U.S.-Spain Final Really will attract international audience to game of basketball

    The U.S. Spain final may be one of the most pivotal games in basketball history. 

    No, its not just cause the U.S. won. We often mouth the words, "It means more to do it for the country," without it really meaning anything. Its liking saying, "Yea I really care for you girl,"to a girl he just met 1 hour ago in a noisy bar. As long as the guy gets a chance to go for a roll in the hay, (That's the horizontal limbo for others) its okay to stretch the truth some as long as it results in victory.

    However since the U.S. has not won in 3 straight international basketball tournaments the public was eagerly awaiting a gold medal. Equally so too was the core of this U.S. men's team, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, have been through the disappointments of the 2004 and 2006 bronze medal teams.  Now winning a gold medal seems as pivotal as winning a NBA championship. That has never previously been felt by any U.S. team. The jubilition they showed at the end really sealed that they truly wanted to win in the worst way and it was anything but a joke for the team.

    In enters Spain themselves trying to forge a legacy as a possible two-time reigning champions of international ball. They did not lose a single game in the 2006 FIBA tournament on the way to the gold. Their only loss was an embarassing 37 point loss to the U.S. in the prelim rounds of this tourney. Before the soccer team won the European Championship the basketball team was the biggest thing going in this country of sporting fanatics and champs.(Don't forget  Raphael Nadal and the Indy 500 champ are from there too.)

    Another blowout loss would not be acceptable to a team that won a final without Pau Gasol or going home to that rabid public. 

    It was two powers set on a collision course.  It was Batman vs. the Joker. Ali vs. Frazier. Paris vs. Nicole Rithchie.  The U.S. ultimately won but it was the game that won more. Never before had we watched a team that physically look liked they could play right with the U.S. Spain was lobbing the ball for dunks, crossing people over with Fernadez and the softest tear drops where provided by Navarro. Spain looked very capable of beating the U.S. team into Kobe stepped in and really lifted his team to victory.

    What was most intersting about this game though is the way the Spanish would switch from man to man to a 2-3 zone. The matchup of styles make any sports interesting, and the U.S. and Spain have different styles. Defensively the U.S. likes pressure while the Spaniards want to confuse you.

    In the end it was running, execution and even some defense which doesn't seem quite fitting when one team the score is 118-107 in a 40 minute game. Somewhere kids and adults all over the globe will see what great teamwork and talent the game of basketball requires. Like before in 1992 many young players now dreamed of playing alongside the greats of the dream team. Its always something to see a championship game where the play is elevated to something of a truly grand nature.

    The challenge of international play has only made international competetions more compelling for everyone. Remember Indy in 2002. Those arenas were half full most of the time. "Who wants to see some foreign guy I can't pronouce and never heard of?" Yep that was the sentiment. 

    Now by 2010 the next upcoming international basketball competition, FIBA 2010 will be widely watched in many nations including this one. Remember basketball fans really don't mind missing a game or two of August baseball. (I know I don't)

    Think the stakes won't be high next time around? Spain will be defending their title and will have this loss firmly in their memory. 

   Its good to see that basketball is hitting a fevor pitch in the path of soccer. Hopefully one day it'll be a tournament where the top 3 or 4 NBA teams can play the top Euro clubs. That'll be great.