It counts as military service.
World Cup 2023
- Thread starter Swuul
- Start date
It's pushing his luck. But I hope that happens since it's a done deal.
I forgot about that. I but so does exercising in the gym for him. It seems anything he wants to do counts.
So nobody competes for being the best? Last I checked USA was 7th best in the previous World Cup. Hurraah, I guess.
Somebody should also immediatly inform Jokic, Luka, Giannis et al they are tier two players.
It never ceases to amaze me how little pride people from USA have for their own country. Even in Canada people fight for the right to present their country, not to mention Europe, Australia and the rest of the world. But in USA? Nope, its more important to get to the beach than represent your country. You can bet your butt Jokic would immediatly trade his NBA title for the World Cup title, but I guess that is something you would expect for a tier two player.
USA was 7th last with their tier 3/4 players. Yes, some tier 1 players compete in this. But still a lot of the best players do not compete in this. There is almost nobody who is an elite player that does not play in the NBA though.
Plenty of people in the USA take pride in representing their country in many sports. There is a reason USA produces a lot of gold medals. But basketballs top level is the NBA and one of the sports USA is best at. It does not make a lot of sense for people to risk injuries and other things to compete for lower accolades for an event no one really cares about in the USA. Most players care more about the Olympics over this but its still in a similar boat with basketball. There is no lack of USA pride. Personally I think they have far too much. Players are not in a rush to get to the beach and be lazy, most of those guys train pretty hard.
Jokic might give up his NBA title, but thats crazy. He certainly wouldnt give up his money from the NBA to focus on winning the World cup. NBA champions are definitely better known around the world than any world cup winners. People might know one or two players on a world cup team because they play in the NBA, besides from your own country/region.
Why would he give up the money? He went to work to earn the money. Playing in NBA is his job, where he gets his money from. Representing and fighting his country, his family and friends, has nothing to do with where he works.
Also, I bet about 5 billion people on Earth can't name a single NBA player and his team (they might be able to say "that player is in the NBA, right?" but no chance to know for what team), but it is pretty damn sure most of them can name the people representing their country. Just because people in USA have no pride for their country does not mean the majority of the people in the world would be similar hillbillies.
I think I struck a nerve on something you are pretty sensitive about enough to start name calling a whole country, lol. You are probably the first person I have ever heard say USA doesnt have pride in its country. Usually people say the opposite, but to each their own.
The second part is just wrong. A ton of people in the world can tell you Lebron or Steph and the team. NBA is very popular around the world, especially in China which has a decent population. Lebron James is one of the top 5 most well known players of any sport in the world and playing for the most well known NBA team. Even in Finland I bet more people know Lebron and that he plays for the Lakers than the names of your top 5 players for the world cup.
Good Luck in Worlds though. I know its important to you. Plus, depite the fact I prefer Lauri not play in it but now that he is ill cheer for him and hope he does well. Might even watch a game or two.
Wow, talk about a narrow world-view
I can guarantee you only a small miniscule minority of people in China can name what team LeBron or Steph play in; sure, many will know they are basketball players, some may know they play in the NBA, but to actually know what team they play? LOL. But you can be absolutely sure almost a billion chinese are currently debating who the 12 in the World Cup Team China should be, and why this or that player didn't even get an invite to the extended list. Basketball is big in China, but less than one percent of chinese actually follow NBA (yes, millions of chinese follow NBA, but still, that is less than one percent of chinese).As I said, most people in the world take pride in representing their country. I have figured it out over the decades that is not so in USA, which doesn't cease to baffle me.
I for one will enjoy watching the World Cup. Seeing those second rate players like Joker or Doncic or KAT or Wemby etc fight and represent their country with pride is something that just do tick my nerves
Your guarantee done seem worth much. It is estimated that about 500 million in China watched some NBA games this year according to reports I saw on my Chinese social media from China's media after the season ended. It seems NBA has recovered from its slump a couple years ago, even though it stayed pretty popular. My phone blew up with texts from all my Chinese friends and co-workers about the finals despite me not watching since I didnt care much about either team and the games were played in the middle of the night were I live. China loves the Soccer world cup but there is very little attention to basketball world cup, they are huge NBA fans. When soccer world cup is on every bar in the country puts it on and its packed. When its basketball you have to try real hard to find it anywhere. The average person can only name a few famous players like Lebron or Chinese players that made it to the NBA. No one except hardcore basketball fans know anyone on the national team. The next far far distant basketball events in China is their own CBA, but that is not even close. They are a bigger part of the NBA than USA. I dont think many people in China knew anything about Denver or Jokic until the finals this year, but I am sure when I am back in China in August to run sports performance camps and other things I will see his Jerseys everywhere.Wow, talk about a narrow world-view
As I said, most people in the world take pride in representing their country. I have figured it out over the decades that is not so in USA, which doesn't cease to baffle me.
I for one will enjoy watching the World Cup. Seeing those second rate players like Joker or Doncic or KAT or Wemby etc fight and represent their country with pride is something that just do tick my nerves
You also seem to think basketball is the only sport. USA loves themselves too much and has lots of interest in representing themselves in the Olympics and other events, just not this one. Sorry, that hurts your feelings so much, its not personal to you. We just have a better product with stronger affiliation for the teams in the NBA. Even college bb is more popular than this.
I am glad you enjoy the world cup, I hope its a fun one for you to watch. I hope it ticks your nerves real good, if that is a good thing.
FrenchJazzFa
Well-Known Member
I think USA with the roster they will have will still be able to win it. Lot of talented players and they will be tough to beat.
500 million is quite a bit more than what the official records of NBA China show, by a magnitude of 14. Last time more than 200 million watched at least one NBA match during the season was in 2017-2018 when Zhou Qi played with Houston. During season 2022-2023 514 million people did watch at least one of the CBA finals between Flying Leopards and Golden Bulls, so maybe there is some confusion of NBA and basketball in general?