Dream Team Sparks Unpleasant Visions

I can remember when we would select our very best amateur athletes, spend a period of time in training and then go to the Olympics with the feeling we would get the best possible effort from each individual or team. We would root for them to win, but win or lose, we still thanked them for their efforts.

Needless to say, we won our share of the gold, and above all, our athletes were respected worldwide.

Now that spirit is no longer accepted by the media, particularly the TV networks, who pay hefty fees for the rights to televise the events and must have winners from the U.S. to justify their expenditures. To ensure this in basketball, they have arranged to hire the so-called best players from the NBA.

I wonder how the people will react when these pampered, overpaid, overrated men complain when they are called for walking with the ball, palming the ball, charging set opponents, double dribble, holding, etc., which is their style of play, but not basketball as it should be played and not the way it will be played in the Olympics.

RAY MEYER

Oceanside