<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert was released from the team after Tuesday’s defeat to Slovenia. “Without going into too much detail, it’s a situation that we decided to move forward with the players who have the passion and desire to play for Canada,” Rautins said. “It’s disappointing for sure, but I think you have to have players who are a 100% committed to it. “If not, it’s not going to happen for us.” If Canada qualify for the Beijing Games, they will be able to add another player to replace Dalembert.</div> http://www.athens2008.fiba.com/pages/eng/f...eNews_arti.html
Wow, that was quick. I was just listening to Dalembert on the radio a week or so ago, talking about how happy he was to have this opportunity to play for Canada. I heard that the problem arose from what Dalembert's role would be on the team. Rautins saw him as a defensive and rebounding anchor, much like on the Sixers. I think Dalembert saw this as an opportunity to diversify his game and become more of an offensive weapon, and wanted the team's gameplan to reflect that. I have to side with Rautins on this one. The National team isn't some sort of developmental program where individuals can showcase their abilities. Sam may very well have warranted a bigger role on the team's offense, but I'm guessing that he justified it in respect to his own desires, rather than the team's well-being. Dalembert said he was partly doing this as a favour to his mother, who immigrated here and still lives around Montreal. I hope she gives him a good ass whooping over this.
Well, I guess this is what happens when you don't work hard. Maybe he can go and bring Haiti to the top .
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JFizzleRaider @ Jul 16 2008, 12:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>lol, so Canada is going to suck even more.</div> all of the games they won this summer have been without Sammy so I'm not sure you have any idea what you're talking about. stick to being a lakers fanboy.
so we get Croatia or Peurto Rico next?? pffff Sammy or no Sammy we're not making the final 3 and the Olympics IMO.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shookem @ Jul 16 2008, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JFizzleRaider @ Jul 16 2008, 12:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>lol, so Canada is going to suck even more.</div> all of the games they won this summer have been without Sammy so I'm not sure you have any idea what you're talking about. stick to being a lakers fanboy. </div> this shows your intelligence. I'm not a Lakers fanboy as evidenced by me saying lol crybaby under sasha being a baby. You can't deny Sammy is the best player Canada had on the roster. No way Canada could compete for a medal at all.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Celtic Fan @ Jul 16 2008, 01:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>so we get Croatia or Peurto Rico next?? pffff Sammy or no Sammy we're not making the final 3 and the Olympics IMO.</div> Thank you, a poster with some sense.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shookem @ Jul 16 2008, 02:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JFizzleRaider @ Jul 16 2008, 12:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>lol, so Canada is going to suck even more.</div> all of the games they won this summer have been without Sammy so I'm not sure you have any idea what you're talking about. stick to being a lakers fanboy. </div> He is a Blazers fan
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JFizzleRaider @ Jul 16 2008, 01:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shookem @ Jul 16 2008, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JFizzleRaider @ Jul 16 2008, 12:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>lol, so Canada is going to suck even more.</div> all of the games they won this summer have been without Sammy so I'm not sure you have any idea what you're talking about. stick to being a lakers fanboy. </div> this shows your intelligence. I'm not a Lakers fanboy as evidenced by me saying lol crybaby under sasha being a baby. You can't deny Sammy is the best player Canada had on the roster. No way Canada could compete for a medal at all. </div> Perhaps with federation rules but this is fiba bro. Sammy wasn't able to play the transition game that Leo needs this team to play. Fiba is a different animal and thus, why the States can't get near gold. do you watch international ball? do you have any idea of how a national team in a nation like Canada works? Even with Sam on the roster he was not the 'best' player as you say.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JFizzleRaider @ Jul 16 2008, 01:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shookem @ Jul 16 2008, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JFizzleRaider @ Jul 16 2008, 12:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>lol, so Canada is going to suck even more.</div> all of the games they won this summer have been without Sammy so I'm not sure you have any idea what you're talking about. stick to being a lakers fanboy. </div> this shows your intelligence. I'm not a Lakers fanboy as evidenced by me saying lol crybaby under sasha being a baby. You can't deny Sammy is the best player Canada had on the roster. No way Canada could compete for a medal at all. </div> Nobody's denying that he was our most talented player. But he hasn't been our best player in the games that we've played so far. I'd say Rowan Barrett takes that label. We probably weren't going to contend for a medal even with Sam, but we'll see. I'm hoping the momentum from our comeback win over Korea spills into our next match.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JFizzleRaider @ Jul 16 2008, 01:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Celtic Fan @ Jul 16 2008, 01:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>so we get Croatia or Peurto Rico next?? pffff Sammy or no Sammy we're not making the final 3 and the Olympics IMO.</div> Thank you, a poster with some sense. </div> c'mon the team is ranked 17. three teams make the cut. basic logic dictates the odds are against them - that's logic bro, pure math. i'm curious where you found a comment in this thread that said the team would make the cut.
he wasn't even the most talented. my favourite (I'm rocking his jersey right now). he was the biggest. he has played the most in the NBA. why people only associate the NBA with talent is beyond me. there's talent everywhere in the world right now.
I know there is other talent in the world and that its a different game than the NBA one. I just logically don't think Canada has much of a chance and in my opinion Sammy was there best player. I mean I don't know everything about Canada basketball, and am not saying I know half as much as you, but from my view Canada hasn't been relevant in international play since Nash. When they got Sammy I thought it was a pretty good pickup for them (as I love him as a player). Maybe it didn't translate as well for them as hoped, but you can't deny he's the best individual basketball talent on that team. Plus you insulted me by calling me a laker fanboy LOL couldn't be further from the truth.
perhaps i was a little quick to the draw with the fanboy comment - sorry about that. but when you come into a forum that you know will have a lot of Canadians in it, maybe it's best to avoid saying things like, "lol, so Canada is going to suck even more." Especially, when you have little to back it up. Sammy was the most well known player. he was to be the face of the team and was promoted as such. Also you say Canada hasn't been relevant since Nash but again that speaks to your lack of knowledge of international ball. With that comment, you've dismissed that incredable achievements of our junior national, women's and wheelchair basketball teams. The other thing you need to consider is that the Olympics are a 12 team tounrament so for a team ranked 17th to make it would be pretty darn good. beyond that. i'm not sure anyone else on this forum has seen this Canadian team play as much as I. Not to boast but I worked at the recent exhibition games (where Canada went 3-1 without Sammy), I went to the try outs etc. trust me when i say that the loss of Sammy is significant (and personally devistating as he is one of my favourite players) but it isn't the death blow for the team - it just looks bad to the people who look at ESPN for the basketball opinion.
I'm glad he's gone in a way because Joel Anthony gets to make a name for himself. So crazy how well we play with him over Dalembert anyways. I believe!
