The Redeem Team

The Redeem Team

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Posted Saturday, August 02, 2008, at 3:03 PM

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I'm not a full on fan of the Summer Olympics, but one sport I do watch is basketball, it all started during the original Dream Team era, where MJ, Bird, Magic, The Mailman (Karl Malone), The Admiral (David Robinson), John Stockton, Chris Mullin, Patrick Ewing, Clyde Drexler, Sir Charles, Scottie Pippen and yes even Christian Laettner laid the smackdown on the world stage in Barcelona.

But lately the Dream Team has been mocked for their lack of success in both the World Championships and the Olympics, most recently their third and sixth place finishes in the 2002 and 2006 World Championships and the 2004 Athens team who finished third, that team was too good to win the bronze.

Sure, the world has caught up with us producing well known worldly players like Dirk Nowitzki (Germany), Manu Ginobli (Argentina, Yao Ming (China), Pau Gasol and the upstart star Jose Calderon (Spain) and Tony Parker (France), but we are sending a squad this year that is stacked.

The point guards is a tandem of quite simply the best in the game right now, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul and Deron Williams.

At the guards, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Lebron James and Michael Redd ARE YOU SERIOUS?

The forwards, Chris Bosh, Carlos Boozer, Tayshaun Prince, Carmelo Anthony and the big man Dwight Howard (note-the best guy to have for your fantasy basketball team, next year, trust me) in the middle.

There is no excuse for this team to not take the gold this year, no wonder why Lebron, was quoted as Time Magazine, as referring to this year's squad as The Redeem Team.

As you can see based on the past results this year's team looks to continue America's dominant tradition.

1994 World Championship: finished 1st among 16 teams

Shaquille O'Neal, Dominique Wilkins, Alonzo Mourning, Shawn Kemp, Reggie Miller, Derrick Coleman, Joe Dumars, Kevin Johnson, Mark Price, Steve Smith, Dan Majerle, Larry Johnson (Coach: Don Nelson)

1996 Olympic Games: finished 1st among 12 teams

Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, John Stockton, David Robinson, Gary Payton, Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, Grant Hill, Reggie Miller, Mitch Richmond (Coach: Lenny Wilkens)

2000 Olympic Games: finished 1st among 12 teams

Kevin Garnett, Jason Kidd, Ray Allen, Vince Carter, Gary Payton, Tim Hardaway, Alonzo Mourning, Steve Smith, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Vin Baker, Allan Houston, Antonio McDyess (Coach: Rudy Tomjanovich)

2002 World Championship: finished 6th among 16 teams

Reggie Miller, Paul Pierce, Ben Wallace, Jermaine O'Neal, Shawn Marion, Baron Davis, Antonio Davis, Michael Finley, Andre Miller, Jay Williams, Elton Brand, Raef LaFrentz (Coach: George Karl)

2004 Olympic Games: finished 3rd among 12 teams

Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, Carlos Boozer, Carmelo Anthony, Stephon Marbury, Richard Jefferson, Lamar Odom, Emeka Okafor (Coach: Larry Brown)

2006 World Championship: finished 3rd among 24 teams

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Antawn Jamison, Brad Miller, Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh, Elton Brand, Shane Battier, Kirk Hinrich, Chris Paul, Joe Johnson (Coach: Mike Krzyzewski)