I interrupt this blog silence for this important commercial message: Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard apologized for dissing the national anthem because people didn't like him any more.
First of all, Howard is just an idiot. If he was stupid enough to insult America in the first place, he's stupid enough to think that we'll believe his apology is sincere. He apparently needs to listen to more Timbaland. It's too late to apologize.
Second of all, I thank him for opening the door for late rant. There was plenty that bothered me about the Olympics -- don't get me started on China. But right up near the top is the fact that there wasn't a flag to be seen when the United States men's basketball team won the gold medal.
There were plenty of symbols, the Nike swoosh most obvious among them. But for Lebron James or Kobe Bryant or Carmelo Anthony to tell us that he's playing for America? Please. That's like Josh Howard saying he really does respect the national anthem.
After the final against Australia, yup, no question the so-called Redeem Team deserved gold. And a Redeem Team they were. But they weren't trying to re-establish the United States as a world basketball power. They were playing to redeem themselves, polish their bronzed and bruised egos.
Maybe I had too many pictures of Jim Craig taped up around my room in high school, but if they had won it for America, there would have been a flag. Maybe carried by Dwayne Wade in a victory lap around the arena. Or maybe wrapped around Jason Kidd's shoulders on the medal stand as the Star-Spangled Banner was played.
But that's a little much to expect from an NBA posse. Doesn't matter who they playing for, it's only about claiming the reward.
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