Offensive and inappropriate or respectful and heart-fealt?
I find it offensive and inappropriate. These players do not know the hardships the soldiers they were soluting in Vegas have gone through. They must think they are being cute and everything, but it just makes me think "who the hell do you think you are?"
I'm probably going overboard on this, but I think it needs to stop. Especially now that the soldiers are not in the actual arena en masse like in Vegas. Besides, the international crowd doesn't necessarily support the war in Iraq.
thats the problem when you let a bunch of idiots think they own the world.
eventually they'll get railed again in the Olympics and they will look foolish for this.
Offensive and inappropriate or respectful and heart-ful?
I find it offensive and inappropriate. These players do not know the hardships the soldiers they were soluting in Vegas have gone through. They must think they are being cute and everything, but it just makes me think "who the hell do you think you are?"
I'm probably going overboard on this, but I think it needs to stop. Especially now that the soldiers are not in the actual arena en masse like in Vegas. Besides, the international crowd doesn't necessarily support the war in Iraq.
:rollingeyes:
How many times has this same topic been posted on this board only to get the same response everytime?They are saluting the soldiers.On NBA TV they showed all the soldiers at the games talking about how they appreciate this team repping the USA and all that other stuff.I remember them showing this solider that was blind and had a piece of his head blown off or something.He was chatting with D Wade.
No offense joewait, but I expected you to disagree with me. Yeah, I'm stereotyping you as a Texan.
And applenader, if you were a soldier who risked your life for the country, would you appreciate a player mocking a military gesture while running around playing a game and having fun? I would not.
Look at it another way: other players and fans (not team USA fans) don't want to equate team USA to the American army. Unless the players are extremely dumb or insensitive which none are (except maybe carmelo, although I respect his play during the past month), then they know what they are doing isn't appreciated by others. And that's unsportsmanlike. Yes, sportsmanship is important, behaving like a baffoon on an international stage isn't "cool".
No offense joewait, but I expected you to disagree with me. Yeah, I'm stereotyping you as a Texan.
And applenader, if you were a soldier who risked your life for the country, would you appreciate a player mocking a military gesture while running around playing a game and having fun? I would not.
Look at it another way: other players and fans (not team USA fans) don't want to equate team USA to the American army. Unless the players are extremely dumb or insensitive which none are (except maybe carmelo, although I respect his play during the past month), then they know what they are doing isn't appreciated by others. And that's unsportsmanlike. Yes, sportsmanship is important, behaving like a baffoon on an international stage isn't "cool".
why does everyone here think I'm from texas? i've only been there twice in my life.
I am sure if the soldiers didn't find it appropriate they'd know about it.....you do know where Coach K is from right?
Citadel right or what;sit called in Virginia.....He's Military.....he wouldn't let them do it and they'd stop...they aren't that type....like the armed forces they rep the country .....
whateva....I guess someone has to have a bug up their ass and its you.
How many times has this same topic been posted on this board only to get the same response everytime?They are saluting the soldiers.On NBA TV they showed all the soldiers at the games talking about how they appreciate this team repping the USA and all that other stuff.
I haven't seen other threads on this which is something I was curious about before. Maybe I missed them, sorry if I did.
Quote:
I remember them showing this solider that was blind and had a piece of his head blown off or something.He was chatting with D Wade.
So? Is that supposed to make the saluting ok? Dwyane Wade doing a great alley-oop and a salute is not him showing his appreciation for the soldier's sacrifice, it's to look cool. Don't say I'm wrong, we all know the players are just trying to be cool. I'm not saying their is no respect involved, their is because of the fact they chose the salute rather than a motor cycle rev'ing or something, but the pith and substance of the act is trying to look good.
But I digress. Is getting a spectacular 2 points as great a gift to your country as sacrificing, for example, your sight and some of your head? NO. So stop trivializing the salute and play the damn game. It's not fighting a war, it's playing a freaking game.
Salute is heart felt, and cool. They are giving props to the troops in attendence. It makes them feel even more with us, and giving US inspiration even on the basketball court. They deserve the representation. It's good for us.
I am sure if the soldiers didn't find it appropriate they'd know about it.....you do know where Coach K is from right?
Citadel right or what;sit called in Virginia.....He's Military.....he wouldn't let them do it and they'd stop...they aren't that type....like the armed forces they rep the country .....
whateva....I guess someone has to have a bug up their ass and its you.
I like Bron, Wade and the others but I think it's inappropriate. Just another example of wayward American arrogance. What other teams do that kind of thing? Sure other teams celebrate but that's just an unecessary move. It's also tactfully not smart because the FIBA refs already have a bias against us and I'm sure it adds to their views about arrogant, cocky Americans.
Don't think you'd see Serbian, Croatian, etc. players salute because I believe it's just not in their nature to showboat like that. You don't think many of these players have come from war torn countries?? That they haven't seen the horrors of combat? That they don't know of sacrifices their fellow countryman have made because of war?
The NBA is different, and I don't mind reasonable showmanship, but when you're playing internationally I think a little more restraint should be shown.
Team USA's saluting
