The Olympics Blog » Basketball

Spain’s Olympic Basketball Team: Racists or Just Foolish Dudes?

bill — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:42:00 +0000

What do you think of this? And what were these guys thinking? If they were looking for a way to make the otherwise friendly Chinese fans unfriendly, then they sure found a pretty good way to do it.

For context, this is an pre-Olympic Games advertisement for a courier company. Whoever conceptualized this ad deserves to be fired for any of the following reasons: a) racism, b) outright stupidity, and c) cultural insensitivity and cluelessness.

Photo source: NY Times

Rohanee Cox Goes to Beijing

bill — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:51:00 +0000

Meet the newest member of our Dara Mama Club: Australian basketball player, Rohanee Cox. Here’s some info about Rohanee from olympics.com.au:

During the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) season in 2000, Rohanee Cox suffered severe anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage to her left knee.

The injury looked sure to end her basketball career when two seasons later while playing for Perth, she damaged the same knee again.

“Back then, I never thought I would play basketball again,” Cox said.

“I lost my passion for the game and took much needed time out.”

During her time away from professional basketball, her life went down a new path with the birth of her daughter Alyriah.

“She’s very important to me. She is part of the reason I got back into playing.”

[snip]

After impressive form in the national team’s 2008 international series and camps, Cox earned herself a ticket to Beijing.

“I’m ecstatic, absolutely over the moon,” Cox said. “It’s left me speechless and with a smile I just can’t get off my face.

“It hasn’t been easy balancing basketball with a family, but I have a great support group and I know they are backing me all the way.

“My daughter may not really know why I am going away in August, but I know she will be watching and that makes me feel so good.”

Cox will also play a special role in Beijing, as one of Australia’s proud Indigenous Olympians.

Yay. From an indigenous blogger to an indigenous Olympian, good luck to you Rohanee.

In case you are wondering, Australia’s women’s basketball team settled for the silver [to the United States] in the two previous Olympics. However, the Aussies just might grab the gold this time around. They are, after all, the reigning FIBA World Champions.

Photo source: cairns.com

Face of the Day: Yao Ming

bill — Sat, 17 May 2008 12:32:00 +0000

What are you thinking, buddy?

The Two Sides of Erin Philips

bill — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:08:00 +0000

Erin Philips, the basketball player. She’s a member of the Australian basketball team that won the 2006 World Basketball Championship.

And Errin Philips, the male magazine model. Now, just because she’s modeling doesn’t mean she’s forgotten about basketball. In fact, she’s got some warning to her team’s main rivals in Beijing.

According to The Herald Sun:”The World Champs definitely put us at the top, and other teams are respecting us a lot more. If I was the USA or Russia, I’d be worried.”

She also said something like, “We’re not going to be team USA’s little bitch.” Good for you Errin, at the time of Dubya, no one wants to be USA’s little bitch.

Anyways, are you looking for more Olympic hotties? Click here.

PHOTO CREDITS: Herald Sun and courant.com