After eight long years of disappointing losses in international tournaments, the United States Redeem Team has finally captured the Olympic Gold Medal in basketball. But the road to the gold medal has not been easy, because all are members of the elite NBA basketball franchises and to make them jell and work as a team is any coach' nightmare.
The preparation actually started some three years ago and each mythical member of the Redeem Team were asked to commit. And every summer or during breaks from the NBA games, basketball training and clinics were injected into the players retinue. Even after three summers and various tune-up games, the team could still not move as one.
The true test of the team was the elimination tournament in Las Vegas where the top two finishers will automatically have a seat to the Beijing Olympics. And when finally faced with a two-edged sword, the American Redeem Team made us proud by winning the tournament handily.
In the qualifying round, the American Team beat every other team's bracketed with them and in the semi-final round it demolished Australia and the 2004 gold medallist Argentina. Then it had a ride with destiny as it met Spain for the gold.
The finals game was a bit lethargic, because they came with a mission and they could not afford any slip-ups. Many came to the game and they wore the American tricolor and waving
American miniature Flags.
In the end the American as expected came out victorious and is once again the force to reckon with in basketball. We cheered when the American Flag was hoisted as members of the team received the gold medal.
by:
The Flagman
