THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 4, 1996 TAG: 9608040251
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BOB MOLINARO
LENGTH: 89 lines
They are leaving here grumpy, and a little bored, but with the prize they came for - the gold medal.
For at least some members of the U.S. men's basketball team, the Olympics did not turn into a dream assignment.
This is what happens when you are not news until you lose.
With its 95-69 victory Saturday night over Yugolavia, the NBA stars continued their domination that began four years ago in Barcelona.
The U.S. players struggled against the Yugos, though, just as they've struggled all along to make their Olympic mission look like more than a patriotic chore.
The playfulness that marked the '92 Dream Team was missing this time around. The '96 edition seemed to detach itself from the Olympic experience.
Did the American public detach itself from the team?
Hard to say. Though a crowd of 34,600 at the Georgia Dome, the largest ever to watch an Olympic men's basketball game, sat so quietly through the opening 20 minutes that a small group of Yugoslavian fans outshouted them.
The Yugos also outplayed and outhustled the U.S., twice leading by seven, before David Robinson and Penny Hardaway led a rally, putting the home team ahead at the half 43-38.
During intermission, the crowd rose as Muhammad Ali was brought to center court. He was presented with a new gold medal as a replacement for the medal he lost in 1960.
Both teams had their pictures taken with Ali, and when the half resumed the U.S. tried to land a knockout blow.
Instead, the Yugoslavians landed some shots of their own.
Even with NBA veteran Vlade Divac on his way to an early exit because of fouls, Yugoslavia got within a point, 51-50, with 14:02 to play.
The U.S. survived the Yugo's gritty play and its own lack of brilliance because of Robinson, who finished with 28 points. The San Antonio Spurs center was too active and quick for the Yugoslavians.
Robinson scored five consecutive points, the last three on a dunk and free throw, to give the U.S. a 63-55 lead.
That seemed to be the spark the Americans needed.
Whether the players greeted the gold with a sigh of relief or a shout of exultation probably mattered little. To them, or their fans.
The job was done. The Dream Team could go home now.
They are leaving here grumpy, and a little bored, but with the prize they came for - the gold medal.
For at least some members of the U.S. men's basketball team, the Olympics did not turn into a dream assignment.
This is what happens when you are not news until you lose.
With its 95-69 victory Saturday night over Yugolavia, the NBA stars continued their domination that began four years ago in Barcelona.
The U.S. players struggled against the Yugos, though, just as they've struggled all along to make their Olympic mission look like more than a patriotic chore.
The playfulness that marked the '92 Dream Team was missing this time around. The '96 edition seemed to detach itself from the Olympic experience.
Did the American public detach itself from the team?
Hard to say. Though a crowd of 34,600 at the Georgia Dome, the largest ever to watch an Olympic men's basketball game, sat so quietly
through the opening 20 minutes that a small group of Yugoslavian fans outshouted them.
The Yugos also outplayed and outhustled the U.S., twice leading by seven, before David Robinson and Penny Hardaway led a rally, putting the home team ahead at the half 43-38.
During intermission, the crowd rose as Muhammad Ali was brought to center court. He was presented with a new gold medal as a replacement for the medal he lost in 1960.
Both teams had their pictures taken with Ali, and when the half resumed the U.S. tried to land a knockout blow.
Instead, the Yugoslavians landed some shots of their own.
Even with NBA veteran Vlade Divac on his way to an early exit because of fouls, Yugoslavia got within a point, 51-50, with 14:02 to play.
The U.S. survived the Yugo's gritty play and its own lack of brilliance because of Robinson, who finished with 28 points. The San Antonio Spurs center was too active and quick for the Yugoslavians.
Robinson scored five consecutive points, the last three on a dunk and free throw, to give the U.S. a 63-55 lead.
That seemed to be the spark the Americans needed.
Whether the players greeted the gold with a sigh of relief or a shout of exultation probably mattered little. To them, or their fans.
The job was done. The Dream Team could go home now. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Reggie Miller of the United States is caught by Yugoslavia's Vlade
Divac, left, as Predrag Danilovic drives for the basket in the first
half of the gold medal game Saturday.
KEYWORDS: OLYMPIC GAMES 1996 ATLANTA by CNB