2011 FIBA AMERICAS CHAMPIONSHIP

The annual FIBA Americas Championships are underway in Mar del Plata, Argentina from August 30th to September 11th,  with a total of 10 international teams competing for the FIBA title and a spot at the 2012 Olympics in London.  The winner and runner-up of the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship will secure a spot for the London Olympics, while the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place teams will qualify for their final chance to reach London in a 12 team Olympic qualifying tournament where the top 3 will make the cut.

Teams involved in the 2011 FIBA America (*NBA players):

GROUP A

1.  Dominican Republic  *Francisco Garcia (Sacramento Kings), Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks), 
Charlie Villanueva (Detroit Pistons)

2.  Brazil  *Tiago Splitter (San Antonio Spurs)

3.  Venezuela  *Greivis Vasquez (Memphis Grizzlies)

4.  Cuba

5.  Canada  *Joel Anthony (Miami Heat), Andy Rautins (New York Knicks), 
Corey Joseph (San Antonio Spurs)

GROUP B

1.  Argentina  *Carlos Delfino (Milwaukee Bucks), Manu Ginobili (San Antonio Spurs), 
Andres Nocioni (Philadelphia 76ers), Luis Scola (Houston Rockets)

2.  Puerto Rico  *Carlos Arroyo (Boston Celtics), Jose Juan Barea (Dallas Mavericks)

3.  Panama  *Gary Forbes (Denver Nuggets)

4.  Paraguay

5.  Uruguay



Team Canada has done poorly over the last few years at FIBA tournaments, and for those that watch or follow the results of the games, we know the talent is there.  It may be a simple case of putting in that extra effort to win close games and not get intimidated by stronger teams.  In all honesty, I have a lot of faith in this years national team, and although 1st and 2nd place may be difficult attain, I have no doubt this year's team can find themselves a spot at Olympic Qualifying tournament by coming in between 3rd and 6th at the end of this tournament.

Despite what some might think, the Canadian national team's talent doesn't end with it's NBA players.  Veterans such as Brown, English, Kendall and Doornekamp have all been here before.  British Colombia native and University of Gonzaga's Kelly Olynyk, who became a hot topic last year based on his performance at the 2010 World Championship, will be back to show critics that he is a legit contributor to this team and that last years performance was no fluke.

Canada's National Team will be facing Brazil tonight August 31 at 7:30pm ET on TSN2 (for those living in Canada).

Amazing!

Killer Crossovers: Tyreke Evans (Sacramento Kings)

Canadian Basketball: Senior Mens National Team Camp Phase 1

The Owners are right. Final Answer? Yes, Final Answer...

NBA Commissioner, David Stern

The photo of David Stern posted above is how most people view the NBA commissioner.  An untouchable force who should never be crossed and if angered, consequences are sure to follow.  I also think the picture is kind of funny.  What I also find funny is how over the past few weeks, after becoming more informed and looking at both sides of the NBA labor dispute, I have jumped ship to side with the owners.  Here's why.

It's easy as a fan to blame the owners and not the players during this lockout.  After all we are loyal to our teams and our favorite players, they pose for pictures, make funny commercials, tweet funny things, we own their jerseys, vote for them All-Star weekend and the never ending list of highlights only increase our appreciation for what they do and how they make us feel.  Ask the same fans to name their favorite teams GM and 75% of them might be able to do it.  Ask for the name of the owner of the team and that number will drop significantly.  Part of the reason for that is because we don't care where our hamburger comes from as long as it's in a bag at the drive through window.  And it's this type of mentality that is causing people to side with the players.

NBA player receives 57% ($3.6 billion) of all of BRI (basketball related income), which rounds out to $8.2 million per player, along with their salaries which average about $5 million dollars makes for a pretty nice annual pay check.  Other means of income can come from advertising and public appearances among other things.  Very little if any of their money earned goes back into the NBA to support the league.  Like you and I at our daily jobs, once we get our pay checks, unless we have shares in the company we work for, that money goes straight into our pockets and we spend it on friends, family and ourselves.

Owners don't have the same luxury.  Sure they are millionaires, but they are also spending millions to keep their teams afloat.  Sure it's hard to have sympathy for your boss who shows up at 11am and leaves at 3pm, but everything from the building (arena), you (staff and players), maintenance, cafeteria (concessions) and electricity among many other things, are all coming out of the owners pockets.  True star players are famous based on their talents, but without the largest basketball stage in the world that is the NBA, their world wide appeal would not be what it is.  Today's technology allows athletes, musicians and film makers to become overnight sensations with sites like Youtube, but there is still a big difference between 1 million views and a 3 year $90 million dollar contract.

To really sympathize with the owners you have to put yourself in their situation.  Anyone who has done a business plan or even thought of opening their own business knows the rules of risk and return.  From restaurants, clothing stores to book stores, the scenario is exactly the same, NBA operations are of course conducted on a much larger scale, but the principles remain the same.

You may be lucky enough to get along with and genuinely like your boss, but for those who don't, you also have to understand when your boss is in a bad mood after a poor month of sales, because the staff still gets paid, while the owner may have lost money.  And it really boils down to that.  Would you rather renegotiate your salaries or lose your jobs altogether and have the company fold.  As an employee (player) you might say, "Who cares, I'll get another job", but as an owner who just lost millions, what you say would sound very different....

Dennis Rodman Emotional Hall of Fame Speech

NBA Players Overseas, Do It For The Fans

Kobe Bryant (Lakers) on Nike Tour in China

Over the last month and a half NBA fans are getting two types of information concerning the league.  One, there is still no deal between the players and owners and games will likely be lost.  The other is that NBA players are seriously considering, and some have already, decided to play overseas during a lockout.

To be honest, I'm split on this, but for selfish reasons.  NBA owners and David Stern could get a rude awakening when they finally realize that the same Basketball without Borders they have been promoting for so many years could now bite them in the butt.  The truth is basketball players are now international-celebrity-athletes.  With things like the Nike Tours to China, FIBA Tournaments and the internet among many other things, hardcore basketball fans exist all over the world.  There is not one country that wouldn't offer a player of Kobe's, Durant's or Wade's caliber, or even lesser known players to play a year in their country in the event of a full-season lockout.  Arenas would be sold out faster than most rock concerts and fan appreciation for the rare appearances of these types of players would only fuel the fire.  Yes, the NBA can pay them more, but it's as simple as the players saying "If you don't pay me, someone else will."  So as far as teaching the owners and David Stern that fans are the backbone of every sport, I encourage players going overseas.

The only fault I can find in players going overseas is that North American fans will likely never see the games.  Now that is a problem for me.  Any NBA affiliated tv station will likely not air the games and even highlights might be hard to come by.  Even with internet streaming of games and Youtube helping addicts get their fix, it will be nothing like having a full season of nationally televised games.  On the other hand, countries that never get to see these players live could now get their chance.  This perhaps still playing into Stern's hand as free publicity, but still a fan's dream come true.

NBA 2K12