23 July 2012
USA vs. Turkey
A couple of days ago Team USA played their last exhibition game, against Turkey. They won, but apparently it was closer than one might like. Turkey was playing in front of their fans (the game was playing in Istanbul) and the Americans couldn't hit the broad side of the barn for most of the game. But they won anyway.
A Philadelphia newspaper (website?) has a nice article where the three-time Olympians (Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, and Diana Taurasi) reminisce about their journey from the 2004 Olympics to now: "'Back in 2004, we might as well have been employees on the boat,' Taurasi said. 'We got in a minute here or minute there. We didn't play that much. Now we're counted on to make sure this team is ready every time it steps onto the court. It's a responsibility that we take very seriously.' Perhaps that's because the first time they truly had stewardship, they failed. Team USA entered the 2006 FIBA Women's World Championships confident, maybe a bit too confident. After going undefeated in pool play, the USA whacked Lithuania in the quarterfinals, but in the semifinals, Russia, which had lost to the Americans by 10 in pool play, came away with a 75-68 upset. A 40-point blowout of host Brazil for the bronze medal did not ease the hurt."
And this Jayda Evans article from The Seattle Times focuses on Sue Bird.
A Philadelphia newspaper (website?) has a nice article where the three-time Olympians (Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, and Diana Taurasi) reminisce about their journey from the 2004 Olympics to now: "'Back in 2004, we might as well have been employees on the boat,' Taurasi said. 'We got in a minute here or minute there. We didn't play that much. Now we're counted on to make sure this team is ready every time it steps onto the court. It's a responsibility that we take very seriously.' Perhaps that's because the first time they truly had stewardship, they failed. Team USA entered the 2006 FIBA Women's World Championships confident, maybe a bit too confident. After going undefeated in pool play, the USA whacked Lithuania in the quarterfinals, but in the semifinals, Russia, which had lost to the Americans by 10 in pool play, came away with a 75-68 upset. A 40-point blowout of host Brazil for the bronze medal did not ease the hurt."
And this Jayda Evans article from The Seattle Times focuses on Sue Bird.
Labels: Olympics, Seattle Storm
# posted by mamurd @ 10:21 PM 
