I managed to see most of the game yesterday afternoon (even though I had seen the final score in the morning). I’m glad that Spain challenged the US and even though I always like to cheer for the underdog, I’m happy for the US.

If this team had played like the US teams played in 2002 and 2004 - miserable, sulking, like 12 individuals playing because they had to, not because they were proud to represent their country - I wouldn’t have wanted them to win.

But because this group played like a team, respected their opponents and the tournament itself, because (it at least looked like) they enjoyed the games and each other’s company - in other words, they earned their victory, not just with a hard-fought win but by playing and representing the sport the right way. I’m glad they won.

In fact it’s a delicious irony that Larry Brown often uses that exact same phrase (that he coaches his teams to “play the game the right way”), since it was his 2004 team that dropped a load in Athens.

As for Spain, they hung tough, and kept it closer than I thought it would be. Man, they move the ball well, don’t they? Their big men also have great hands - they corralled a lot of those little pick-and-roll slip passes in traffic that would bounce off the hands of most NBA big men.

It’s a shame Calderon couldn’t play because even though they were three-deep at point guard, obviously a guy with his experience could have helped in a big game like this. Surely he never would have fouled Kobe on that 3-point shot like Fernandez did! Alas, that was the turning point. But a great game overall.

I’m also glad that by all accounts Calderon’s injury is not severe and that he should be fine with a couple of weeks rest. Only a month until training camp!