[lakers]

Sources: A.I. not invited to play for USABy PHIL JASNERjasnerp@phillynews.comDALLAS - Allen Iverson was, in many ways, the face of the U.S. Olympic basketball team in 2004. He wanted to be there. He played hard, and he played well. Now, he's not even in the picture for the 2008 Games in Beijing.
Contracts from the U.S. Olympic Committee to 22 NBA players, two college players and one high school player went out in the mail about 10 days ago. Two sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed that Iverson, a four-time scoring champion in his 10th season with the 76ers, was not in that group.
Before last night's game against the Dallas Mavericks, Iverson said he had not personally received notice, but that he was aware of the situation.
His response?
"Thanks for considering me," he said. "Now, I get to spend time with my kids in the summer."
Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said, "That comes as a surprise to me."
One source confirmed that Iverson, who had said he very much wanted to be part of the 2008 team, was on a list of players who had made a commitment to Jerry Colangelo, the managing director for USA Basketball's senior men's team, but received a letter thanking them for their interest.
Iverson had met with Colangelo on Jan. 4, when the Sixers were in Phoenix. Afterward, Colangelo told reporters, "I liked the look in his eye. He looked me right in the eye and said it really would be an honor for him."
Iverson was easily the MVP of the U.S. team that won the 2003 World Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was far and away the most popular U.S. player. The Americans, though, had to settle for a third-place finish in the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
"I had a good experience in 2004, but we won the bronze," Iverson said in Phoenix. "I really want to win a gold medal."
Some of the younger players who made commitments but were not selected will be kept in the USA Basketball pipeline as prospective candidates for the 2012 Olympics, and could become part of a Select team that would spend time training together.
"We tried to make the letters as appreciative and professional as possible," one of the sources said. "The idea was to try and bring people down softly."
Colangelo and U.S. head coach Mike Krzyzewski, of Duke, will formally announce the 25 invitees on Sunday on ABC. An eventual team of 12 players will participate in the world championships this summer in Japan. If the U.S. team does not qualify for the 2008 Olympics there, it would have another opportunity in the 2007 Pre-Olympic Tournament.
With the world championships expanded from 16 to 24 teams, the United States has been placed in a preliminary round group with Puerto Rico, Slovenia, Italy, China and Senegal. The Americans will open Aug. 19 against Puerto Rico, the team that stunned the Americans, 92-73, in the opener of the 2004 Olympics.


*MY COMMENT ON THIS* iverson is like a super leader, how can he not even be in it? last summer olympic USA BASKETBALL was a joke, a group consisting of NBA PLAYERS cant beat other countries, and gettin bronze? comon you guys are suppose to be the best of the best... the committee has to get more shooters this time

[xkrndreamer]

it doesnt matter cuz kobe is on the USA team for 2008! im excited considering he is my favorite player.

[flipdragn]

ha iverson got owned

[jurassic5]

AI should be on the team. he played incredible in 2004 and the prelims (he was even playing hard on defense then). oh well...USA's loss i guess.

[LolitaMan]

ball hogger didnt' get to go...I could care less

[jurassic5]

ball hogger didnt' get to go...I could care less

No...Kobe's already on the team...

[xkrndreamer]

^ still bitter about the 2000-01 finals?

[flipdragn]

No...Kobe's already on the team...

well at least when kobe hogs the ball, he can score 81 points

[DOVAHKIIN]

... which he'll never repeat again

[truexskills]

iverson not going is loss of points for usa in the game. possibly leadership as well.
lolita is just blabberin stupid opinions..although there is no such thing as a stupid opinion right?
i think this team will still be able to achieve higher then bronze. GO USA!

[JuWon6o]

at the last olympics.. hell Marbury did better than AI.
He had his chance.

[LolitaMan]

iverson not going is loss of points for usa in the game. possibly leadership as well.
lolita is just blabberin stupid opinions..although there is no such thing as a stupid opinion right?
i think this team will still be able to achieve higher then bronze. GO USA!

LOL...man I hope they lose again. It's funnyazz hell that they lost last time.

[DOVAHKIIN]

didnt iverson average like just 13 ppg last time/

[truexskills]

LOL...man I hope they lose again. It's funnyazz hell that they lost last time.

well i hope they don't

[jurassic55]

at the last olympics.. hell Marbury did better than AI.
He had his chance.

really? what games did you watch? AI was one of the MVP's for the 2004 team. writers that don't even like AI said he suprised them with his play and his heart and desire. AI, Duncan and Marbury carried team usa

i think AI will still be added to the roster at a later time. Luke Ridenour? please...

[flipdragn]

... which he'll never repeat again

well at least he did it once

[KeepinItReal]

Iverson should be invited...He IS the NBA

[flipdragn]

Iverson should be invited...He IS the NBA

*shudders*

[JohnnyMoon]

I am rather surprised that Allen Iverson didn't make it on the list. I mean, he's playing at prime of his career right now, and his dynamic energy and crossover moves scare any defender who is against him. I think the Olympic Committee should seriously reconsider their choice.

[jurassic55]

AI was basically in All-star game mode. (see 2 ASG MVP awards)

in the olympics,
he was looking to dish the ball to duncan and the other big men first..then shoot. he was playing with a broken thumb and still outplayed and had more heart than all the other guys on that team. at least AI cared about playing for team usa, unlike some of the other members of the 04 team.

oh well..guess it's Team USA's loss.