I did not catch the Olympic basketball game between USA and Puerto Rico, but I am happy with the results: Puerto Rico won, 92-73. I have absolutely no national allegiance to Puerto Rico. What I'm celebrating is the triumph of Utah Jazz point guard Carlos Arroyo. Arroyo did an admirable job taking over the position vacated by the retired John Stockton, a player who epitomized hard work and hard play over glitz and glamor. There were many games last year where Arroyo took over, with a great amount of cool, in a crutch. Even Allen Iverson admits it:
“International basketball is so different from the NBA,” Jose Ortiz said. “They probably didn’t know because of how young they are. I saw them a little panicked, but they were down 20 points, what can you do?”
Whistles and jeers greeted the Americans as they emerged from the locker room after halftime, but the crowd gave them some support when they tried to get back in the game in the third quarter. But each time the Americans tried to make a run, Puerto Rico had an answer.
“They play the game the way it’s supposed to be played,” Iverson said. “It’s not about athletics. That’s the game the way Karl Malone and John Stockton play it. It’s good for kids to see how the game is supposed to be played.”
After watching Detroit last year, and after watching the Jazz do a decent run last year (especially when another hard working player, Matt Harpring, was able to play), I'm hoping that we see more hard work and great teams appreciated again in the NBA. The mediocre play of the flashy superstar teams (Lakers, 76ers) over the last couple of years hopefully show that the age of the glitz is over.