Now You Can Call Them the Redeem Team

So it wasn't as easy as everyone thought it'd be, but after eight years, two third-place finishes and an abysmal sixth place finish in 2002, the U.S. men's basketball team is on top of the world again. Go ahead, call'em the Redeem Team.

I was amazed by the level of play put on by the Americans. And not how skilled they were, but the teamwork. It made me change my mind about the current status of USA basketball. They shared the ball. They played for each other. Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, on the bench with early foul trouble, cheered on their teammates. This was definitely a team, something we haven't seen since 1992.

The U.S., in year's past, had been able to overpower, and use their sheer individual talents to defeat international opponents. But since the turn of the century, sheer skill wasn't enough. And now, I truly believe, the Americans finally know how to win on the international stage.

Hopefully that translates into the NBA product. How about a little more ball-sharing? How about a little more sacrifice? How about some defense? (though none was displayed in that gold medal game).

So, the Americans did what they came to do, and they did it in an un-American way (at least in terms of professional sport).

Here are some other observations from the game:

• I wish I hadn't been such a snob and actually watched the Olympic basketball tournament. Not for the games, per se, but for the theme music. I forgot that NBC brings back the old NBA on NBC theme for the Games. Gosh I miss it.

• I questioned Dwayne Wade's intention and health going into the Games. Uhm, not anymore. He looks like a better player than he was before his injury. If he can knock down the perimeter jumper on a consistent basis like he did last night, the Heat will be in the playoffs (but that's not saying much in the East).

• RICKY RUBIO! YOU'RE ONLY 17?!!!! WHAT?!!!

• Spain's uniforms makes me want to add an "N" at the end of that "ESP." By the way, the ESP is short for Espana.

• Dwight Howard has to be embarrassed. He let Rudy Fernandez dunk on him. WHAT?!

• Kobe can finally say that he can win without Shaq.

• Speaking of which, I wonder if Kobe and Pau Gasol's relationship will be strained after this.

• FIBA referees suck more than NBA refs. And I thought that no refs were any worse than NBA refs.

• Jason Kidd really did have to remind his teammates to salute the flag during the medal ceremony. Nice PR move.

• I know Mike Breen and Doug Collins are the American broadcasters, but the players shaking their hands after the game, totally unprofessional on Breen and Collins' part.

• Let's hope the Americans don't get too cocky and lose the 2010 FIBA championship.