Before play, stars fill social calendar
Visit to Village enhances spirit
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BEIJING - The United States men's basketball team was treated like rock stars when it arrived at the Olympic Village Wednesday evening. But as big as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Jason Kidd are worldwide, they too were in awe as they rubbed elbows with the likes of star swimmers Michael Phelps and Dara Torres, and visited other buildings that house athletes from all over the world, ate dinner at
Before Thursday's practice at Beijing Normal University, Bryant talked about his Village experience, describing it as a "Disney World for Athletes."
"This is what the Olympics are based on, the celebration of sport," said Bryant, who visited with Los Angeles Lakers teammate Pau Gasol of Spain. "Meeting other athletes, the camaraderie. There's no better place than the Village because everything's right there. You can go to Spain in one building, the next minute you're in Brazil, the next minute you're in Canada.
"It's just great. I'd like to go back every day. It's part of the whole Olympic experience."
Guard Dwyane Wade said the 2004 Olympic team didn't spend time at the Village in Athens because the players were staying on a luxury cruise ship. This year's team is staying in a luxury hotel in Beijing, but the NBA's finest were compelled to make sure they visited the Village this time.
"I thought it was great for the guys to go," said Kidd, who helped lead Team USA to a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. "Go hang out with some of the other athletes, have a bite to eat. It got kind of crowded in a hurry, but the guys handled it well, posing for pictures and signing autographs. As much as we wanted to see the other athletes, I think they wanted to see us, too."
The two players who got the least breathing room were Bryant and James.
"[We wanted] to meet other athletes and show our respect that we're not bigger than a lot of people think we are because we don't stay in the Village," James said. "People always say it's a money thing. We have more money than them. It's not about that.
"It's more of a security reason, more of popularity reasons why we can't stay in the Village. But it's great to be over there to show our respects to some of the athletes. It was an unbelievable experience for me."
Said forward Chris Bosh, who visited Spanish players Jorge Garbajosa and Jose Calderon, his Toronto Raptors teammates last season, "LeBron and Kobe and guys like that, especially Kobe, he had trouble walking around out there, but I kind of separated myself and went out and did my own thing, because it got a little too crazy with everyone crowding around."
Forward Carmelo Anthony visited with Phelps, a fellow Baltimore native. "I had met Phelps before, just growing up. But I haven't seen him since he won six gold medals in 2004. So his whole life has changed," Anthony said.
Said guard Deron Williams, "I'd like to see some boxing, definitely some track, most notably the 100 meters, the 400-meter relay. I like gymnastics, and, of course, women's basketball."
Team USA opens play tomorrow night against Yao Ming and host China. The Americans finished exhibition play 5-0 and are favored to win the gold medal. But they are also trying to enjoy their Olympic experience the best they can without losing their focus.
"Now that we're here, there is only one thing that they're here for and that is to try to win a gold medal and this is the last part of a three-year commitment," coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
"Our goal is to win it all," said Wade. "We have the team to do it. We've been waiting for eight years now to win a gold."
Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears@globe.com
