Re: Jerry Colangelo makes it clear Jermaine O'Neal won't be playing for Team USA <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>O'Neal may want to rethink his thought about inquiring to play with Team USA next summer.Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo said in today's Denver Post that O'Neal won't be part of the team.Colangelo asked O'Neal last season to play with Team USA, but the Pacers' All-Star forward declined because he had a groin injury and didn't want to make the required three-year commitment."No, he won't be there," Colangelo told the Denver Post. "He was asked and there was no interest at the time. And remember, I was looking for individuals that were going to make a three-year commitment. There's no pass. You can't show up late for the dance. And that's just a general statement."I also said we had the flexibility of adding or deleting because we kind of set up our own infrastructure. But I want to be consistent with commitments I made to all the players.""I had an injury," O'Neal said Saturday night. "If that disappointed them that I was trying to get healthy, then I don't want to play. First and foremost, I have to make sure that my body is healthy to play for the Indiana Pacers. I was coming off a serious (groin) injury. That's no problem if they don't want me to play. Good luck to them."</div>Damn...I think Colangelo was being a little too rough. O'Neal didnt want to aggravate his groin injury anymore, and he just didnt feel like he could play last summer. If Colangelo did let him try out, he would probably take Jamison, or Brad Milller's spot on the rotation. I think he would be a good add. The only guy on Team USA who has a serious post game is Elton Brand, and he wasnt that impressive in my opinion.
Re: Jerry Colangelo makes it clear Jermaine O'Neal won't be playing for Team USA Yes, he may have been overly harsh. But I think that it sets a good precedent. There were other people who had injuries or other things keeping them from playing, but they handled it in a way that left the door open.Look at Kobe Bryant.The man had surgery in the offseason that kept him from participating, but he's still going to be able to play. I'm not sure about how it went down, but didn't he still travel to support the team?
