Pierce and the Olympics

[Snoopy the Celtics Beagle <snoopy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"In the end, USA Basketball apparently did come back to Paul Pierce in an 
attempt to make amends for essentially snubbing the Celtics during 
selection of the 2004 Olympic men's basketball team. When a conflicted Kobe 
Bryant took himself off the roster for this month's FIBA qualifying 
tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and before Vince Carter was plugged in 
as the Laker guard's replacement, the spot was reportedly offered to the 
Celtics co-captain. It was, as one USA Basketball official has put it, the 
organization's way of saying thanks to a player who had agreed to play in 
the 2002 World Championships when most of the NBA's other stars were saying 
no for various selfish reasons. Pierce's agent, Jeff Schwartz, did not 
return calls placed to his office last week. Pierce reportedly told USA 
officials that he wanted to prepare for the upcoming NBA season." Boston Herald

This story, if accurate, explains why Vince Carter ended up on the team, 
and makes me wonder about the circumsances in which Pierce was asked.  At 
first, when reading this, I was annoyed at Pierce for saying no, because I 
think it's important to take the opportunity to represent your country 
seriously.  As the article mentioned, I was put off by several athletes 
who, unlike Pierce, did not want to commit to playing THIS summer in order 
to go to the Olympics.  I wondered why Pierce changed his mind.

Then, I looked at the calendar.  Today is August 10.  Again presuming the 
article to be accurate (not a given, but proceeding on that basis), that 
means they asked Pierce in the last 10 days.  The FIRST PRACTICE is this 
week, with the team gathering for the first time TODAY.  Larry Brown is on 
record as saying there isn't enough time to properly 
prepare.  Unfortunately, he also said they players are "sacrificing a lot 
of their time this summer", which is a fallacy.  The qualifying tournament 
starts in 10 days.

That would mean that Pierce, who has been tailoring his summer workout to a 
season that starts in October is asked on a week's notice to play 
competitive international ball with people who haven't worked together at 
all.  Last season, with proper notice, he overdid it, and came into the 
season tired.  At this point, it might be a disaster, with injury a near 
certainty.  Not only that but the position offered to Pierce and eventually 
given to Vince Carter is not guaranteed.  In other words, Pierce, 
supposedly taking Kobe Bryant's place THIS summer, is not a given to be on 
the team NEXT summer no matter HOW well he plays, since Kobe is still 
considered a guaranteed player--assuming the legal situation is worked out 
to his benefit by then.  At that, there's several other players on the 
roster who would be in the same boat.

So the offer comes down to asking Pierce long after he should have been 
considered to essentially be a temp player in the qualifying games but 
fight for potential place with others who were asked months ago with plenty 
of time to prepare.

It's a losing proposition for Pierce.  Go, and likely be embarrassed and 
hurt in the process.  Plus his conditioning will be shot as far as the C's 
are concerned.  DON'T go, and take shots for not being willing to 
go.  Frankly, I think he ought to go, but then, Pierce has trouble getting 
foul calls in THIS country.  Imagine what happens in San Juan!

It's sad, because I think he deserves to go.  But he also deserves to have 
been asked way back when everyone else was, instead of the public insult 
wherein his name wasn't even mentioned, despite a few experts who saw last 
summer's games and knew Pierce was one of the few positive contributors.

After what happened at the All-Star Game last winter, maybe Pierce wants 
someone to meet him halfway. A little respect, or at least not a deliberate 
insult.  He plays well enough to be asked.  He was the first to come out 
and say he'd play this summer if asked (back in February, not a week before 
the team starts their few days of practice), and frankly, makes a better 
representative than Allen Iverson.

At this point, he might as well work on his preparation for the NBA 
season.  The Celtics, at least, definitely want him to play, and told him 
so with enough time to prepare.

Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
Please visit the <http://www.celticsbeagle.net/>Celtics Beagle Website