GOOOOOLD!

Finally! USA basketball redeems itself by winning gold in the Olympics! After being completely destroyed (by USA standards = not winning gold) in the 2002 and 2006 FIBA World Championships and the 2004 Olympics in Athens, the United States Basketball team, nicknamed the "Redeem Team" by...well, everyone, beat Spain in the Gold Medal match this past Sunday.




These Olympics were HUGE for the USA team. Not only has the US redeemed itself in terms of basketball, it also redeemed its character. In the 2006 FIBA championships, the US team was highly ridiculed for its poor temper, arrogance, and just overall poor sportsmanship. This year, the team sailed to a gold without so much as snickering at the opposing team. They proved themselves talented and respectful, and once again, USA basketball is back on top.


This gold medal is the first for Kobe Bryant, a man who despite being a veteran on the team at 29 years old, made his Olympic debut in these games, the past two games eluding him due to an injury and the highly publicized sexual assault allegations. Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Carlos Boozer, members of the 2004 Olympic team that won bronze, got the redemption they desired, as well as others like Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony, who were part of a botched effort at the 2006 FIBA games. In fact, only Jason Kidd has a prior gold medal, and at 35 years old, he proved he still has some game left.


So redemption has been won, the USA is back on top, and I can breathe easy again knowing that watching USA basketball isn't cause for shame =P