Over the past few weeks I have been asked to share my thoughts and opinions towards a potential boycott of this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Having gone through a boycott once already – the Moscow Olympics of 1980, I find it somewhat hard to believe that athletes could once again be used as political pawns.

    Our Olympic Team of 1980 was arguably the best basketball team Canada has ever assembled. Jack Donohue, after a 4th place finish in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, brought in a brand new group of players and spent the next four years teaching them how to win at the international level. Sure, there were a couple of veterans that hung in there for the long haul to help Coach D – namely Martin Riley and Romel Raffin, but that was it.

    The legendary Billy Robinson made a brief appearance in ’77, but felt it was his time to let the game go, as did big Phil Tollestrup, by 1979. Even Jamie Russell – who lit up the Soviet Union in a historic win at Maple Leaf Gardens, battled injuries and the rigors of medical school for a few years, but was gone by 1980.

    So there we were, all summer long, from 1977 thru the spring of 1980, sacrificing, practicing, learning, fighting, and working towards an Olympic medal. Our core group, competed in two World University Games, the Pan American Games, the Worlds in Manila, the Intercontinental Cup, countless international tournaments and exhibitions -under conditions I cannot begin to explain, training camps with not only double – but triple sessions (try selling that idea to today’s player!!), all culminating in our team qualifying for the Moscow Olympics – the only Canadian team to make the cut.

    I can honestly say, I have never competed with a group that played more as a team, cared more for each other, had as much fun on and off the court together, and loved and respected their coach, as much as that team of 1980. There have been more talented teams – but none more committed to winning than this team.

    We never had our chance to play for a medal in Moscow. Despite the pain, I supported the decision to boycott the Olympics. It wasn’t until after the fact, when we had a chance to see what little impact the boycott actually had, did the real sense of loss set in. Instead of using sport and its participants as a powerful voice to expose moral and political wrongs – vocal cords were severed and spirit was broken.

    There is strong indication that a boycott is not likely to occur this summer. Sure, there might be a few political heavyweights – that were somehow missing in action when Beijing was awarded the games - that might avoid the opening ceremonies (ouch!), but hopefully that will be the extent of it.

    Maybe this time, the athletes who travel the world and see first hand how human rights are violated, and how certain governments control and manipulate their masses, can use their profile and lofty status to bring attention to those less fortunate, and in need of help from their fellow man. If you ask me - that would truly be an Olympic accomplishment, encompassing the spirit of the games. I’m pretty sure that there are at least eleven other guys that would have given anything for that chance! Here’s to you - Moose, V, Rom, Reni, Jay Bird, Big Z, Marty, Bish, Doc, Howie, and

Perry – it would have been a blast!

Follow up:

    Hey…a 3-6 match-up!! It’s karma! The Raptors season was meant to be. Everything happens for a reason, and unless the Raptors finished first and were playing Atlanta, they could not have been given a more compatible first round opponent then Orlando. Hopefully the players see the chance they have been afforded and go after the Magic.

    We have some keen ‘ballers’ asking questions….and…providing the answers!! You guys are saving me a lot of work. Lot’s of good young talent out there, but this is not the year to just toss someone out there for the experience. Read back on the ranking blog – four teams that are ranked ahead of Canada will be watching the Olympics on TV this summer – and they collectively have 19 NBA players on their rosters!! What I’m trying to say here is, you go into the qualifier without experience – and you’re toast!

    There is the potential for turnover on our team – if, and only if, it will make us better. Every player has to know, that if there is someone out there that can make us better, he will be on the team. Now that doesn’t necessarily mean more talented – it could, but it could also have to do with that player providing better chemistry, cohesion, specialty skill, more size, etc…etc…