Columnist Dean Juipe: Don’t degrade reluctant Olympians

Dean Juipe

Wednesday, June 9, 2004 | 8:55 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-4084.

There was a time when a qualified athlete wouldn't think of skipping the Olympic Games. For most, it was a dream come true. For others, it was seen as a patriotic duty.

But that was before many of the Olympic sports became nothing more than an extension of a professional season, with pro athletes occupying spots on Olympic teams that once comprised nothing but amateurs.

It was also before the very real threat of terrorism at the games. It was before the risk factor included something other than embarrassing yourself on the parallel bars.

So when a goodly percentage of high-profile National Basketball Association players announced in piecemeal fashion that they would decline bids to participate in Athens as members of the U.S. team, I accepted their decision with little remorse.

But not everyone is so understanding, or forgiving.

"Cowards," one letter writer complained in USA Today on Tuesday, as if sacrificing a month of your offseason, traveling to Europe, not getting paid for your time, having to sleep on a ship and being leery of getting blown to bits makes a man a coward.

The roster for the U.S. men's basketball team has yet to be finalized, but with the addition this week of Cleveland Cavaliers forward Carlos Boozer more than half the club is set. Boozer joins Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson, Richard Jefferson, Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudemire and Tim Duncan as NBA players who have committed to the team.

Tracy McGrady, Ray Allen, Jason Kidd, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Elton Brand, Kenyon Martin and Vince Carter have declined invitations (as has Shaquille O'Neal informally), some citing "personal reasons" and some offering no explanation at all.

I think it's unfair to belittle their decisions and pointless to try and goad them into competing. These particular Olympic Games may not be all that much fun, and these guys are within their rights to bypass the festivities.

I was sitting between two writers last Saturday during the fights at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and both are going to Athens in August, although each was apprehensive about it. But whatever enthusiasm they had for the endeavor was, in large part, the result of it being a "one time" experience in their lives that they said they couldn't pass up.

But pro basketball players on the level of Kidd, Bryant and Garnett have the financial wherewithal to travel to Athens or anywhere else in the world, almost anytime they desire. They have also played basketball all their lives against top-flight competition from all parts of the globe, making the Olympics anything but a "one time" experience that they couldn't resist.

Greece is spending $1.2 billion on security for the Games, yet the country's record in dealing with terrorists is poor and some 155 venues are among the sites within Athens that might be targeted by extremists bent on violence. NBA players will be doubly protected by being asked to live aboard a rented ship near the port, yet their physical dimensions and incredible stature make them especially inviting targets.

I don't see the disgrace in taking a pass on Athens. And I don't think the element of cowardice comes into play.

There is no loss of honor in being true to yourself.