Team USA in the Olympic Village
Kobe Bryant (photo. Mannion)During the 2004 Olympics, Team USA lived on a luxury cruise ship off the coast of Greece instead of in the Olympic Village with the rest of the world’s athletes. This time around, they’re being put up in a swank hotel in Beijing, but quickly after they arrived, they made a point of going to the village to hang out. From today’s Washington Post:
When the players arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, they checked into one of the city’s plush, modern hotels — there’s no way these superstar millionaires would stay in the little apartments in the village like other athletes. But they quickly decided that seclusion stinks.
After a short team meeting, the players boarded a bus and rushed to the Olympic Village, where they toured the facilities, ate at a McDonald’s and mingled with other athletes for about four hours. Kobe Bryant described the venue as “Disney World for athletes.”“It was fun, man, because I didn’t get to do none of that when I was here in ‘04,” said Anthony, adding that the only time the players visited the village in Athens was before the Opening Ceremonies. “We really didn’t have a chance to interact with nobody.”
Bryant and LeBron James attracted the largest following, as athletes from the United States and other countries gathered to shake their hands and speak with them. Forward Chris Bosh said the throng was so intimidating that he had to break off from the group and go his separate way.
“We got bum-rushed going into the village,” Anthony said before the team’s first practice at Beijing Normal University, the base camp for American Olympians set up by the U.S. Olympic Committee. “You have some of the best athletes in the world and they look up to Kobe and myself and LeBron and [Dwyane] Wade. That kind of felt weird — but it felt good at the same time.”
Source: Washington Post
August 8th, 2008 at 10:24 am
CHEE says:
I’M SURE NOBODY WANTED TO TALK TO TAYSHAN PRINCE, EVEN THOUGH HE HAS A RING.
August 8th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Celts Fan says:
figured everyone had to stay at the Olympic village. kinda weird…
August 8th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Blue says:
“You have some of the best athletes in the world and they look up to Kobe and MYSELF and LeBron and [Dwyane] Wade.”
WTF?!? Nobody looks up to Carmelo Anthony!!!!
August 8th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Michorizo says:
Carmelo “Club Puncher” Anthony …
August 8th, 2008 at 10:48 am
smity far away says:
are any of the other U.S athletes staying at expensive hotels or are they at olympic village with the rest of the world and also are any other international high earners staying in the hotels? Like is pau gasol staying in some rich hotel with only a couple of teammates that can afford it or something? and where are yao and yi staying? if those millionares aren’t to rich or too good to stay in the olympic village apartments then neither should the usa players view themselves as such…unless we talkin bout little ass rooms where dwight and bosh and them is cramped up, walkin around hunched over all the time…
August 8th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Young Lebron 23 says:
@ CHEE LOL about Tayshaun, even though its true.
@ smity far away I understand what you’re saying but there is one question, where are Yi,Yao and the rest of the NBA players on Olympic teams staying?! We sohuld get the best spot because we’re going to win anyway.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:57 am
control says:
YL23,
“We sohuld get the best spot because we’re going to win anyway.”
That type of arrogance is one of the reasons that the rest of the world, at best, dislikes most Americans. The American team obviously has the biggest overall talent, but the main thing that will bring them down is cockiness and arrogance.
BTW, I doubt you have anything at all in common with Lebron, young or old…don’t be disrespecting on his name with your retarded comments.
August 8th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Cavman says:
i think it should be a rule that all palyers need to stay at the same complex as everyone else….some could even view it as an advantage for the us team…
August 8th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Jim says:
I didn’t like it when I heard about in 04…but from Bosh and Melo’s accounts, I guess you can’t blame them at all. I can see Yao having to dodge people, but I don’t think Pau is getting mobbed by olympians.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
GEE...Like Whoa! says:
Cav I agree.
During the 2004 Olympics, Team USA lived on a luxury cruise ship off the coast of Greece instead of in the Olympic Village with the rest of the world’s athletes.
See that is why we lost right there lol. You can’t get off a cruise ship (luxury) and then go expect to get gold.
I am ok with the hotel to a degree, but again I also think all players in every sport should have to have the same type of living conditions.
#3 Blue that is hilarious …I was thinking the same thing.
August 8th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
D.H. says:
I’m not American and frankly I don’t give a damn where the US team stays. Perhaps, though, they dont fit in the little rinky dink apartments set up for them in the athletes village. I would assume the apartments are all the same, and that they are likely equipped with twin beds, two to a room. That just aint gonna cut it for these guys.
Also what about the soccer players of the world. They make more money than NBA players, anyone know where they are staying?
August 8th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
JHov says:
@ D.H. This is a basketball website..nobody here cares where soccer players are staying! Do these guys have a curfew..because I can see some late nights for the gymnastics and track ladies! LOL!
August 8th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
doc says:
A lot of people look up to Melo.Stop the hate fellas.He did average 25 last year.People only started hating on Melo because AI is everybody favorite hero.It aint Melo fault he aint win no ring with AI.Besides that 1 year he played his part TEAMWISE,AI is not a winning type player for the NBA.Hes a get my points type player.How many 20 point scorers you gotta see fall off playing next to dude to blame him one time instead of everybody else just because hes short and can score.Melo is a fucking monster who hasnt missed a dam playoff yet.When Denver get back to building a team around him they will be good.And sorry Control we are gonna win anyway.Its like you dudes want Americans to get on here and say Spain gonna bust our ass.Would that make yall happy?It aint our fault we aint hopping aboard that Spain the shit train yall keep trying to sell us a ticket for.We dont care about them dudes.We got Kobe and Bron and the boys and in my opinion yall are jealous that they dont play for yall.I wonder what yall would be saying if Lebron and them played for Spain and we had them dudes.We’d be hearing how Lebron gonna mop the floor with the US.Dont hate congratulate.
August 8th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
David Brandon says:
its cool how the approach all the guys are taking. the fact that they had a meeting, came to a concensus and went out and just chilled (they ate at mcdonalds y’all) is sending all the right messages not only to us here in the states, but the world. its a great display of shaking that whole arrogant american bit. we always talk about leaders on the court as well as off of it, and this is a really good way to showcase the latter.
it was a little weird to hear melo talk about himself like that, but i mean…if you wanna be taken seriously, you have to not only think like that, but speak it. and outside of THAT, the world knows melo kills in international play. hands down. not even a conversation. team usa brings back gold, you’ll see an all around better player in carmelo this year. he’s nice already, but there’s intangibles he needs to do to get to the next level. and he’s got the talent to do that. he just has to want it.
August 8th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
Celts Fan says:
@Doc, and that is exactly why I don’t have AI as a top 10 player in the league. Dude’s a WARRIOR and I respect the hell out of his game, but it unfortunately doesn’t translate to Ws.
and yes, tons of people look up to Melo. Came up from one of the roughest places in the country and made it. Tons of guys look up to that. One stupid decision to have a brew or 2 too many ain’t gonna change that.
August 8th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
tealish says:
Carmelo: Don’t ever make the mistake of lumping yourself into the same group of Bron, Kobe, and DWade ever again.
August 8th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
tealish says:
Doc: He hasn’t made a “damn” second-round appearance either.
August 8th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
frankie says:
tealish, that’s some funny s***
doc, just stopping by to remind you that we haven’t actually won yet, nor have we won for a few years.
August 8th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
tealish says:
And what 20-point scorers who fall off when playing beside AI are you talking about? Larry freaking hughes? Where’s that cat now? I’m sure AI destroyed his career where he could never recover.
CWebb, who with a 4cm vert by the time he came to Philly, still averaged 20 and 10?
Talk out of your ass some more!
August 8th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
daquest?on says:
i think that they should stay in the village just for the experience, i would what would it hurt, the millions of dollars spoiled them ,it wasnt that long ago that u were living in the ghetto.. i can just imagine prince and boozer trying to talk to the other atheletes and getting pushed out the way cuz the other atheletes want to see lebron and kobe
August 8th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Mikey F Baby says:
If you think the Americans should have to be holed up in the Olympic Village with the Uzbekistan badmitton team you’re nuts.
And the Gold Medal game at 2:30 am on a Sunday morning…not good for us! I dunno if I can stay up til after 4 am
August 8th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
doc says:
@Tealish-Im from Philly so yopu cant tell me about my boys.Jerry Stackhouse averaged 20 points for us and got traded after his second year(1rst with AI)because AI couldnt play with him.Big Dog Robinson never was the best but was a proven all star who was in the playoffs year after year but didnt mesh with AI.C-Webb averaged 20 and 10 for 1 year but about 2 weeks before he got traded to the Sixers until the trade he had a triple double game streak going and was balling out of his ass but him and AI couldnt get to the playoffs.Before AI left pHILLY WAS SAYING GET HIM SOME TALENT HE NEED A 20 POINT SCORER AND AS SOON AS HE LEAVES iGGY APPEARS LIKE mAGIC SCORING 20 POINTS.And all we thought he could do was catch opps from AI.Now he’s with Melo who is still only 24 so hes above schedule on how good hes supposed to be but a blind man can clearly see they took a step back since getting AI.So I think you are the one talking out your ass because you have a man crush on the little dude that can score.Nothing wrong with not getting out the 2nd round yet in the West when you 24.Dudes be talking like he 30 and a vet.Wade and Bron got out the 2nd and they better than Melo but we just seen Kobe stuck in the 1rst round out West until this year.Melo is one of the best players in the L and its funny how people turned on him as soon as AI came on his team.But I remember the same dudes was giving Melo vs Bron arguments in they day.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
doc says:
@frankie U dont gotta remind me of nothing.Let me remind you that the past dont mean shit in this Olympic.The same people aint even playing so what does old Olympics matter.The team everybody talking about Spain got they ass kicked by the weak team in 04 when THEY was undefeated.They lost to Greece and Lithuainia and just whipped Lith ass in the scrimmages.Greece got one coming to just like Spain and Argentina who also got that ass kicked in the last Olympics for the Bronze.Even though the old ones dont mean shit since you wanna remind me Im reminding you the teams people keep hyping up aint even beat us yet.So fall back and praise your Spainards or Boomers or whatever why I cheer on the real ballers in this shit.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
dagwaller says:
Never been a fan of Melo, though I respect his game a bit. That having been said, he’s not anyone to look up to.
He’s a one and done player, he’s been involved with a few marijuana incidents, there was the whole “Stop Snitchin” debacle, the fight, the time that he guaranteed U.S. victory in the Olympics, the DUI, the brawl…I mean, he can put the ball in the basket, but not someone you want to look up to.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
doc says:
Back to tealish.I wonder why the Sixers suddenly turned into a formidible team scrapping out wins with less talent after my man AI left.Ill answer it for you because you dont need talent as much as teamplay and chemistry.As much shit as yall talk about our olympic team losing yall should know that.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
frankie says:
doc I want the U.S. to win. I DON’T want homers to be guaranteeing victories talking out of their a**.
I think that we’ll win, but I thought that before, too. This team is a little better put together, but it’s not like the team before was a bunch of joe schmoes. So if our team goes from being a 90 to a 95 out of 100, on pure talent, and the rest of the world has grown by leaps and bounds (note that there are more quality teams than ever), and I don’t see why we should think that we’re a lock. Just blatant homerism on your part.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
frankie says:
Yea, and as much shit as you talk about talent not being the end all be all, you should stop talking about how the U.S. is a lock to win. Great logic.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
doc says:
@dag he was in a video that later on in the DVD somebody said stop snitching.Melo wasnt even there.Just another case of media hating on a successful black man.Im not trying to stick up for dude or say you should look up to him.But its millions who do.Thats my point.You must have never did anything.People make mistakes in life and especially when you’re young.If we was alive in the 60’s Ali would be getting trashed by some dudes on here for being a draft dodger,he hangs with criminals etc. Now they on his hammer calling him the greatest.The media spin a lot of shit.Melo fucked up with the dui and getting caught with weed,but to say he a bad person.All I can say is those who judge people so hard I hope yall know somebody gonna judge yall at the end of the day and yall better hope they aint as harsh as yall.Or its gonna be like You got a DUI when you was 22, go to hell.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Celts Fan says:
@Dagwaller, man, he’s from the hood and made it out. He’s donated millions back to where he came from (I think he just built/helped build a rec center in inner-city Baltimore.) The Stop Snitchin thing is nothing, the weed, while not great, isn’t exactly a felony (come on, we’ve all taken a puff or 2,) and the DUI was dumb yes, but nothing that should tarnish his image forever. Kids from where he’s from, that are in the same crappy situation he came from look to guys like that for inspiration and that there is a way out of what can seem hopeless and overbearing. I lived in the ghetto of Philly for 5 years when I was in college and saw how hopeless life can be for some people there. I walked by the same guys every day, some kids grew up, others didn’t make it my whole 5 years. If that rec center can stop 1 person from not making it out, stop 1 person from being swayed by the temptations of quick money when it’s sometimes the easiest and only money you can get, then it’s well worth the investment. not only does he help with money, but he goes there man, he spends time with and talks with these kids. You just don’t hear a ton about it cuz it’s not some after school special. He does it to give back, not to get press for it.
A couple minor arrests do not even touch the good he’s done and keeps doing.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
doc says:
You just said you think we gonna win Frankie.Its called rooting on your team.All season Gee said Houston was going to the chip,just like I said the Sixers was gonna beat Detroit just like Fed said Detroit was gonna beat boston.Not I think or I hope.You keep thinking and hoping pimp Im riding hard until the wheels fall off.USA gonna trash EVERYBODY.If Im hurting your feelings saying that stop being so dam sensitive.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
dagwaller says:
Haha, “media hating on a successful black man”. Dude, you make a lot of excuses for people. I’m not saying that I’m a saint, or that Melo is the devil. Just saying that if you’re talking about role models, there are a lot of them out there better than Melo.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
dagwaller says:
Celts, like I said, I don’t think he’s the worst person in the world. But if you have to make excuses for the first half of the paragraph, odds are you’re not talking about someone you should be looking up to. If he hadn’t done half of the things you two are defending, I wouldn’t even be saying this.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
doc says:
Thanks Celts.All people hear about is the negative but when so and so kicks out a mill to a community they never write about that because its boring and wont cause a riot out of people with they panties in a bunch.Like Rasheed wallace,I know firsthand he pays for some random broke kid with good grades to go to the college of they choice every year on schedule.Just had the awards ceremony for my youngbuck going to UCLA.He got all a’s and b’s his whole life with no mom or dad.Guess what newspaper or sports reporter was there.Not a got dam one,but I bet you if Sheed was in that same rec throwing chairs and shit around it would have had the whole phila daily news there.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
frankie says:
doc, although I’m a fan of the U.S. team, I’m A.) a citizen of the world, and B.) a basketball fan. So I take it personally when the U.S. looks bad (like when global perception is that we’re arrogant). And I also can be objective. Otherwise, sports debate just boils down to “dOOd my tEaM is BEtteR thaN uR teaM!!!lolol”
August 8th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
doc says:
@dag Im not taking up and yeah its better people to look up to.But I only started saying somthing about this because dudes was on here saying nobody do.im from the hood and know dam well its kids standing up for melo.And if you think the media dont hate on successful black men from time to time you better get your head out of your ass.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
dagwaller says:
doc, you just made a few good points, but I think you’re taking me a LITTLE too seriously. Let me restate: I don’t think that Melo is a BAD guy, but I don’t think that he’s a GREAT guy, either.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
dagwaller says:
Btw, the media hates on people indiscriminately. Try not to make it a racial thing – I genuinely don’t think that’s what got Melo into trouble.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Celts Fan says:
He’s still basically a kid though. Those are young man mistakes that people are gonna make, and relatively minor ones (the DUI’s kinda troubling only cuz you’d think he’d just pay someone to drive.) I’ll gladly take a guy that’s gonna do everything possible to help people and give back who’s human and makes mistakes over a guy with a spotless record and no interest in doing anything charitable. A role model is someone you can learn from, even if it has to be from their mistakes. Melo’s made his fair share, just like all of us, but the good completely outweighs the bad to me.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
doc says:
I feel you Frankie but you just gotta respect we from different places.Im been around the globe too as you know I play overseas.I know they think we arrogant but I aint got time to be worried about what they think.Im probaly one of them arrogant motherfuckers they hate.But let me be me.I respect your points all Im saying is I got mine too.I aint as humble as you my fellow american.With that said.We gonna BUST THAT ASS.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
doc says:
You right dag the media hates on everybody but they got a thing for young blacks with tats.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Celts Fan says:
and about the fight, let’s point out that the media’s characterization of that as a “sucker punch” is copmletely wrong. Mardy was jawing at him and looking, Melo slapped him. If you’re looking and yelling, it’s not a sucker punch, it’s just the first “punch.”
August 8th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
dagwaller says:
Celts, good point about role models. I guess it all depends on where you’re from.
You’re right, doc, but I just opened up Yahoo, and the “cover story” was an old white dude that got busted for having an affair. I guess it just depends on who they feel like hating on that day, ha.
How bout you, Dime? Who does your media-ass like to hate on?
August 8th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
frankie says:
Haha, ok, well let’s hope that you’re right, doc
August 8th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
daquest?on says:
btw melo is half black half puerto rican many ppl dont know that
August 8th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
GEE...Like Whoa! says:
Celts it wasn’t a sucker punch lol but I think some of the media are saying sucker punch in regards to dude punching him (hard too lol) and then running for his life to half court lol.
I don’t think it was a sucker punch, but Melo did do a punk move by running lol.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
M Intellect says:
FACT – Melo threw a fucking punch and back pedalled when it was time to Ante up. That is a bitch move. If you hit a dude and he eats the punch and comes back at you, you need to fucking man up.
I personally got love for ‘Melo but a lot of people don’t like the fact he gives himself maaaad props and doesn’t give his all when he balls, IE – Play defence, hustle etc…
AND EVERYONE loves a hard-worker and hates on the people with god given talented.