play basketball. This team is very good, close to that team, but I don’t think there will ever be anything like that team again.”
I’d have to agree with Mr. Pau. I honestly do not think that any team will ever match the glory and talent that represented the US in those ‘92 Olympic games. Jordan, Barkley, Malone, Stockton, Bird, Magic, and of course Drexler, bu the list goes on. Virtually all of those guys (sans Christian Laettner and maybe Chris Mullin) are top 50 players of all time. Honestly, just having Jordan, Barkley, Bird, and Magic on one team probably outweighs an entire team with Carmello, CP3, LeBron, Kobe, Dwight, Redd, D-Wade, Prince, Boozer, Kidd, Deron.
In addition to the names that were on the Dream Team, the article also breaks down a whole series of statistics between the two teams. By just looking at the chart, the Dream Team did everything better than the current Redeem Team. Everything. They scored more, they shot better, they rebounded, passed and stole the ball more. Now you may argue that international competition has gotten better in 16 years and I’d agree with you. Keeping that in mind, the Redeem Team’s stats are not all that far behind the Dream Team’s, However, I would then argue that USA Basketball has received a downgrade when comparing the Dream Team and the Redeem team, and your point about international competition would be moot.
Now don’t get me wrong. I am supremely proud of what the Redeem Team has done since their ‘04 and ‘06 disappointments in international play. To see what Coach K., the players and the rest of Team USA Basketball has achieved in the face of disappointment, worry and doubt is a sight to see. After all, they did display their dominance throughout the Olympics (except the gold medal game) much like the Dream Team did back in ‘92.
However, I stil have no doubt in my mind that the Dream Team of ‘92 is virtually untouchable and unreachable in terms of quality and awe. Will a future Team USA Basketball team perform more dominantly than they? Possibly. But not likely. But even if they did manage to put up the better stats, I can’t shake the feeling that no matter what happens, the Dream Team was a collection of players whose talent and skill was so great that it likely will never happen again.
24
Aug
Rudy’s Dunk
If you watched the Gold medal game, then you know what this picture is all about. We’ll post the video as soon as we find it. One word caption: WOW
EDIT: Found the video. Sorry, the best we could find is one with Russian commentators. Honestly, I think it makes the clipthat much better to watch over and over again.
UPDATE 2: Found another video. Silly youtube. You only delay the inevitable when you pull these videos.
It’s official, Team USA basketball has reclaimed the gold. Dwayne Wade was big in the first half, Kobe Bryant took over in the second. Rudy Fernandez played well, but at last USA was just too good. The Redeem Team lived up to their promise and brought the gold back to basketball’s birthplace.
This was by far Team USA’s closest game of the Olympics. With about 3 minutes left it looked like Spain might make a run at the lead. Then Rudy Fernandez fouled out and Kobe Bryant took over. The rest is history.
First Quarter:
- Rudy is not starting
- James opens the game with a 3
- P. Gasol starts the game off well
- Howard fouled down low, shoots two (1 of 2)
- Spain takes a 5 - 4 lead on a P. Gasol dunk
- Kidd hits a layup, nice to see him get in the action
- Foul on James (his 2nd of the game)
- James is staying in the game, Spain hits both free throws
- Anthony hits a three
- Spain comes down and matches it with a three
- Rubio jumps in front of the pass for a nice know out of bounds
- Foul on Anthony. Quite a few fouls so far on both teams.
- Bryant fouls on a three point shot. His 2nd foul.
- Bryant and James exit. Williams and Wade in.
- Spain leads 15 - 11, the USA’s largest deficit of the Olympics
- Kidd out, CP3 in
- Wade drives. And - 1. (Spain leads 15 - 14)
- Spain looks good in the open court.
- Williams fouls Navarro. (Spain leads 22 - 17)
- CP3 is good. Drives, gets fouled, another 3 point play.
- This game has been all fast break plays, Spain is not working P. Gasol
- After a steal, USA leads 26 - 22.
- Spain hits a three to narrow 26 - 25
- Prince has a nice drive, 28 - 25
- Foul on Rubio, his 2nd
- Bosh has a nice tip-in on the missed free throw
- So many fouls, Wade fouled. (USA leads 33 - 27)
- M. Gasol has a nice reverse
- Prince hits a jumper
- Hand checking foul on Williams, his 2nd
- USA ends the first quarter leading 38 - 31
Second Quarter:
- They interview Lisa Leslie, she is wearing all 4 gold medals…
- Rudy is in the game
- M. Gasol, offensive foul
- Bryant hits a three (USA is 4 of 5 from three point range)
- Howard has a flagrant foul on P. Gasol (Gasol goes 0 for 2)
- Bryant throws it down big time
- Rudy drives, travels (not called) and misses
- M. Gasol is sort of a monster, I like him in the NBA
- Anthony hits a 3 (USA leads 46 - 33)
- Gold is already in sight as James gets a steal
- Rudy hits a 3, Spain down 10
- Rubio gets a steal and is fouled on the fast break
- Kidd fouls again (his 2nd)
- Bryant can fly, alley-opp
- P. Gasol gets a nice follow up basket
- Howard pushes. Soooo many fouls.
- James drives. Count it, and one.
- USA leads 50 - 42
- Spain misses a layup…
- Wade for 3. He has 18pts.
- James hits a 3.
- Rudy banks one in.
- Bryant throws it out of bounds.
- Rudy hits a 3.
- Rudy is keeping Spain within reach
- USA up 11 (60 - 49)
- Wade hits ANOTHER 3. 21 pts.
- Rudy is crazy. A crazy 3.
- THAT WAS RIDICULOUS
- Spain is playing really well, but USA is shooting 71%
- Rudy gets fouled, hits 2 of 2
- Williams misses a 3
- Rudy gets called for a foul
- USA leads 69 - 61
HALFTIME
Third Quarter:
- USA with a turnover
- Spain cuts it to 6
- Spain with a steal
- Spain blocks James
- Rudy misses
- Howard scores on a Anthony miss
- Reyes drives and scores
- Bryant called for traveling
- He’s not too happy
- Rudy gets his 4th foul
- USA now leads by 6
- Bryant fouls, his 3rd
- Spain drives, cuts it to 4
- James misses a layup
- Spain can’t hit on the fast break
- Howard throws it down hard
- Navarro hits a pretty crazy runner
- Timeout USA: USA leads by 4
- Anthony misses a 3
- USA’s outside shooting is way off from the 1st half
- Anthony seams to have hurt his hand
- He leaves the game
- Wade in, he was lighting it up in the 1st
- USA leads 77 - 73
- James hits one and gets fouled
- This is just a run and gun game
- Bosh gets hammered down low
- M. Gasol is huge. Well built
- Wade gets hit down low
- USA now leads by 10
- Spain is looking a step slower
- The crowd has quite a few Spanish fans
- Williams gets a steal
- Williams charges on the fast break
- USA still up 10 (88 - 78)
- P. Gasol gets a alley-opp from Navarro
- Anthony hits a 3
- Navarro hits a layup at the buzzer
- USA leads 91 - 82
Fourth Quarter:
- James gets called for a foul, his 3rd
- USA misses another 3
- Rudy back in the game
- Rudy tosses one to P. Gasol, a great lob
- Anthony misses a 3
- Rudy hits a 3! TWO POINT GAME
- Rudy was an instant spark off the bench
- USA Timeout. 8 minutes left in the game
- Spain is playing like they think they can win
- If Rudy fouls out that will be a blow to Spain, he is a spark
- Bryant flies through the lane and hits it
- James gets his 4th foul (Rudy has 4 too)
- Bryant kicks to James for 3
- USA leads 96 - 89
- Foul on Wade, his 3rd, team’s 3rd
- Howard throws it down, USA up 9
- Bryant is taking team USA on his back
- Rudy misses a wide open 3, then hits one off the rebound
- Bryant hits a 3… He’s good
- James misses, gets his rebound and scores
- USA up 11
- OMG. OMG. Rudy Fernandez.
- Rudy just posterized Howard.
- Rudy just dunked hard in Howard’s face. Chills.
- White men can jump, apparently.
- USA 104 - Spain 95
- Rudy misses a 3
- P. Gasol fouled by Howard (his 4th)
- P. Gasol puts it in
- USA 104 - Spain 99
- Bryant hits a 3 and gets fouled
- Rudy fouls out
- Spain hits a 3, 4 point game
- 2 minutes left
- Wade hits a 3, USA leads 111 - 104
- Rubio saves it for Spain, USA up 6
- James rebounds a Spain miss
- USA 111 - 105
- Bryant hits a runner, 113 - 105
- Spain misses
- 1 Minute left
- USA’s going to win
- CP3 fouled
- CP3 hits both free throws
- USA leads 115 - 105
- Once Rudy fouled out, Spain lost the game
- M. Gasol puts it in, Spain down 8
- 32 seconds left
- CP3 fouled again
- The Redeam Team will get it
- Unsporting foul, Technical foul
- USA gets 4 free throws
- Bryant took over this game and won it for USA
- Final Score: USA 118 - Spain 107
It wasn’t even close, with Team USA winning 92 - 65. The American women dominated the Australians for their fourth consecutive Gold medal. Australia’s odd one-piece spandex uniforms didn’t distract Team USA at all. Lisa Leslie is like 50 years old, but still had 14 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. She has played in the last 4 Olympic games, and has never lost a game in the Olympics…ever. I have to say a big congratulations to American women’s team sports at the Olympics, the Basketball, Volleyball and Soccer teams all won medals.
21
Aug
Seriously Australia?
I have never been to Australia but I hear it’s nice. I know that The Crocodile Hunter loved Australia, and that’s all the endorsement I need. Then I was looking through all the Olympic channels this morning and saw the Australian women’s basketball team. Now, I have a beef with Australia.
Their uniforms are ridiculous. Are you kidding me? What, did the Australian Men’s Wrestling team order too many uniforms so Women’s Basketball decided that they would work? Seriously? The entire world can agree on what a basketball uniform looks like, but Australia decides to wear a weird spandex one-piece? I’m confused.
I don’t really want to see giant Australian women in spandex one pieces. Sure the Brazilian volleyball team can pull it off, but Australian Women’s Basketball team, you’re no Brazilian volleyball team.
In a side note: Team USA will play Australia in the gold medal match.
The “Redeem Team” smashes Germany 106 - 57
Now this is what I’m talking about! I don’t care if Team USA wins a gold medal in OT. I don’t care if Team USA wins a gold by beating the buzzer in the fourth. For me to care, I want Team USA to win by 20 or more in that gold medal game. They are not there to prove we can win gold, they are there to prove that no one else can even think about winning gold. That we are so much better, that everyone is competing for 2nd. That is what the “Dream Team” was able to accomplish.
Today, Team USA absolutely killed Germany. It wasn’t ever close, Team USA won by 49 points. Yes! Now I feel proud to support them. They took on a team with some talent in Germany, and just went after them like Germany didn’t deserve to be on the court.
D. Howard led the team with 22 points and 9 rebounds. Lebron put in 18 points and Kobe finished with 13 points.
Here is a full recap and box score.
