This is what it is all about

The Olympic games are what sport is all about and even know they seem to not be as popular as they once were, they are still a joy to watch every four years. This year with over 200 countries participating was no different, as the games returned to their origin in Athens, Greece.

There have been professionals added in some sports, various doping allegations, but beyond all that the games themselves and the athletes who compete in them are as pure as it gets. These athletes give it their all, working year-around for the simple love of their respective game. There are thousands of athletes getting exposure to their country and sport who only get recognized every four years.

The track athletes have been training day and night since the end of the 2000 games hoping to get that chance to run in the Olympics and maybe just maybe have the opportunity to run for gold. The same can be said for the swimmers and gymnasts who leave their families at young ages to go train at the top facilities in the world. They are dedicated to their sport like none other and for most Olympians the chance of making millions is not even an option, but it is the quest for Olympic gold that fuels their fire.

Examples of this in this year's games are plentiful like when 270-pound, American wrestler Rulon Gardner left his wrestling shoes in the middle of the matt as tears streamed down the goliath's face after his final match ever. Or after a last place finisher in the marathon raises their hands in jubilation just for being able to compete and finish in the Olympics.

These two weeks every four years are full of drama, ups and downs, and triumphs as well as devastating defeats. No matter what the sport is, it is great to watch these athletes complete and give their all to a sport they love.

Dream Team no longer but still the USA

USA basketball has a great deal to work on, and this year's performance was an absolute embarrassment at best. The group of NBA players that was sent to compete in Athens became the first group of players to lose an Olympic game since the start of sending professional in 1992 and to make matters worse they lost multiple games, having to settle for playing in the bronze medal game.

There is plenty of blame to go around and nobody is exempt from this. The "me first" players that declined in the first place without legitimate reason were the first problem and it is amazing how they can call themselves Americans. Obviously the USA would have won the gold with the likes of Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Garnett, Jason Kidd and even Ben Wallace on the team, but there is still plenty of players out there that could of gotten it done.

Yes, these players declined to go represent their country, but after that the selection committee did a terrible job of putting this team together. They did not take international play in consideration and formed a team with no true point guard and zero straight up jump shooters.

Yet, the 12 guys that were out there had the talent to win and overrated head coach Larry Brown did an inadequate job of coaching this team. He went back to his old antics of not playing younger players, not defending the three and not even acknowledging the three-point line on offense.

LeBron James took over the second half in a game earlier in the tournament and barely sniffed quality minutes in any games to follow. It was hard to watch Richard Jefferson and for the most part Stephon Marbury throw up bricks while Lebron and Carmelo Anthony sat on the bench.

However this team should have won in spite of the players that said no, the poor job selection committee did and sub-par coaching by Larry Brown. These guys are NBA all-stars and they should have been able to dig down deep and pull out a couple wins to win the gold. They should be ashamed to lose three plus games being the most talented team in the Olympics.

Nevertheless with all that being said, the front of their jersey still reads USA and those fellow Americans who chose to root against this team for various reasons are the real losers in this. These players actually agreed to go over there to play and it was our country's name on the line. There was no reason to root against them no mater what you think of them or the NBA.

The NBA has more than its' fair share of problems and these players are definitely a part of that, but it serves no purpose to root for the other nations of the world to come out on top. We have enough people hating America around the globe, that we do not need our own rooting against us. This team had plenty of issues and should have been able to win the gold, but to not pull for them is simply un-American.

Winners and losers of 2004 Olympic Games

Winners:

5. USA women's soccer team : Mia Hamm and company went on top by ending their unbelievable historic career with a gold medal.

4. Iraq's men's soccer team : Their country is in chaos, their team making the Olympics was an accomplishment and they almost came home with a medal.

3. Paul Hamm : After falling earlier on the pommel horse he became the first American to ever win a men's all-around gold.

2. USA women's softball team : They simply dominated every opponent, allowing only one run en route to the gold medal.

1. All who made the trip to Athens : Athletes, coaches and fans alike, the games went off without a hitch.

Losers:

5. Bob Costas : As usual who is to busy self promoting and trying to turn every line into a literary masterpiece. Bob the Olympics are even bigger than you.

4. Pointless Sports : It is great to see athletes compete in various sports, but is there really a need to have shooting, synchronized swimming, rhythmic gymnastics and men's field hockey in the Olympics.

3. Greek fans before the 200 meter men's final : The fans at the track went on to boo continuously, delaying the start of the race about 15 minutes because their Greek hero was not there because he missed two separate drug test.

2. USA basketball : They should be first on the list, but they do not deserve first even on this list.

1. Those who chose not to watch : Say what youwant about today's athlete, but the Olympics were a must see for the past two weeks.

Have and questions or comments?Agree/Disagree?Send all responses to blkovack@yahoo.com.