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Dream Team debate hots up as US sees off Brazil
Source: AFP |
July 18, 2012, Wednesday
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STAR-STUDDED Team USA got off to a perfect start ahead of the London Olympic Games, beating Brazil 80-69 in a warm-up match even as the American President Barack Obama waded into the great Olympic basketball debate, saying the 1992 Dream Team of Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley would have beaten the 2012 Olympic team.
The USA got off to a slow start on Monday. It was down 17-27 at the end of the first quarter before pulling away in the second en route to an 80-69 win. LeBron James led the Americans with 30 points and six rebounds.
Brazil came out with plenty of spark, jumping out to an early 10-point lead but then started turning the ball over in the second quarter as the USA seized control of the game.
Obama got a bird's-eye view of the current USA national team on Monday, sitting courtside at the Verizon Center arena with his family and Vice President Joe Biden.
Obama and Biden sat down in their chairs to chants of "U-S-A" at the contest against Brazil. The game is a tune-up before the start of the London Games later this month.
The president said he remembers a 1992 gold-medal winning USA team that looked unstoppable from the very first game.
"I got to go with the original Dream Team," said Obama during a halftime interview of the USA against Brazil exhibition game with American broadcaster ESPN.
"I suspect that Michael and Sir Charles would point out they were never down at any point in any of their games but this is a great team."
Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant launched a debate recently when he said this year's Olympic team could have beaten the 1992 version which is known as the Dream Team because it included 11 future Hall of Fame players.
Jordan then scoffed at Bryant's boast, by saying, "I absolutely laughed. For him to compare those two teams is not one of the smarter things he ever could have done."
Obama said the current team with Bryant and NBA finals MVP LeBron James would make its own mark on the Summer Games.
"This is a great team with unbelievable talent," Obama said. "Kobe is a competitor so you expect him to do a little trash talking whenever the opportunity arises."
Obama predicted the current Dream Team, even with all the injury problems it has had, would win the gold medal in London.
"No reason we shouldn't bring home the gold, we just have got to get focused," he said.
The USA got off to a slow start on Monday. It was down 17-27 at the end of the first quarter before pulling away in the second en route to an 80-69 win. LeBron James led the Americans with 30 points and six rebounds.
Brazil came out with plenty of spark, jumping out to an early 10-point lead but then started turning the ball over in the second quarter as the USA seized control of the game.
Obama got a bird's-eye view of the current USA national team on Monday, sitting courtside at the Verizon Center arena with his family and Vice President Joe Biden.
Obama and Biden sat down in their chairs to chants of "U-S-A" at the contest against Brazil. The game is a tune-up before the start of the London Games later this month.
The president said he remembers a 1992 gold-medal winning USA team that looked unstoppable from the very first game.
"I got to go with the original Dream Team," said Obama during a halftime interview of the USA against Brazil exhibition game with American broadcaster ESPN.
"I suspect that Michael and Sir Charles would point out they were never down at any point in any of their games but this is a great team."
Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant launched a debate recently when he said this year's Olympic team could have beaten the 1992 version which is known as the Dream Team because it included 11 future Hall of Fame players.
Jordan then scoffed at Bryant's boast, by saying, "I absolutely laughed. For him to compare those two teams is not one of the smarter things he ever could have done."
Obama said the current team with Bryant and NBA finals MVP LeBron James would make its own mark on the Summer Games.
"This is a great team with unbelievable talent," Obama said. "Kobe is a competitor so you expect him to do a little trash talking whenever the opportunity arises."
Obama predicted the current Dream Team, even with all the injury problems it has had, would win the gold medal in London.
"No reason we shouldn't bring home the gold, we just have got to get focused," he said.
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