After the U.S. men's basketball team began their
pursuit of the Gold medal by defeating China yesterday 119-
72, G Jason Kidd said, "We're conceited Americans if we
boast that we feel that we are going to win. If we're
modest, we're boring. We have to go out and do our jobs out
on the court and we'll leave it up to (the media) to label
us dull or exciting" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 9/18). In
Denver, Jim Armstrong wrote that the team is "trying to low-
key things" while in Sydney. F Antonio McDyess: "We know
we're supposed to win, but you've got to be humble" (DENVER
POST, 9/17). In N.Y., Mike Wise: "Beyond the gold medals,
[the men's team] cannot win. If they are not dominant
enough, the world is catching up. If they emasculate their
opponents ... detractors will wonder if sending American
professionals to the Olympics was a good idea in the first
place" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/16). In Indianapolis, Bob Kravitz:
"They still bore me to death, ... but isn't the idea behind
the Olympics for each country to send its best athletes?"
(INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 9/18). In Akron, Chris Tomasson called
the team the Daydream Team. He wrote that while the Dream
Team concept "is getting old ... let's give these guys a
break" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 9/16). In Philadelphia,
Stephen Smith wrote the team "appears to be as interested in
appearances as it is in results" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER,
9/17). In L.A., Robyn Norwood: "The difference between
these players and the ones that have gone before is that
they aren't complaining" (L.A. TIMES, 9/17). But in AZ, Dan
Bickley wrote that while this team is "a good bunch of
guys," the Dream Team "should be comprised of pampered,
spoiled, rich athletes" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/17). In
Chicago, Jay Mariotti calls the team the "Power Nappers,"
and writes, "Without the real cache of the breathtaking
originals, the Power Nappers provide little more than a
tedious, hard-to-watch exercise in watered-down
inevitability. ... I'm afraid the concept has exhausted all
luster" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 9/18). In DC, Michael Wilbon
noted that none of the 12 U.S. players have ever won an NBA
championship: "I know the Dream Team, and you, sirs, are no
Dream Team." Wilbon: "Has this whole Dream Team concept
outlived its usefulness?" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/16). In UT,
Scott Taylor: "It's time to end this 'Dream' sequence"
(DESERET NEWS, 9/16). In Detroit, Bob Wojnowski: "It must
be stopped, soon. We have become the international bully,
intent on humbling the world until the world fights back"
(DETROIT NEWS, 9/18). Also in Detroit, Mitch Albom, on the
team: "This year? Who cares?" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 9/18).
NO FRIENDS IN THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE? U.S. swimmer Tom
Dolan, on the men's basketball team: "It's pretty obvious
that those (basketball) guys go down (to Australia) to go on
vacation. That's great for them; it must be nice. The rest
of us, the peasants in the sports world on the bottom of the
ladder, we appreciate what it means" (Baltimore SUN, 9/17).
