This thread will cover the records and outstanding achievements during the olympic games 2004.
I think Puerto Rico’s 92-73 win over USA in basketball will fall under this “Outstanding Acheivements” category. Outstanding performance by Carlos Arroyo (who was also their flag bearer in the opening ceremony) and he led his team in points and assists. Everyone in the stands was booing the americans, especially whenever they were shooting free thorws.
This performance will certainly boost Arroyo’s value in the NBA.
Good Job Puerto Rico :k:
Nothing to take away from Puerto Ricans but Americans played as if they fkin' own the game. Serves them well.
Well tough beans because Team USA HAS spent the least amount of time together of any team playing right now with inexperience players and less All-Star calibre players - You want to know why these guys look like they don't know what their doing out there? It's because they don't. They haven't figured out their roles yet.
It's not an excuse - if it's the reason.
Unexpected podium in the women's 200m freestyle: 1. Potec (ROM), 2. Pellegrini (ITA), 3. Fugues (FRA). F. van Almsick nowhere to be seen!
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*Originally posted by Talha: *
Well tough beans because Team USA HAS spent the least amount of time together of any team playing right now with inexperience players and less All-Star calibre players - You want to know why these guys look like they don't know what their doing out there? It's because they don't. They haven't figured out their roles yet.
It's not an excuse - if it's the reason.
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They've been together for a about a month i think. That's more than enuff time for a team as talented as USA to know the game. and besides, with Allen iverson, tim duncan and rookies like bron, melo, and wade, to end up losing is more of a feat than winning.
Maybe the lack of a proper centre and some three point shooters is the reason they r strugling.
one month? 
sometimes it takes a year or two for a team to be build - the names you mentioned only Duncan is in the All-NBA defence team - i am not an expert on NBA but i can say that U.S. struggles doesn’t mean that World has caught up with us.
…and i don’t think lack of centre and three point shooters have anything to do with it - as long as Team USA keeps rebounding the ball - they will be ok.
tough match against Lithuania tomorrow.
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Carly Patterson of the United States holds up her gold medal after the women's gymnastics individual all-around final - becoming the second American after Mary Lou to acheived this feat.
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The Comeback Kid - Paul Hamm of the USA celebrates with his coach ater scoring a 9.837 in the horizontal bar to claim victory in the men's artistic gymnastics individual competition
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*Amanda Beard, of the United States, celebrates with her gold medal from the 200-meter *
I dont think other countries had the luxury of practicing together for a year or two. They only train toghether before a tournament and stuff.
And USA also has, or shud, an advantage cuz they all play NBA and all play the same style of game. Whereas other teams have some players from NBA, some from their coutnrie’s own league and some from other countrie’s leagues. So they have to adjust to each others style. and besides to think that the rest of the world isnt catching up on you is just arogant. You have to be blind not to see the improvements other countires have made on their game.
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*Originally posted by I'm Kool: *
I dont think other countries had the luxury of practicing together for a year or two. They only train toghether before a tournament and stuff.
And USA also has, or shud, an advantage cuz they all play NBA and all play the same style of game. Whereas other teams have some players from NBA, some from their coutnrie's own league and some from other countrie's leagues. So they have to adjust to each others style. and besides to think that the rest of the world isnt catching up on you is just arogant. You have to be blind not to see the improvements other countires have made on their game.
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how do you know other countries don't have that luxury? USA could have advantage had they had their 1st best string players like Shaq, KG, Kobe, Tracy, Vince etc. - had those mentioned guys were there - and other teams were beating the crap of USA - i would have admitted - but no - i won't - look at other sports - USA is cleary dominating in softball, soccer, gymanastic, swimming - track and field because in those area of sports - the players didn't skip the olympics because of the fear of terror - NBA players did.
as i earlier said only Timothy is the player who knows how to play defence - it ain't excuse if it's the reason - and the rest of the squad is made up of pieces - they are playing together and developing a chemistry - and no - it wouldn't be a disappointment if Men's basketball doesn't bring gold home - but if you listen to BSPN they'll tell - it is.
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Gold medalist, Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat, center, silver medalist, South Korea 's Shon Seung Mo, left, and bronze medalist, Indonesia's Soni Kuncoro stand during medal ceremony of the Badminton Men's singles at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games at the Goudi Olympic Hall in Athens.
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China's gold medalists Zhang Jiewen, front left, Yang Wei, right, silver medalists Huang Sui, 2nd right, and Gao Ling, back left, during the medal giving ceremony of the Badminton Women's Doubles competition of the 2004 Olympic Games in the Athens.
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Three-Peat in Softball - The United States softball team listens to the national anthem after receiving their gold medals, Monday, Aug. 23, 2004, at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The United States defeated Australia 5-1.
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South Korea's Ryu Seung Min, center, shows his gold medal after defeated China's Wang Hao, left, in the table tennis men's single gold medal match at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Monday, Aug. 23, 2004. At right is China's Wang Liqin who got bronze medal
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*Swimming multi-medalist Michael Phelps from USA shows one of his gold medals during a press conference in Athens on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2004. Phelps won eight medals, six gold and two bronze, in the Athens Olympic Games. *
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Jeremy Wariner (C) of the U.S. celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the men's 400 meters final ahead of compatriots Otis Harris (L) and Derrick Brew (R) at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games August 23, 2004. Wariner won the gold medal in a time of 44 seconds. **Jeremy Wariner became the sixth straight American to win the Olympic men's 400 meters, leading a sweep for Team USA, which has won 13 of the last 18 medals in the event**
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Talha: *
how do you know other countries don't have that luxury? USA could have advantage had they had their 1st best string players like Shaq, KG, Kobe, Tracy, Vince etc. - had those mentioned guys were there - and other teams were beating the crap of USA - i would have admitted - but no - i won't - look at other sports - USA is cleary dominating in softball, soccer, gymanastic, swimming - track and field because in those area of sports - the players didn't skip the olympics because of the fear of terror - NBA players did.
as i earlier said only Timothy is the player who knows how to play defence - it ain't excuse if it's the reason - and the rest of the squad is made up of pieces - they are playing together and developing a chemistry - and no - it wouldn't be a disappointment if Men's basketball doesn't bring gold home - but if you listen to BSPN they'll tell - it is.
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So what ur saying is that the USA needed to send thier top players to play in Athens, right?? U mean to say that chris arroyo (Puerto Rico), Sarunas Jasikevicius (lithuania) etc are better ball players than Stephon Marbury, Alen Iverson and other american players???
If USA did send their first string players than im pretty sure they wudnt have faced any difficulties but since basketball is a heavily american dominant game, you expect them to win without their first string players. for example, in cricket, if Pakistan's A team faces bangladesh's full strenght team, i would sure as hell bet my money on Pakistan.
oh and btw, other teams also didn't have thier best players playing for them in athens. If Serbia & Montenegro had Peja Stojakavic and Vlade Divac in their roster, i'm pretty sure the standings would look pretty different compared to now.
you are right and wrong in both ways - yes the first string players needed to be there because they know what it takes to be a champion - i mean if you go out in the streets of America - you will find fans playing baseball, basketball and other famous sport - but i am sure they might not know what it takes to be a champion - what it takes to be a team player - what's it likes to be under pressure on world's biggest sport event.
i didn't know Peja and Vlade played for Serbia - as i said earlier - i have very lil info on basketball - it's the least major American sport i watch and follow - but i do know how to argue. :D
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USA's Misty May, left, and Kerri Walsh sing the anthem during the medal ceremony as they receive the gold medal after winning the women's beach volleyball finals at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games - **that puts them in the winning streak of 16 tournaments which is a world record. **
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Silver medalists from Brazil Adriana Behar, left, and teammate Shelda Bede acknowledge the crowd following their silver medal win
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Bronze medal winners from the USA's Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs, right, hold back their tears during the medal ceremony following the women's beach volleyball finals - USA beat Australia to win the bronze
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*USA's Men's Eight boat pose on the podium after they won the gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Schinias near Athens, Greece, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2004. Front row is Pete Cipollone; second row from left are Dan Hansen, Chris Ahrens, Wyatt Allen and Jason Read; back row from left are Bryan Volpenhein, Beau Hoopman, Dan Beery and Matt Deakin. *
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*Gold medallist Chile's Nicolas Massu (C), silver medallist Mardy Fish of the U.S. (L) and bronze medallist Chile's Fernando Gonzalez (R) show their medals from the podium after the medal ceremony for the men's singles tennis event of Athens 2004 Olympic Games *
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China's Li Ting, left, and Sun Tian Tian hold up their gold medals during the medal ceremony for women's doubles tennis at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2004. Li and Sun defeated Spain's Conchita Martinez and Virginia Ruano Pascual in the gold medal match, 6-3, 6-3
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Spain's Conchita Martinez, right, and Virginia Ruano Pascual hold up their silver medals during the medal ceremony for women's doubles tennis
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*Gold medalist, Belgium's Justine Henin-Hardenne (C), silver medalist France's Amelie Mauresmo (L) and bronze medalist Australia'S Alicia Molik show their medals after the ceremony for the women's single tennis *
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*Gold medalist Dmitry Berestov of Russia, center, is joined by silver medalist Ferenc Gyurkovics of Hungary, left, and bronze medalist Igor Razoronov of Ukraine after the men's 231 lb (105 kg) event at the Nikaia Olympic Weightlifting Hall during the Summer Olympics in Athens, Tuesday Aug. 24, 2004. *
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*The winners of the Men's 3 meter springboard diving competition pose after receiving their medals at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004. From left: Silver medalist Alexandre Despatie of Canada, gold medalist Peng Bo of China and bronze medalist Dmitri Sautin of Russia. *