Don Nelson critical of Cuban's comments on Olympics -- by By EDDIE SEFKO, The Dallas Morning News, June 19, 2008
The U.S. men's Olympic basketball team, which will include Dallas Mavericks' guard Jason Kidd, is one of the top honors an athlete or coach can have, and former Mavs coach Don Nelson said Wednesday that it's a travesty that Mark Cuban views the Olympics as strictly a financial proposition.
"I couldn't disagree more," Nelson said. "It's not about the money. There is pride in these athletes. He ought to have more respect for his country. Everybody in the NBA makes plenty of money. It's not too much to ask that every four years you give something back to your country."
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"It's not that I don't like the idea of them representing their countries," Cuban told The Dallas Morning News in Wednesday's editions. "What I don't like is that we lie to ourselves and pretend that Olympians represent our country. They don't. It's about money."
Cuban may have two of his players in the Olympics. Dirk Nowitzki will play for the German national team if it emerges from a qualifying tournament next month.
Kidd said Wednesday that he is looking forward to the chance to bring home the gold, which the U.S. has not done since the 2000 Olympics.
But Nelson, who coached the U.S. team to gold in the 1994 World Championships, said he could not understand any thinking that downgrades the patriotic feelings he had representing his country.
"It was one of the highlights of my career because I was trying to do something for my country and we won a gold medal," Nelson said. "Some of the most important moments in an athlete's life come when he does something for his country. I felt good about giving something back. It's not about money.
"This country has given Mark Cuban the opportunity to make money by the billions. You'd think he'd have more respect about giving something back to his country. He should feel a sense of pride, be privileged and honored to have one of his players on the Olympic team. If he doesn't, that's sad."
The U.S. men's Olympic basketball team, which will include Dallas Mavericks' guard Jason Kidd, is one of the top honors an athlete or coach can have, and former Mavs coach Don Nelson said Wednesday that it's a travesty that Mark Cuban views the Olympics as strictly a financial proposition.
"I couldn't disagree more," Nelson said. "It's not about the money. There is pride in these athletes. He ought to have more respect for his country. Everybody in the NBA makes plenty of money. It's not too much to ask that every four years you give something back to your country."
...
"It's not that I don't like the idea of them representing their countries," Cuban told The Dallas Morning News in Wednesday's editions. "What I don't like is that we lie to ourselves and pretend that Olympians represent our country. They don't. It's about money."
Cuban may have two of his players in the Olympics. Dirk Nowitzki will play for the German national team if it emerges from a qualifying tournament next month.
Kidd said Wednesday that he is looking forward to the chance to bring home the gold, which the U.S. has not done since the 2000 Olympics.
But Nelson, who coached the U.S. team to gold in the 1994 World Championships, said he could not understand any thinking that downgrades the patriotic feelings he had representing his country.
"It was one of the highlights of my career because I was trying to do something for my country and we won a gold medal," Nelson said. "Some of the most important moments in an athlete's life come when he does something for his country. I felt good about giving something back. It's not about money.
"This country has given Mark Cuban the opportunity to make money by the billions. You'd think he'd have more respect about giving something back to his country. He should feel a sense of pride, be privileged and honored to have one of his players on the Olympic team. If he doesn't, that's sad."
Almost everybody reading this probably supports the idea that everybody in any league should be allowed to play in the Olympics if they're good enough to make their national team. Cuban disagrees; Nelson disagrees with Cuban. It's probably all a part of their little feud, but the idea that players shouldn't play is still big among owners.
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