BEIJING: USA Basketball completed its extreme makeover Sunday with a totally new Olympic experience. In defeating Spain, 118-107, for the gold medal, the Americans persevered in their first wire-to-wire competitive game of the 2008 Olympics.
After two weeks of being so dominant that they bordered on boring, the United States and Spain engaged in an old-fashioned global shootout.
It was a game as aesthetically pleasing as it was engaging, as Spain's talented roster showed it was much better than the 37-point blowout they endured during pool play.
But the United States answered every run, as Spain cut the lead to as small as 2 points in the fourth quarter.
And after ending a tough test, the so-called Redeem Team ended the game with a fitting gesture. Starting with LeBron James, they approached the NBC commentator Doug Collins to slap five. Collins was a member of the 1972 American team that lost controversially to the Russians.
Monday, August 25, 2008
USA Basketball wins gold in Beijing
US 118 - Spain 107
