War Of Words Heats Up Between American, Russian Coach At FIBA 2010
September 8, 2010 at 6:58 PM by AHN · Leave a Comment
Istanbul, Turkey (AHN) – Team USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski was clearly perturbed with comments made by Russian coach David Blatt concerning the gold-medal game at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Blatt, whose team plays the Americans Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the FIBA World Championship, said the Soviet Union was the rightful winner of the game.
The game gathered a lot of attention when the final three seconds were replayed three times and the Americans lost for the first time in 64 Olympic games.
Blatt, an American citizen himself, originally said he cried the night the Soviet Union defeated the United States, but recanted those comments and claims he has come to believe the Soviets were the rightful winners of that game.
Krzyzewski and USA Basketball support staff member Mike Bantom, a member of that 1972 team, responded in an interview following practice Wednesday.
“You know, he coaches the Russian team, so he probably has that viewpoint, and his eyes are clearer now because there are no tears in them,” Krzyzewski told reporters. “So, it’s great. Whatever he thinks, he thinks. It really has absolutely no bearing on what we’re trying to do tomorrow. Absolutely none.”
“He’s entitled to his opinion,” Bantom said. “I don’t agree with it, but he’s entitled to his opinion.”
The US team is forced to start 6-foot-9 Lamar Odom at center against two seven-foot Russians in Timofey Mozgov and Sasha Kaun.
Asked about his lack of experience at center, Odom replied, “I don’t like to give myself a title on the basketball court. I’m a basketball player.”
Big man Tyson Chandler is expected to see an increase in playing time when the game tips off at 18:00 (GMT+3) on the 28th anniversary of the 1972 Final.
