Forget about going to Beijing and strictly dominating for a couple of games. I’m here to talk about the real reason Kobe and Lebron are fighting for Olympic gold. It’s not about the bonus money. It’s not about traveling to some faraway land. And it’s certainly not about creating the best highlights (even though we’re about to see the boys throw it down in a weeks). What’s it’s really about is the United States, the country that gives each and everyone of us freedom day in and day out. These players know what’s on the line in Beijing. They known they haven’t a won gold in eight years, but it’s time to put the USA back in the driver’s seat. I haven’t seen a group of players so energized and motivated to play for their country than this group. They want to win so bad, that if they lose and fail to get gold they will hide themselves in shame.

The following clip is from a series on ESPN called “Road to Redemption”. It follows the players and coaches of Team USA all the way up to the Olympic Games. In this segment, the team visits the Statue of Liberty and reflects on what the monument symbolizes. Kobe Bryant said it best when he mentioned the feeling and motivational aspects the team gets from the visit.”You have a dream when you get here in America. To go from the bottom to the top. This is our dream. Here and now. To bring the gold back to this country.”