Return to Glory: Rebuilding Team USA

As our nation's best footballers return from their June humanitarian mission to Germany (during which they donated goals and penalties as if they were food vouchers in Iraq), it has become increasingly and more painfully clear that the greatest nation on earth is being marginalized on the international athletic stage by a self-induced and overwhelmingly problematic penchant for putting self-serving personal glory over the greater good of the team and the country that it represents.

Focusing solely on USA Soccer, the statistical whooping we took during this year's World Cup is almost too thorough to believe — 0.33 goals scored per game (only Trinidad-Tobago scored fewer), a tourney-worst 4 total shots on goal (by comparison, Portugal has the most with 51), 21 shots total (second worst, only Tunisia had less), 2.0 goals allowed per game (only four teams were worse), etc., etc., etc. Bottom line: team USA, ranked number five in the world heading into World Cup event, has a lot of 'splainin' to do (eat your heart out, Ricky Ricardo) over the next four years.

While pointing out the inadequacies of coach Bruce Arena and his charges is certainly a subject that could and rightly should take up more than one paragraph of any missive on America's international failures in sport in recent years, those aforementioned failures are not unique to the soccer program and, frankly, the expectations are far lower in that realm as opposed to, say, the USA's basketball program. I smell segue...

From the original Dream Team (Olympic gold medal winning Team USA, 1992) to the "Dirty Dozen" (World Basketball Championships bronze medal winning Team USA, 1998) to the most recent debacle I like to call the original Creamed Team (Olympic also-ran Team USA, 2004), USA men's basketball has been on a collision-course with mediocrity.

Many pundits claim that this is a direct result of improved international competition, a point that cannot be totally dismissed judging by the recent successes of Dirk Nowitzki, Manu Ginobili, Steve Nash, Yao Ming, Tony Parker, etc. Others like to point to the minimalist attitude today's great American NBA stars seem to have for the importance of international competition. The vast majority claims it is a combination of those two points that has acted as the momentum swinging the pendulum from a position of dominance back towards the rest of the international pack.

Being a glass half full kind of guy, this freelance writer doesn't see a whole lot of value in assessing the why's and how's of our nation's hoop failures on the international stage. Sure, those are very valid points, but I'm not so sure that Kobe, T-Mac, K.G., and Shaq would have made the difference in 2004 and I certainly can't with a straight face that Italy's Massimo Bulleri is every bit as valuable a sixth man as Richard Jefferson was to his nation's squad. Quite frankly, I see the problem as being a simple case of knowing one's role in life, and, in this case, basketball.

Contrary to popular belief, the 2004 team did not lack in star power. It included Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Amare Stoudemire, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and those seven names alone could dominate any collaboration of current players you throw their way. Add to that list Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion, Jefferson, and Lamar Odom and you certainly have a laundry list of adequate hoops icons that should have worn the stars and stripes with pride on their way to gold medal glory. Mix in a legendary coach and a case could well be made that this group should be nigh unbeatable. It is no wonder that the Americans went into the tourney feeling good about their chances, even without a handful of the biggest names in the game on the roster.

But history annals will show that for every Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Isiah Thomas that hoisted the Larry O'Brien Trophy, there was a John Paxson, Jerry Sichting, Byron Scott, and Rick Mahorn. The big names grab the headlines, to be sure, but equally as important are the little guys who dive on loose balls, the big guys who keep offensive rebounds alive with hustling tips, and those contributors who give of themselves far beyond the measure of the ending box score. Our recent international entrants don't have such cast members and this, I submit, is the reason for their failures. The answer isn't more star power, it's less — as long as those lesser components know their roles and are capable of playing them on the international stage.

Someone much smarter and significantly more influential than I must have picked up on this last point (finally), as a once-over of the current 15-man short list for Team USA features a handful of such willing and able role players. Defensive specialists, outside threats, extraordinary rebounders — all previous voids that led to embarrassing defeat — are now set to be filled, a certain positive development for the recently maligned program. That said, below is a run down of the projected members of the latest edition of Dream Teamers and the player and skill-set they replace on the roster.

Returning Cast

Carmelo Anthony, Nuggets — One of four holdovers from Greece's debacle, 'Melo is another two years older and should not spend this trip floundering on the bench. Anthony will hit jumpers all day over the shorter international forwards and his superior athleticism and explosiveness will be no match for any Euro with size that is defending him.

LeBron James, Cavaliers — No explanation necessary ... Larry Brown let his loyalty to those who he felt paid their dues spoil King James' debut in international play, under-utilizing the all-around star power of LeBron. Coach K will not make that mistake.

Amare Stoudemire, Suns — Not the same explosive player that he was two years back, but the rest of the world doesn't know that, since he barely played in Greece. Amare has something to prove and his improved mid-range game and knack for shot-blocking make him a formidable foe for the competition to have to deal with.

Dwyane Wade, Heat — Got some PT in Greece, but he wasn't the same D-Wade back then as he is now. His confidence is at an all-time high and his ability to control a game and get the hoop will lead to lots of open jumpers and highlight reel finishes once the games count.

Newbies

Gilbert Arenas, Wizards — Arenas has come into his own in the past two seasons and is now one of the premier outside threats and combo guards on the planet. He replaces Stephon Marbury on the roster, which a good thing considering Starbury's me-first outlook on life.

Chris Paul, Hornets — The true point guard that the team has needed, Paul's speed and court vision will create an up-tempo pace that international opponents can't defend. He replaces the venerable Allen Iverson adequately and brings something A.I. didn't — unselfishness.

Elton Brand, Clippers — Brand proved himself as one of the league's elite last season and should carry that momentum into international play, giving the U.S. a very effective low-block threat. While Brand is stepping in for Tim Duncan, not much is lost in the grand scheme of things as the two exhibit similar strengths and Brand contributes a youth and passion that is hard to measure with numbers alone without giving up too many points and rebounds.

Shane Battier, Rockets — The first of a couple of players that may leave many scratching their heads, Battier brings to the table the intangibles and unselfishness that any successful team needs. Shane is a scrapper, can hit the open shot, and is a perfect fit alongside the other superstars on the roster and frankly is the type of player that the USA teams have sorely missed in recent years. He replaces Lamar Odom on the roster, and that is what you call addition through subtraction even without factoring the handful of hustle points and boards Battier will collect.

Bruce Bowen, Spurs — Part two of the "what have we learned" department, Bowen is the shut-down defender that America's opponents have not had to deal with since the mid-'90s, frankly. With the international game's saturation of scoring two-guards, Bowen should prove to be the tonic that holds opponents in check, especially in those crucial late-game moments. One worry is the contact Bruce generates on defense, but if nothing else at least the defense has some chops to it this time around. Bowen takes the roster spot of Richard Jefferson and more than makes up for the athleticism lost with his hard-nosed toughness.

Chris Bosh, Raptors — Bosh is still developing, but he's a stud big-man with a penchant for low-post scoring and shot disrupting. He should balance nicely the outside and penetrating game that the team already features and gives Team USA a second elite low-post option in those games against some of the bigger European teams. He replaces Emeka Okafor on the roster, who was a zero in terms of contribution in Greece.

Joe Johnson, Hawks — Johnson can shoot, defend, pass, and handle the ball and while he is not a superstar, he has the meddle to be a medalist, if you will pardon the pun. He brings a full suite of tools to the game and his ability to finish should play nicely with the penetrating styles of Wade and Paul. Johnson replaces his one-time teammate Shawn Marion on the team, which makes this the one spot where a true loss may have occurred in net contributions, but Johnson's intangibles should not be overlooked.

Dwight Howard, Magic — The youngest of a very young group, Howard has proven to be an elite rebounder and a legit defensive force. He'll bring energy and production off the bench in areas that are necessary for teams to hold their leads, which should bode well for sustained American success. Howard takes the spot of Carlos Boozer — not a whole lot more needs to be said about that.

Just Missing the Cut

The plucky Kirk Hinrich, well-traveled Antawn Jamison, and underrated Brad Miller will all likely travel with the team, with Miller holding the best shot of making the squad if Amare Stoudemire isn't all the way back. The trio fits in well with the new era of USA basketball as each bring hustle, passion, and well-rounded games into the fray.

Bottom line, prospects are looking much better for Team USA, and not a moment too soon. While it is never too late to right one's wrongs, there's just so much any patriotic American can take, and recent losses to Puerto Rico and Ghana on the world stage in basketball and soccer, respectively, are pretty close to the death knell for a once ultra-proud nation as it struggles to hold onto its athletic superiority.

Here's hoping the new regime shares in this feeling and does whatever possible to rectify that situation — even if it means hurting the feelings of a few of the game's best.