2010 FIBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

2010 FIBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN TURKEY
AUGUST 28 TO SEPTEMBER 12

For those who don't know, FIBA stands for the International Basketball Federation.  Formed in 1932 by Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania and Switzerland.  The much lesser known FIBA World Championship is the basketball equivalent of the FIFA World Cup.  The event takes place every 4 years with teams needing to qualify before being selected to 1 of 4 groups for the tournament.

Surprisingly, the Americans dominate the Olympics but have been unable to make an impact during the FIBA World Championships.  They've won the tournament only 3 times, none since 1994, and only came away with the bronze in Japan during the 2006 tournament.  That 2006 team had NBA stars such as Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony.  This years 2010 team does not include any of the players mentioned above.

I won't pretend to have followed this event closely throughout my entire life.  If anything, the most I would learn about this tournament would be through American media boasting of their massive talent pool and the ease in which they defeat all opponents.  I felt, as a Canadian, I should take more interest in my country's participation in this type of global event while appreciating the chance to watch talented players from countries not famous for basketball in North America.

Part of the reason that FIBA does not get the attention that FIFA does is likely due to the fact that the majority of the world's countries have a soccer team.  As supposed to basketball which is slowly spreading as an option for athletes outside of many developed nations.

I am really excited to see the best players from Canada and the USA compete against the rest of the world.  With the help of the Internet, I'm hoping to watch as many games as possible.  Knowing FIBA is in need of exposure, Nike held a huge festival in New York city with Team USA players making TV appearances, exhibition games, outdoor scrimmages for fans as well as a pick up games in local parks.  Music performances and celebrity appearances also played a part in the festivities which included the likes of Jay-Z among many others.

No doubt all the attention will be on Team USA.  I too will be among those waiting to see the NBA talent on display in Turkey, at the same time, I will make sure to pay even closer attention to Team Canada and their success throughout the tournament.

GROUP A            GROUP B            GROUP C            GROUP D
1. Angola            1. Brazil              1. China                 1. Canada
2. Argentina        2. Croatia            2. Cote d'Ivoire      2. France
3. Australia         3. Iran                 3. Greece                3. Lebanon
4. Germany         4. Tunisia           4. Russia                 4. Lithuania
5. Jordan             5. Slovenia         5. Puerto Rico         5. New Zealand
6. Serbia             6. USA                6. Turkey               6. Spain

2010 SENIOR MEN'S NATIONAL TEAM TRAINING CAMP ROSTER

Jermaine Anderson        Joel Anthony       
Ryan Bell                        Denham Brown
Jermain Bucknor            Aaron Doornekamp   
Olu Famutimi                 Michael Fraser
Levon Kendall               Tyler Kepkay
Kyle Landry                   Kelly Olynyk
Andy Rautins                 Robert Sacre
Jevohn Shepherd

Head Coach: Leo Rautins


2010 USA BASKETBALL MEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINALISTS

Chauncey Billups        Tyson Chandler
Kevin Durant               Rudy Gay
Eric Gordon                 Danny Granger
Andre Igoudala            Kevin Love
Lamar Odom               Rajon Rondo
Derrick Rose               Russell Westbrook

Head Coach: Mike Krzyzewski