Nalod wrote:arkrud wrote:Nalod wrote:Certainly not cool how many players backed off. In some countries and cultures its a pride thing.
The Australians, Spanish, French, Argentine’s and others are a tight group. These guy are friends and have build bonds over the years. Marc Gasol played in the finals basically had only a month off. To play with his brother is a big deal over the years. Tony Parker played for years with them. I’m ok with players not going year in and year out.
Patriotism is not American thing our days. We are more into green...
Patriotism, flags, anthems, and all this things considered more divisive our days that uniting.
It is not an issue for nations you mentioned. Their patriotism is solid as rock for good or for worth.
True, "patriotism" is being weaponized of late. In the old cold war the "Soviet" vs "American" via hockey or basketball was more important and a source of national pride. Ideologies. The Olympics was the stage and it was every 4 years. Now we have so many competitions and pro leagues with international players participating. Back in the day Sabonis (dad) only played for the Soviet team. Not Euroleague. Going against our college players or "amateurs" was greater intrigue. Few underclass players came out early if any and it was very prestigious to represent in the Olympics. For many being a pro athlete was a stepping stone to other successful careers. Now its a source of Multigenerational wealth.
Given our diversity as a people we are not all just "American" we are culturally diverse. Canada and Israel are as well. For the most part teams from other countries are not as much. Argentines play for their country, Spanish for spain, French for France, etc etc.
USA losing does not make me feel a sense of national shame or loss. IN fact it might make winning more gradifying in the future. The rest of the world plays ball and its just a matter of numbers over time.
Our team is not consistent. This group was a sort of third level allstar group thrown together. Chemistry was not there. They did sacrifice their summer and time off and will likely get little but grief for not winning. not that anyone would have cared either had they won. Again, blame will be thrown about as to who backed out and who did not.
Europe is a collection of national states so the most of the world.
The last Empires like Russia, China, and Turkey are at the end of falling apart and breaking into nation-states too.
US was about the only exception in the world from this nation-sates building trend so far.
But the sports in US with majority of players of European descent still bind by national patriotism mindset.
That's why in NHL and Hockey in general patriotism still running high. In NBA and NFL not so much.
NFL and baseball are local attractions but Hockey and bbal became really international sports.
The self-realization and self-determination of nations is unavoidable and only can be stopped on specific territory by genocide or exile.
US nation is still building and will it be one or many is anyone guess. This process spans centuries so the result will come to be well after out time.
The notion that whole human kind will became one nation proved itself an utopia so far.
US was some hope to make this happened but this hope is falling apart in front of our eyes.
"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." Hamlet