My #1 sports passion every 4 years is the Summer Olympics. Now, I won't get into a detailed discussion about the greatness of the swimmers or the God-like Michael Phelps or any of our track superstars.

However.

I have been watching alot of out basketball team's exhibitions. To me it looks like a very well assembled team. Carmello Anthony is just a wonderful player with the International game. Kidd and Chris Paul each run the offense well. It's crazy to see how much paul has improved since he was the PG two years ago for Team USA. Much more controlled now.

For all the crap that gets(sometimes very deservedly) thrown his way Kobe Bryant has been very effective being the Defensive stopper. And unlike during last year's Qualifying, he hasn't subjugated his scoring porwess either. Lebron is Lebron.

Maybe the most important factor though is Michael Redd. Acouple of games ago he was just drilling 3's. That's what kills us normally in these International games. The Foreigners just pack it in and dare us to shoot - and we haven't had pure shooters on our team for acouple of cycles now, so we just toss up bricks. Also, Coach K and staff have got the team playing good defense(so far), especially some halfcourt D, which has given us fits when the good international squads run pick'n'rolls at us all day long.

Lithuania was considered one of the four top teams, and we crushed them this morning. That said, they mighta been sandbaging a bit because it's still exhibition, but nonetheless....I think we may get the Gold back.

It will be humiliating if USA doesn't win the Gold. The average margin of victory needs to average at least 20 points.

Humiliating is a bit too strong, but I will be quite disappointed if we don't win Gold. However, the rest of the world is more used to the International style of play, and have other built in advantages. I don't think we will ever cakewalk thru the Olympics of the World Championships again.