40 Years Ago

P eople have varying opinions about the role of sports in life. For some it's a diversion: a chance to forget about life for a short while. For many athletes, sports is their life! Without sports, unfortunately, life has no meaning for some. For countless others, sports prepares them for life. Adolescent and high school athletes can learn that discipline and dedication combined with hard work can accomplish many things. In sports competition, experiencing " the joy of victory and the agony of defeat " can prepare participants for the roller-coaster ride of life that lies ahead. In terms of life lessons learned and unforgettable moments in sports, few have had the experience of the 1972 USA Olympic Basketball Team. 1 Forty years ago, that group of college youngsters headed to Munich, Germany, for a life-changing experience. What a crew! Led by 6′6′′ State) were a talented group anxious for the 1972 Olympic Games. The USA entered the Olympic competition on a 55-game win streak, having never lost an Olympic match along the way to claiming 7 consecutive Olympic gold medals in basketball. The 1972 team looked more than capable of continuing that streak, stacked with a multitude of very talented youngsters from the NCAA ranks. Their only perceived deficiencies were their youth and their lack of international experience. They were carefully selected as the best amateurs from across the country for this special competition. The USA knew that its strongest challenge that year would come from the Soviet Union: a well-seasoned international group with an average age of 30 years. Leading up to the final, the USA team rolled through the first 8 games in the Cuba provided the most competition for the American squad. Actually, Cuba went on to take the bronze medal in basketball in 1972, its only medal in the modern Olympic era. At the height of the Olympic competition that year, the tragedy of the Munich Games struck: 11 Israeli athletes and coaches murdered by Palestinian terrorists. 2 A devastating blow was delivered to the neutrality of the Olympic Games. The goal of promoting sportsmanship and tolerance while easing national tensions was shattered, as Jewish blood was once again spilled on German soil. This tragedy shocked the world as the Games came to a standstill. Initially, nobody knew for sure if the games would continue or end on this horrific note. The Olympic Village resembled …