Pay NBA stars to play in olympics?

Pay NBA stars to play in olympics?

  • Yes, they are pros. and deserve to be paid anytime they are "working".

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Come on, it's the Olympics. No they should not be paid.

    Votes: 25 100.0%
  • Total voters
    25
B

Bubba1235

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Was reading a couple of articles about NBA players that want to be paid to play in the Olympics. The argument is the Olympic committee is paid handsomely from their efforts so the players should get a piece of the pie.

My personal view is these guys are very well paid, receive a ton of good PR from participating, and, well it doesn?t hurt anyone to show a little patriotism, especially for amounts to a paid vacation, fan admiration from around the world and all the good times they have while at the Olympics.

I also wonder if paying them doesn?t slam the door on armatures that are Olympic hopefuls.


Thoughts?
 
bruceb58

bruceb58

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Re: Pay NBA stars to play in olympics?

Bubba1235 said:
I also wonder if paying them doesn’t slam the door on armatures that are Olympic hopefuls.
Click to expand...
This poor guy won't have a chance if they start paying the pros! :)
web_brush_armaturemet.jpg
 
R

rockyrude

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Re: Pay NBA stars to play in olympics?

Well, I guess there are two points of view. One can get this thread locked pretty quick. As I understand it, the US is the only country that does not have paid "professionals" in the Olympics, I agree that the P.R. is immense and the intent of the Olympics has been pretty much lost. Getting a piece of the pie is what cost a shortened season.
 
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rockyrude

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Re: Pay NBA stars to play in olympics?

I guess the amount they make is irrelevant, it's the fact they are paid. I feel our pros are obscenely paid for our entertainment. You are correct about Jim Thorpe.
 
bruceb58

bruceb58

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Re: Pay NBA stars to play in olympics?

They shouldn't be paid. If they want to represent their country, they can do it on their own dime. They aren't required to do it so they don't need to be paid.
 
M

minuteman62-64

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Re: Pay NBA stars to play in olympics?

That was Dwyane Wade that most recently brought that up. He has since crawled back under a rock.

There are plenty of amateurs (hope I got that right :) ) and pros who will represent us very well and play simply for the honor of doing so.
 
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L

lovewater

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Re: Pay NBA stars to play in olympics?

Seriously its a true honor to represent America in the Olympics, and its not like they NEED the money. Under a rock is a great place for Dwyane Wade for even bringing the subject up!
 
M

mscher

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Re: Pay NBA stars to play in olympics?

rockyrude said:
Well, I guess there are two points of view. One can get this thread locked pretty quick. As I understand it, the US is the only country that does not have paid "professionals" in the Olympics, I agree that the P.R. is immense and the intent of the Olympics has been pretty much lost. Getting a piece of the pie is what cost a shortened season.
Click to expand...

I always like it, when America is not like most other Countries.

I could care less about the Olympics, but overall, I'd rather see College or amateur players there, win or lose, than prima-donna pros.

We once had an Amateur hockey team, that beat Russian professionals, for a gold medal.

That was something to truely be proud of. Multi-million dollar atheletes - no so much.
 
JB

JB

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Re: Pay NBA stars to play in olympics?

"We once had an Amateur hockey team, that beat Russian professionals, for a gold medal."

Our hockey team did defeat the Russian pros in the 1980 Olympics, but not for the Gold Medal. One of the greatest upsets in Olympic history. The Russkies didn't make it to the Gold Medal game, which was won by the American Team. Don't remember who they beat for that.
 
G

generator12

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Re: Pay NBA stars to play in olympics?

This kind of stuff is what has prevented me from EVER caring about NBA basketball. From Sprewell needing 200 million because "I have to feed my family", to the glare at the fans after a slam-dunk, to Carmelo's whining about not getting the ball enough, etc. etc.

Too many cry-babies, too much "hey look at me", and not enough respect for the game itself.

You know, if you act that way on a MLB field, it's not long before you're catching 90MPH fastballs in the ribs. But in the NBA, it's the norm.

I live in an NBA city, but - no thanks.
 
kenmyfam

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Re: Pay NBA stars to play in olympics?

Amateurs only in my opinion. That should go right accross the board in the olympics as well.
 
WIMUSKY

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Re: Pay NBA stars to play in olympics?

mscher said:
I always like it, when America is not like most other Countries.

I could care less about the Olympics, but overall, I'd rather see College or amateur players there, win or lose, than prima-donna pros.

We once had an Amateur hockey team, that beat Russian professionals, for a gold medal.

That was something to truely be proud of. Multi-million dollar atheletes - no so much.
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That pretty much sums it up for me too. Except, I like the Olympics. Once they started using pro athletes instead of college kids, I completely lost interest in that part of the games. Then it's like the NBA is playing themselves. Lots of the NBA players go back and play for their "home" country. No interest........
 
kfa4303

kfa4303

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Re: Pay NBA stars to play in olympics?

so glad to see we're all in agreement here. It's crazy enough that pros get to play anyway. Now we gotta pay 'em :/ ? How much for them to grace us with their presence, I wonder? Would they even notice it? Surely they get olympic and personal endorsements, etc....they can make money off of. Look at Micheal Phleps. He's still doing Subway commercials years after the games in which he appeared. Call me crazy, but isn't it still pretty cool to be asked to play for your country, where ever that may be?
 
LippCJ7

LippCJ7

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Re: Pay NBA stars to play in olympics?

First off I don't see the Olympics as an amateur event, its the best athletes in the world representing their country, THE BEST ATHLETES, you get an all expenses paid trip to the hosting country to represent me and my family, but if you bite the hand that feeds you I have the option of telling you to pound sand, represent the Country proudly and with a high level of Sportsmanship, do the Flag Proud or don't bother trying out.
 
LippCJ7

LippCJ7

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Re: Pay NBA stars to play in olympics?

JB said:
Don't remember who they beat for that.
Click to expand...

The USA beat Finland to win the gold but it was a different format then it is now, round robin playoff followed be reseeding and another round robin medal round instead of the current round robin playoff followed be the medal head to head round of the top 4 teams, which is much better, Finland wound up not getting a medal since they won the least amount of games in the medal round, Russia won the Silver and USA won the gold, obviously it worked out properly in the standings but we have grown to like the final game be the most important.

Final standings in 1980
Gold USA
Silver Russia
Bronze Sweden
4th place Finland

Sorry but the 1980 USA Olympic Hockey team is a passion of mine
 
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