There is no greater honor in sports than representing your country on a world stage. The problem is, Fantasy sports go by a very different honor code.
Just ask the guy in your league who pulled off a "questionable" deal with the newbie who didn't know what he was doing. Or the commissioner who wouldn't let you remake your pick after you inadvertently took Rasual Butler instead of Caron Butler. In Fantasy, it's all about getting an edge on your opponents. Sometimes, by any means necessary.
Olympic gold isn't going to matter much to Fantasy owners when their player gets off to a slow start come November because they didn't get their usual breather over the summer. National pride isn't going to come up when Fantasy owners are whining about their player that got nicked up in Beijing.
For that reason, the announcement of the 12-man roster that will represent the United States at the Olympic Games was of considerable importance to Fantasy owners looking ahead to the 2008-09 season as will similar announcements around the world in the coming weeks.
|
|
| Manu Ginobili doesn't give his body time to heal constantly playing for Argentina. (Getty Images) |
The Cleveland Cavaliers already made an interesting move when they decided not to permit veteran center Zydrunas Ilgauskas to represent his native Lithuania in China due to his history of injuries. LeBron James, the end-all-be-all of the franchise, will be suiting up in the red, white and blue, however.
Take that, Lithuania. And add a couple of bonus points to Big Z's Fantasy value this fall now that he'll be fresh and ready to go.
Does that mean King James won't be the consensus No. 1 overall pick this season? No way. He's only 23 and has the physical makeup of a Mack truck. Unless he goes down with a significant injury, the consequences of his participation in these Olympics (and all other international play before and after them) won't catch up with him for years -- if at all.
Michael Jordan competed on two Olympic teams -- winning gold medals in 1984 as an amateur and in 1992 as part of the original "Dream Team". He averaged 32.6 points in the season after the '92 Olympics, the fourth highest scoring average of his illustrious career, and only missed four games all year.
Amare Stoudemire took it upon himself to decline an invitation join Team USA, citing injury concerns. He had an injury-free season in 2007-08 after coming back from knee surgeries in 2005 and 2006.
Good for him, the Suns and Fantasy owners everywhere.
Manu Ginobili, on the other hand, is hoping to play through an ankle injury in order to try to help Argentina defend its gold medal. The 30-year-old suffered an ankle injury recently and is wearing an orthopedic boot.
If anyone needs rest this summer, it's Ginobili. He's been donning Argentina's sky-blue and white every offseason since 1998. He hasn't gotten much rest in the last decade and that could be a reason why he averages missing nearly 10 games per season in the NBA.
Spain's Pau Gasol will be pushing himself beyond any limits he has at any other point in his career this season after getting out of the first round of the NBA playoffs for the first time in his career. Having made it all the way to the NBA Finals with the Lakers this season and with a Spanish team that is considered a contender this summer, he will be a player Fantasy owners should have a little bit of concern over. Especially when you consider his numbers might already be taking a hit while playing alongside promising young center Andrew Bynum in the low post next season.
Gasol's teammate, Kobe Bryant may also be putting himself at risk of a slow start next season by participating in the Olympics.
Bryant has been putting off surgery on his right pinky ever since he tore a ligament back in February. He said he'd wait until the offseason, which has been shortened for him due to his trip to the Finals and with the Olympic basketball tournament not finishing until late August, it's possible Kobe will be forced to miss at least some portion of the preseason.
Dwyane Wade missed the final 21 games of the regular season due to chronic soreness in his surgically repaired left knee in an attempt to keep him fresh for the upcoming season. But he'll be taking his gritty, bump-and-grind slashing ability to China against some solid international competition.
And no other player in this summer's Olympics will have as much weight on his shoulders as Yao Ming. The Chinese national hero will be looked upon to lead the host nation deep into the tournament. He's coming off a stress fracture in his foot and has had each of his last three seasons end prematurely due to injuries.
Carlos Boozer and Chris Bosh have had some injury history in their brief NBA careers, but both players are young and appear to be at full strength. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has voiced some concern over the risk a couple of his investments will be taking this summer with Dirk Nowitzki (representing Germany) and Jason Kidd. At Kidd's age, there could be a legitimate concern, but he won't be playing heavy minutes with Chris Paul on the team anyway.
