USA 116, Angola 48

Will Team USA ever be on the winning side of a such a lopsided victory again? In the Olympics, probably not. 1992. The early days of pro ballers in international competition. The original Dream Team, that flat-out spanked the world and took home the gold medal in Barcelona. In celebration of the 2008 "Dream Team" (ever wonder why that moniker just faded away?) being selected, let's take a little You Tube look back on the wonder that was Team USA in 1992. This clip, while a bit grainy, is still an extremely entertaining Dream Team "Top Ten Plays" collection. All ten are pretty fantastic, but at the two-minute mark, when Magic high-fives Jordan after a ridiculous no-look, over-the-head pass for a slam, I get all teary-eyed. They played with such ferocious intensity, on both sides of the floor. Practically all 10 of these plays start with some sort of steal or terrific defensive stop. Just watch it:



This final clip is slightly better quality, and chronicles a number of games Team USA played during the tournament. Again, I am astounded at the quality of play here: Check it out, at the 2-minute mark, when Charles Barkley finishes a nice dunk off a Pippen feed, and then immediately starts pressing the Angolan team member trying to in-bound the ball. USA won that game by SIXTY-EIGHT points. You think Vince Carter would ever do something like that? Just look for yourself:



Now, basketball fans...cry. We all like to think that today's crop of stars are amazing to watch, and uber-talented...but it was better before. Those romanticized hazy memories of Jordan, Bird, and Magic? Well, don't worry about some youngster calling you an old-timer. Just show them the evidence. Because back then, they really were that much better.