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JMon348
Joined: 15 Jul 2005
Posts: 46
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 Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 5:51 pm Post subject: Colangelo offically names Kobe apart of Team USA |
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PHOENIX -- Kobe Bryant plans to play for the U.S. team at this year's world basketball championships and the 2008 Olympics.
Bryant
Bryant gave an emphatic nod to joining the U.S. team in a meeting Friday with the head of USA Basketball, Jerry Colangelo.
"I had a previous conversation with him and we said we would meet again when he came to Phoenix," Colangelo said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "He's really excited about it. He's really kind of juiced about representing the United States. He had some great things to say about the opportunity."
Bryant was in town for the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.
Bryant joins LeBron James as the two players who have been publicly named to the 20-man U.S. roster that will report to a training camp in Las Vegas this summer, then travel to a series of exhibition games in China and South Korea before taking part in the world championships in Japan.
"I think he's done a great job of positioning himself in terms of his persona and conduct," Colangelo said. "In representing his country, he can expand on that."
Colangelo called Bryant "one of the one or two most prolific, dominant players in the game right now. If you can field a team with someone of his caliber, that's a pretty important step."
"He's almost unstoppable in terms of his performance," Colangelo said. "There's a competitiveness about him that kind of wills his teams to wins."
Duke's Mike Krzyzewski will coach to team.
Bryant's decision was first reported Friday afternoon by The Rocky Mountain News.
So Here's the official roster:
PG-
SG-Kobe Bryant
SF-Lebron James
PF-
C- |
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raidawg87
Joined: 29 Sep 2005
Posts: 109
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: Colangelo offically names Kobe apart of Team USA |
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| JMon348 wrote: |
PHOENIX -- Kobe Bryant plans to play for the U.S. team at this year's world basketball championships and the 2008 Olympics.
Bryant
Bryant gave an emphatic nod to joining the U.S. team in a meeting Friday with the head of USA Basketball, Jerry Colangelo.
"I had a previous conversation with him and we said we would meet again when he came to Phoenix," Colangelo said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "He's really excited about it. He's really kind of juiced about representing the United States. He had some great things to say about the opportunity."
Bryant was in town for the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Phoenix Suns on Friday night.
Bryant joins LeBron James as the two players who have been publicly named to the 20-man U.S. roster that will report to a training camp in Las Vegas this summer, then travel to a series of exhibition games in China and South Korea before taking part in the world championships in Japan.
"I think he's done a great job of positioning himself in terms of his persona and conduct," Colangelo said. "In representing his country, he can expand on that."
Colangelo called Bryant "one of the one or two most prolific, dominant players in the game right now. If you can field a team with someone of his caliber, that's a pretty important step."
"He's almost unstoppable in terms of his performance," Colangelo said. "There's a competitiveness about him that kind of wills his teams to wins."
Duke's Mike Krzyzewski will coach to team.
Bryant's decision was first reported Friday afternoon by The Rocky Mountain News.
So Here's the official roster:
PG-
SG-Kobe Bryant
SF-Lebron James
PF-
C- |
So whens the gold medal ceremony |
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jminges
Joined: 05 Mar 2005
Posts: 6062
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Dwight Howard has commited as well. Add him to the PF (Brand?) or C spot. |
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DMK
Clublakers Analyst
Joined: 15 Feb 2005
Posts: 15771
Location: Baltimore, MD
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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Howard/Brand
Lebron
Kobe
AI
There are a few others that are locks as well.
Hopefully Shaquille will play 1 last time...Kobe/Shaq for some more GOLD!
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2007-2008 NBA Western Conference Champions |
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bb7793
Joined: 08 Nov 2005
Posts: 1349
Location: Ya momma's house
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Does it even matter who else we get with just those 4? I mean damn we could add some college scrubs and throw in two high schoolers (Mayo and Oden) to make it a nice highlight reel |
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flip
Joined: 05 Jun 2004
Posts: 41
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:08 pm Post subject: easily |
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| With Kobe on the team we will win gold, let him show LeBron how its done |
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jminges
Joined: 05 Mar 2005
Posts: 6062
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think Jerry has called Allen Iverson yet.  . |
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nameant
Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 16288
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Frank The Tank
Joined: 12 Apr 2005
Posts: 3914
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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Goodbye bronze hello gold. 
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DMK
Clublakers Analyst
Joined: 15 Feb 2005
Posts: 15771
Location: Baltimore, MD
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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IMO it should go like this...
Shaquille/Duncan/Howard
KG/Amare/Brand
Lebron/Tmac/Marion
Kobe/Wade/Pierce
Bdiddy/Kidd/AI/
That would be my team for Dream Team III....
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Frank The Tank
Joined: 12 Apr 2005
Posts: 3914
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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| DMK wrote: |
IMO it should go like this...
Shaquille/Duncan/Howard
KG/Amare/Brand
Lebron/Tmac/Marion
Kobe/Wade/Pierce
Bdiddy/Kidd/AI/
That would be my team for Dream Team III.... |
Shaq ahead of Duncan? DMK I know that was a typo right? 
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verde
Joined: 11 Oct 2005
Posts: 204
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| Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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i hope those exhibition games will be televised in the US this summer.
watching kobe & lebron play for the same team = better than sex.
i think lebron will get a lot better just by playing with kobe also. seeing how he practices, warms up for games, and gets himself mentally focused....etc. |
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JSM
Clublakers Site Manager
Joined: 28 Apr 2003
Posts: 70472
Location: Atlanta
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:12 am Post subject: |
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Arizona Republic : Kobe Bryant has made his intentions known for a while. He wanted to play on the U.S. Olympic team. Friday, he made it official.
Bryant told men's national team managing director Jerry Colangelo he was more than willing to represent USA Basketball. Even more, he would play point guard if that were where he would be needed.
"Oh, man, hell yes, I'm excited," Bryant said before Friday's game against the Suns at US Airways Center. "I'm excited to be an Olympian and represent our country. . . . I'm just looking forward to getting over there."
Bryant said the three-year commitment works out well for him. He grew up watching his father play overseas. That's how he learned to play. Plus, he's in his prime, leading the NBA at 34.7 points per game. And he's ready for the challenge.
"Whatever (my role) is, I'm down for it," he said. "I've played on teams that have won three titles and I played a supporting role. On this (Lakers) team, I'm the No. 1 guy. But I really do not care about my role."
His coach didn't seem so excited. Lakers coach Phil Jackson applauded Colangelo's approach. But he worries about the toll it will take on NBA players, particularly those playing deep into the playoffs.
"The Olympics is a daunting thing," Jackson said. "We have to face the fact that (by doing it this way) we'll cut our players short a little bit."
By that, he meant their careers. But Bryant didn't seem fazed.
"I've got a feeling that I'll be the veteran, the old dog on the team," he said.
He knows it won't be easy. He knows the international game has caught up. They no longer will be the Dream Team, looked at by opponents with awe.
"Guys in Europe growing up idolized Magic (Johnson,) idolized Michael (Jordan), idolized Charles (Barkley,)" he said. "Now everybody's pretty much the same age. Now they don't look at us and (whisper), 'That's Kobe Bryant.' Now they look at us and say, 'You know what? We can go at these guys.' "
Which is why he thinks it will take a team effort to bring back the gold medal.
"I'm just looking forward to going out there with a collection of talent and focus on dismantling the opposition," Bryant said. "That's really going to be most enjoyable thing, breaking down our opponent and collectively tearing them apart." |
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JSM
Clublakers Site Manager
Joined: 28 Apr 2003
Posts: 70472
Location: Atlanta
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:19 am Post subject: |
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OC Register: When Bryant told The Register on Dec. 23 that he was chosen for the next national team, he became the first player publicly identified. It was formally announced Friday by Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo.
Bryant is looking forward to time in Asia, where he has visited, saying: "I love the culture over there; I love the people over there." |
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Camilo
Joined: 17 Dec 2005
Posts: 692
Location: London Ontario
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:23 am Post subject: |
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| DMK wrote: |
IMO it should go like this...
Shaquille/Duncan/Howard
KG/Amare/Brand
Lebron/Tmac/Marion
Kobe/Wade/Pierce
Bdiddy/Kidd/AI/
That would be my team for Dream Team III.... |
I agree 100% except for Pierce I would have Ray Allen instead. |
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Lakers Dynasty 2000
Clublakers Analyst
Joined: 05 Apr 2003
Posts: 25694
Location: Pasadena, Southern California
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:29 am Post subject: |
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LD2k.com | hZmDesigns.com
We Do It For The Fans
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JSM
Clublakers Site Manager
Joined: 28 Apr 2003
Posts: 70472
Location: Atlanta
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:47 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
SI: Bryant joins LeBron James as the two players who have been publicly named to the 20-man U.S. roster that will report to a training camp in Las Vegas this summer, then travel to a series of exhibition games in China and South Korea before taking part in the world championships in Japan.
There will be a training camp again next year, followed by another round of training and exhibition games in 2008 leading up to the Beijing Olympics.
"It's going to be fun, it's going to be challenging," Bryant said. "I'm just looking forward to getting over there."
Bryant had been expected to take part in the Athens Olympics in 2004 but withdrew to deal with a sexual assault case against him in Colorado.
"It was very disappointing so I just try not to think about it too much," Bryant said of not being able to play in Athens. "I just let it go. Everything happens for a reason, and this for whatever reason is the time for me to be on the team."
The charge against him ultimately was dropped and Colangelo complimented Bryant's behavior since then.
"I think he's done a great job of positioning himself in terms of his persona and conduct," Colangelo said. "In representing his country, he can expand on that."
While Bryant is a scoring machine with the Lakers, he will have no qualms about reducing his role on the U.S. team, Colangelo said.
"I think Kobe Bryant is a player with enough moxie to go along with his talent that he'll adjust to whatever his role is," Colangelo said. "In fact, that's exactly what he said today."
Duke's Mike Krzyzewski will coach to team.
"I think it's great what he's doing," Bryant said of Colangelo's efforts. "He's establishing right now the attitude and mindset as a team going in. Having Coach K and selecting the players carefully and doing his due diligence, I think it just sets the tone for what we're trying to accomplish." |
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ahaider15
Joined: 23 Apr 2005
Posts: 1832
Location: Fresno, Cali
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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With Kobe and Lebron hopefully Kobe can convince some of them to go to the Lakers
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This is not the end. This is not the beginning of the end. But it might just be the end of the beginning.
Hardwork beats talent when talent fails to do hardwork.. |
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purple_and_gold_fever
Joined: 07 Jan 2004
Posts: 10873
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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| ahaider15 wrote: |
| With Kobe and Lebron hopefully Kobe can convince some of them to go to the Lakers |
lebron in LA 2007  |
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High IQ
Joined: 20 Mar 2004
Posts: 12221
Location: EU Latvia Riga
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 1:12 pm Post subject: |
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| purple_and_gold_fever wrote: |
| ahaider15 wrote: |
| With Kobe and Lebron hopefully Kobe can convince some of them to go to the Lakers |
lebron in LA 2007 |
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R.I.P. TI |
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randomfilipino69
Joined: 07 Nov 2005
Posts: 47
Location: Costa Mesa, CA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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| verde wrote: |
i hope those exhibition games will be televised in the US this summer.
watching kobe & lebron play for the same team = better than sex.
i think lebron will get a lot better just by playing with kobe also. seeing how he practices, warms up for games, and gets himself mentally focused....etc. |
haha, you must've had crappy sex then. i mean 8 seconds doing it, then 40 minutes crying bad.
but i wonder what would happen if shaq also commits to the olympic team...
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Tyson Chandler makes Kwame look like God. |
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