1.
2004 Summer Olympics
–
10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team officials from 201 countries. There were 301 medal events in 28 different sports, Athens 2004 marked the first time since the 1996 Summer Olympics that all countries with a National Olympic Committee were in attendance. 2004 marked the return of the games to the city where they began, a new medal obverse was introduced at these Games, replacing the design by Giuseppe Cassioli that had been used since the 1928 Games. This rectified the long lasting mistake of using a depiction of the Roman Colosseum rather than a Greek venue, the new design features the Panathenaic Stadium. The cost of the 2004 Athens Summer Games has been cited as a contributor to the Greek government-debt crisis, some of the venues lie vacant and rotting, while others are in use, the Independent newspaper reports as many as 21 out of 22 are unused. The final medal tally was led by the United States, followed by China, several World and Olympics records were broken during the games. Several concerns were raised over the preparations of the Games and these included excessive budget overruns, infrastructural compromise, the games were deemed generally successful with the rising standard of competition amongst nations across the world. Athens was chosen as the host city during the 106th IOC Session held in Lausanne on 5 September 1997, Athens had lost its bid to organize the 1996 Summer Olympics to Atlanta nearly seven years before on 18 September 1990, during the 96th IOC Session in Tokyo. 1996 coincided with the 100th Anniversary of the first modern Olympics, under the direction of Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, Athens pursued another bid, this time for the right to host the Summer Olympics in 2004. After leading all voting rounds, Athens easily defeated Rome in the 5th, cape Town, Stockholm, and Buenos Aires, the three other cities that made the IOC shortlist, were eliminated in prior rounds of voting. Six other cities submitted applications, but their bids were dropped by the IOC in 1996 and these cities were Istanbul, Lille, Rio de Janeiro, San Juan, Seville, Saint Petersburg and Cali. The 2004 Summer Olympic Games cost the Government of Greece €8.954 billion to stage, the Athens 2004 Organizing Committee, responsible for the preparation and organisation of the games, concluded its operations as a company in 2005 with a surplus of €130.6 million. ATHOC contributed €123.6 million of the surplus to the Greek State to cover other related expenditures of the Greek State in organizing of the games, as a result, ATHOC reported in its official published accounts a net profit of €7 million. The State’s contribution to the total ATHOC budget was 8% of its expenditure against an originally anticipated 14%, the overall revenue of ATHOC, including income from tickets, sponsors, broadcasting rights, merchandise sales etc. totalled €2,098.4 million. The largest percentage of income came from broadcasting rights. The overall expenditure of ATHOC was €1,967.8 million. e, the large projects required for the upgrade of the country’s infrastructure, including sports infrastructure, roads, airports, hospitals, power grid etc. This cost, however, is not directly attributable to the organisation of the Games. Such infrastructure projects are considered by all standards as fixed asset investments that stay with the hosting country for decades after the Games
2004 Summer Olympics
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The ceremony for the lighting of the flame is arranged as a pagan pageant, with priestesses dancing.
2004 Summer Olympics
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Games of the XXVIII Olympiad
2004 Summer Olympics
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The OAKA Plaza and Arch adjacent to the Olympic Stadium
2004 Summer Olympics
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Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena
2.
Greece
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Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, historically also known as Hellas, is a country in southeastern Europe, with a population of approximately 11 million as of 2015. Athens is the capital and largest city, followed by Thessaloniki. Greece is strategically located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, situated on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to the northeast. Greece consists of nine regions, Macedonia, Central Greece, the Peloponnese, Thessaly, Epirus, the Aegean Islands, Thrace, Crete. The Aegean Sea lies to the east of the mainland, the Ionian Sea to the west, the Cretan Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. Greece has the longest coastline on the Mediterranean Basin and the 11th longest coastline in the world at 13,676 km in length, featuring a vast number of islands, eighty percent of Greece is mountainous, with Mount Olympus being the highest peak at 2,918 metres. From the eighth century BC, the Greeks were organised into various independent city-states, known as polis, which spanned the entire Mediterranean region and the Black Sea. Greece was annexed by Rome in the second century BC, becoming a part of the Roman Empire and its successor. The Greek Orthodox Church also shaped modern Greek identity and transmitted Greek traditions to the wider Orthodox World, falling under Ottoman dominion in the mid-15th century, the modern nation state of Greece emerged in 1830 following a war of independence. Greeces rich historical legacy is reflected by its 18 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, among the most in Europe, Greece is a democratic and developed country with an advanced high-income economy, a high quality of life, and a very high standard of living. A founding member of the United Nations, Greece was the member to join the European Communities and has been part of the Eurozone since 2001. Greeces unique cultural heritage, large industry, prominent shipping sector. It is the largest economy in the Balkans, where it is an important regional investor, the names for the nation of Greece and the Greek people differ from the names used in other languages, locations and cultures. The earliest evidence of the presence of human ancestors in the southern Balkans, dated to 270,000 BC, is to be found in the Petralona cave, all three stages of the stone age are represented in Greece, for example in the Franchthi Cave. Neolithic settlements in Greece, dating from the 7th millennium BC, are the oldest in Europe by several centuries and these civilizations possessed writing, the Minoans writing in an undeciphered script known as Linear A, and the Mycenaeans in Linear B, an early form of Greek. The Mycenaeans gradually absorbed the Minoans, but collapsed violently around 1200 BC and this ushered in a period known as the Greek Dark Ages, from which written records are absent. The end of the Dark Ages is traditionally dated to 776 BC, the Iliad and the Odyssey, the foundational texts of Western literature, are believed to have been composed by Homer in the 7th or 8th centuries BC. With the end of the Dark Ages, there emerged various kingdoms and city-states across the Greek peninsula, in 508 BC, Cleisthenes instituted the worlds first democratic system of government in Athens
Greece
–
Fresco displaying the Minoan ritual of "bull leaping", found in
Knossos,
Crete.
Greece
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Flag
Greece
–
The
Lion Gate,
Mycenae
Greece
–
The
Parthenon on the
Acropolis of Athens is one of the best known symbols of
classical Greece.
3.
Athens
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Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. In modern times, Athens is a cosmopolitan metropolis and central to economic, financial, industrial, maritime. In 2015, Athens was ranked the worlds 29th richest city by purchasing power, Athens is recognised as a global city because of its location and its importance in shipping, finance, commerce, media, entertainment, arts, international trade, culture, education and tourism. It is one of the biggest economic centres in southeastern Europe, with a financial sector. The municipality of Athens had a population of 664,046 within its limits. The urban area of Athens extends beyond its administrative city limits. According to Eurostat in 2011, the Functional urban areas of Athens was the 9th most populous FUA in the European Union, Athens is also the southernmost capital on the European mainland. The city also retains Roman and Byzantine monuments, as well as a number of Ottoman monuments. Athens is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Acropolis of Athens and the medieval Daphni Monastery, Athens was the host city of the first modern-day Olympic Games in 1896, and 108 years later it welcomed home the 2004 Summer Olympics. In Ancient Greek, the name of the city was Ἀθῆναι a plural, in earlier Greek, such as Homeric Greek, the name had been current in the singular form though, as Ἀθήνη. It was possibly rendered in the later on, like those of Θῆβαι and Μυκῆναι. During the medieval period the name of the city was rendered once again in the singular as Ἀθήνα, an etiological myth explaining how Athens has acquired its name was well known among ancient Athenians and even became the theme of the sculpture on the West pediment of the Parthenon. The goddess of wisdom, Athena, and the god of the seas, Poseidon had many disagreements, in an attempt to compel the people, Poseidon created a salt water spring by striking the ground with his trident, symbolizing naval power. However, when Athena created the tree, symbolizing peace and prosperity. Different etymologies, now rejected, were proposed during the 19th century. Christian Lobeck proposed as the root of the name the word ἄθος or ἄνθος meaning flower, ludwig von Döderlein proposed the stem of the verb θάω, stem θη- to denote Athens as having fertile soil. In classical literature, the city was referred to as the City of the Violet Crown, first documented in Pindars ἰοστέφανοι Ἀθᾶναι. In medieval texts, variant names include Setines, Satine, and Astines, today the caption η πρωτεύουσα, the capital, has become somewhat common
Athens
–
From upper left: the
Acropolis, the
Hellenic Parliament, the
Zappeion, the
Acropolis Museum,
Monastiraki Square, Athens view towards the sea
Athens
–
Athena, patron goddess of Athens;
National Archaeological Museum
Athens
–
Acropolis of Athens, with
Odeon of Herodes Atticus seen on bottom left
4.
Argentina national basketball team
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The Argentina national basketball team, officially nicknamed El Alma Argentina, represents Argentina in basketball international competitions, and is controlled by the Argentine Basketball Federation. They have also won 13 South American Basketball Championships, as well as many youth championships, the Argentine representative was also the first to defeat a United States national team with a full squad of NBA players. They did so by 87–80 in the 2002 FIBA World Championship held in Indianapolis, in that tournament, Argentina came second behind FR Yugoslavia, losing the final in overtime. Due to the series of results since the beginning of the 2000s. Argentina is a member of the International Federation of Basketball and has South Americas longest basketball tradition. The practice of basketball in Argentina was started by Asociación Cristiana de Jóvenes in 1912, canadian Professor Paul Phillip was in charge to teach basketball at the YMCA headquarters in Paseo Colón Avenue, Buenos Aires. The first basketball clubs in Argentina were YMCA, Hindú and Independiente, apart from Buenos Aires, the practise of basketball was highly developed in Bahía Blanca and Córdoba. Argentina played its first international game against Uruguay in 1921, in 1930 the first Campeonato Sudamericano was organised, being Argentina runner-up. The first clubs championship was held in 1936, after the 1948 Olympic Tournament, FIBA decided to create a World Championship, and named Argentina as the host country for the inaugural 1950 edition. The teams coaching staff was formed by Jorge Canavesi as head coach, Casimiro González Trilla as his assistant, the squad, formed entirely by amateur players, trained in preparation for the tournament in River Plates facilities every day in double shifts, something uncommon for the times. The Argentine government negotiated with the employers and studying centers to secure their times. The team played around Oscar Furlong, a center with good mobility, other important players were Ricardo González, Leopoldo Contarbio, Juan Carlos Uder, Raúl Pérez Varela and Roberto Viau. After the World Championship title, Argentina won the medal at the 1951 Pan American Games held in Buenos Aires. The last participation of the 1950s generation was in the 1955 Pan American Games held in Mexico City, with a young and inexperienced team, Argentina finished fourth in the 1958 South American Basketball Championship and 10th in the 1959 FIBA World Championship. In preparation for the 1963 World Championship, Alberto Andrizzi was appointed as head coach and it should be noted that most of the players were amateurs, who alternated the practice of the sport with their jobs and studies. Coach Andrizzi formed a squad that averaged 22.8 years of age, the lowest in the history at the competition. This was also the first time Argentina took a player above the 2 metres of stature to a World Championship, the squad trained 8 days in Villa Allende, Córdoba Province, and played some preparation games against teams from Córdoba and Santa Fe. The delegation that traveled to Brazil had no assistant coach, nor a physician, in the tournament itself, Argentina faced a tough group with Italy, the United States and Mexico
Argentina national basketball team
–
The first national team, 1921.
Argentina national basketball team
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Argentina
Argentina national basketball team
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The 1950 World Champions.
Argentina national basketball team
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Argentina's
Luis Scola against
Lithuania's Paulius Jankūnas.
5.
Italy national basketball team
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The Italian national basketball team is the national basketball team representing Italy. It is administrated by the Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro, Italy is one of the founding members of the International Federation of Basketball and has one of the worlds longest basketball traditions. The first match of the Italian national basketball team was played on 4 April 1926 in Milan, Italys first participation in the Olympic Games was at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, placing seventh out of twenty-one teams. At the EuroBasket 1937 Italy placed second behind Lithuania, after being beaten by just one point in the final game, the silver medal was repeated at EuroBasket 1946. This was also reflected at the level with the alternation of several head coaches within only a few years. Of special importance was Italys decision not to compete at the EuroBasket 1949 and it was the first time that the squad missed a EuroBasket. In 1957 as Nello Paratore took the coach position Italy made only slight improvements from the previous decade. At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome Italy showed its most impressive performance to this point where it placed fourth, only behind USA, USSR, curiously, the organizational expenses of the Olympics in Rome resulted in the decision not to participate in the EuroBasket 1961. In 1969, Giancarlo Primo became Italys coach, focusing the game strategies on defense, under his leadership Italian national team grew stronger, claiming a place among the worlds best teams. Under Primo, the Azzuri won two European bronze medals and earned two places at FIBA World Championship. Further, Italy finished fourth at the 1972 Summer Olympics where it lost the match for third place to Cuba by only one point, among the leading players of the national team were the young Meneghin, Marzorati, Villalta and Bariviera. As in the years before, Meneghin, Marzorati and Villalta were the cornerstones of the team, complemented by players such as Riva and this episode in time stands out to this day as the most successful in the history of the Italian national team. In the same year Enrico Vinci stepped down as President of the Italian Basketball Federation after 16 years, the place was taken over by Giovanni Petrucci. Ettore Messina became Italys coach in 1992, winning a medal at EuroBasket 1997 in Barcelona. This medal was the accomplishment of coach Messina, who served the team for five years and failed to qualify for the Olympic Games. The second gold medal at a European Basketball Championship arrived after beating Spain in the final game, after a ninth place at EuroBasket 2001, held in Turkey, Carlo Recalcati was called to replace Tanjević. Recalcati could count on Italys top talents Gregor Fučka and Carlton Myers, as well as valuable contributors such as Basile, Abbio, at EuroBasket 2003, Italy showed a strong performances and defeated Germany and Greece but was later kicked out by Spain in the semifinals. The victory against France in the medal game guaranteed the teams qualification at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens
Italy national basketball team
–
The Italians squad in
1939.
Italy national basketball team
–
Italy Italia
Italy national basketball team
–
Italians versus
Yugoslavians (
1980).
Italy national basketball team
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Marco Belinelli is a prominent member of Team Italy
6.
Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics
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Basketball contests at the 2000 Olympic Games were held from 16 September 2000 to 1 October 2000. Games took place at the Sydney SuperDome and the Dome in Sydney, the United States claimed the gold medals in both the Mens and Womens competitions. A National Olympic Committee may enter up to one team with 12 players. Twelve teams are split into two preliminary round groups of six teams each, the top four teams from both groups qualify for the knockout stage. Fifth-placed teams from both groups compete for 9th place in an additional match, sixth-placed teams from both groups compete for 11th place in an additional match. In the quarterfinals, the matchups are as follows, A1 vs. B4, A2 vs. B3, A3 vs. B2 and A4 vs. B1. From the eliminated teams at the quarterfinals, the loser from A1 vs. B4 competes against the loser from A2 vs. B3 for 5th place in an additional match, the remaining two loser teams compete for 6th place in an additional match. The winning teams from the meet in the semifinals as follows, A1/B4 vs. A3/B2. The winning teams from the semifinals contest the gold medal, the losing teams contest the bronze. The four best teams from each advanced to the quarterfinal round
Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics
–
2000 men's teams.
7.
Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
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Basketball contests at the 2008 Olympic Games were held from August 9,2008 to August 24,2008. Competitions were held at the Wukesong Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, the United States claimed the gold medals in both the Mens and Womens competitions. Basketball players that carried their flags at the ceremony were Yao Ming, Šarūnas Jasikevičius, Dirk Nowitzki, Andrei Kirilenko. Two sets of medals were awarded in the events, Basketball – Men Basketball – Women An NOC may enter up to one mens team with 12 players. The reigning world champions and the host country qualify automatically, as do the winners of the five continental championships, italicized teams qualified via the wildcard tournaments. Twelve teams are split into two preliminary round groups of six teams each, the top four teams from both groups qualify for the knockout stage. Fifth-placed teams from both groups are ranked 9th–10th by basis of their records, sixth-placed teams from both groups are ranked 11th–12th by basis of their records. In the quarterfinals, the matchups are as follows, A1 vs. B4, A2 vs. B3, A3 vs. B2, the winning teams from the semifinals contest the gold medal. The losing teams contest the bronze, tie-breaking criteria, Head to head results Goal average between the tied teams Goal average of the tied teams for all teams in its group Each team is limited to twelve players on its roster. The four best teams from each advanced to the quarterfinal round. The four best teams from each advanced to the quarterfinal round
Basketball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
–
Beijing Wukesong Arena, basketball venue for the 2008 Summer Olympics.
8.
Basketball
–
Basketball is a non-contact team sport played on a rectangular court by two teams of five players each. The objective is to shoot a ball through a hoop 18 inches in diameter and 10 feet high that is mounted to a backboard at each end of the court. The game was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, a team can score a field goal by shooting the ball through the basket being defended by the opposition team during regular play. A field goal scores three points for the team if the player shoots from behind the three-point line. A team can also score via free throws, which are worth one point, the team with the most points at the end of the game wins, but additional time is mandated when the score is tied at the end of regulation. The ball can be advanced on the court by passing it to a teammate and it is a violation to lift, or drag, ones pivot foot without dribbling the ball, to carry it, or to hold the ball with both hands then resume dribbling. The game has many techniques for displaying skill—ball-handling, shooting, passing, dribbling, dunking, shot-blocking. The point guard directs the on court action of the team, implementing the coachs game plan, Basketball is one of the worlds most popular and widely viewed sports. Outside North America, the top clubs from national leagues qualify to continental championships such as the Euroleague, the FIBA Basketball World Cup attracts the top national teams from around the world. Each continent hosts regional competitions for teams, like EuroBasket. The FIBA Womens Basketball World Cup features the top womens basketball teams from continental championships. The main North American league is the WNBA, whereas the EuroLeague Women has been dominated by teams from the Russian Womens Basketball Premier League, in early December 1891, Canadian Dr. He sought a vigorous indoor game to keep his students occupied, after rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly suited to walled-in gymnasiums, he wrote the basic rules and nailed a peach basket onto a 10-foot elevated track. Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball and these laces could cause bounce passes and dribbling to be unpredictable. Eventually a lace-free ball construction method was invented, and this change to the game was endorsed by Naismith, dribbling was not part of the original game except for the bounce pass to teammates. Passing the ball was the means of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually introduced but limited by the shape of early balls. Dribbling only became a part of the game around the 1950s
Basketball
–
Michael Jordan goes for a
slam dunk
Basketball
–
The first basketball court:
Springfield College
Basketball
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The 1899 University of Kansas basketball team, with James Naismith at the back, right.
Basketball
–
A basketball game between the
Heart Mountain and Powell High School girls teams, Wyoming, March 1944
9.
Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena
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The Hellinikon Olympic Indoor Arena is a multi-use sports indoor arena that is located in Ellinikon, Athens, Greece. It is a part of the Helliniko Olympic Complex, and it is located adjacent to the Helliniko Fencing Hall and it is approximately 10 miles from the Athens Olympic Village. It was built on the site of the former Hellinikon International Airport for the 2004 Summer Olympics, the arena had in use its full seating capacity of 15,000 spectators for basketball, and 13,500 for handball during the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. However, only 12,500 seats were available to the public for the basketball tournament. After the Olympics, only the lower tier 8,500 seats have been available by the arenas owners for public use. However, the arena can still hold 15,000 for basketball with the upper tier in full use, the arena is also known as the National Athletic Center Elliniko Makis Liougas. The facility, which was built by Michaniki and EllisDon Construction Corporation was completed on May 31,2004 and it was built to be one of the most NBA-like arenas in Europe at the time. It was converted into an arena by converting the old Athens Airport aircraft repair hangar of the Olympic Airways airline that had closed in the year 2001. The metal frame of the arena is the part of the structure that remains from the original building. This was done to save in costs for land and construction. The cost of the project was about €49 million euros in 2003 costs, the arena hosted the basketball preliminary games and the handball finals. During the 2004 Summer Paralympics, it was also the used for wheelchair rugby. The arena has been used as an arena, at one time or another, of the Greek Basket League basketball teams Panionios, Panellinios. It also hosted several matches of the Greek Cup. & Hellinikon Indoor Arena @ Stadia. gr Builders Website @ Ellisdon. com
Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena
–
Hellinikon Olympic Arena Κλειστό Γήπεδο Ελληνικού
Helliniko Olympic Indoor Arena
–
Exterior of the arena.
10.
Hellinikon Olympic Complex
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The Hellinikon Olympic Complex is situated at Hellinikon on the east coast of Greece south of Athens, approximately 16 kilometres from the Olympic Village. It was built on the site of the former Ellinikon International Airport for the staging of the 2004 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Paralympics and it consists of five separate venues. The Indoor arena is an adjacent to the Fencing Hall. It hosted the Basketball preliminary matches and the Handball finals at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, the facility was completed on May 31,2004 and officially opened on July 30,2004. During the 2004 Summer Paralympic Games, the Indoor Arena was the venue for Wheelchair rugby and it has also been the home arena of the Greek basketball club Panionios, and it has also hosted several finals matches of the Greek Cup. The Greek basketball club Panellinios also played European cup home games at the arena, the Olympic Baseball Centre in Athens consists of two Baseball stadiums. It was the site of the Baseball games at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, construction on the facility was completed on February 27,2004, and it was officially opened on August 12,2004, a day before the Opening Ceremonies. During the 2004 Summer Paralympic Games, the Olympic Baseball Centre was the venue for Archery, the site is currently being used to house refugee populations in the current Refugee crisis in Europe. The three camps are currently home to three thousand refugees living in mostly tented accommodation. Hellinikon Indoor Arena @ stadia. gr 2004 Summer Olympics official report, pp.269,291,318,353,395
Hellinikon Olympic Complex
–
Olympic Hockey Centre
Hellinikon Olympic Complex
–
Interior of the arena during the
2004 Summer Olympics
Hellinikon Olympic Complex
–
Exterior view of the Hellinikon Indoor Arena
11.
Olympic Indoor Hall
–
It is located in the Athens suburb of Marousi. It is considered to be one of the biggest and most modern sports arenas in all of Europe. The arena also contains a training facility, since 2016, it is named after the well-known Greek basketball player Nikos Galis. Nikos Galis Olympic Indoor Hall is notable for its distinctive A-frame roof that features four huge pillars, each of which is 35 meters tall, according to the Greek Ministry of Sports, it is the largest indoor sporting arena of its kind in the world. The arena is constructed in a unique way so that an abundant amount of natural light comes into the arena during the day. The arena seats up to 17,600 for gymnastics events and it seats up to 18,989 for basketball games, which includes 18,500 regular seats for the fans,300 seats for the media members, and 189 seats for VIPs. A large scale arena renovation was completed in 2004, for the 2004 Summer Olympics, the arena was then renovated again in 2016. The arena was used for gymnastics and trampolining, and also hosted the finals of the basketball matches at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Renovation of the building for the Olympics was completed on June 30,2004, the Indoor Hall is the regular home court for the Greek Basket League professional basketball clubs Panathinaikos Athens and AEK Athens. It is also the home court of the Greek National Basketball Team. On December 9,2007, FIBA announced that the Olympic Indoor Hall was selected as the host of the 2008 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the 2008 Olympics Basketball Tournament. At the qualifying tournament, hosts and favorites Greece, along with the German and Croatian national basketball teams, qualified for the final 2008 Olympic Basketball Tournament. On May 18 and 20,2006, the Hall hosted the 51st Eurovision Song Contest, there were 15,000 seats available for spectators, both for the semifinal and the grand final. gr
Olympic Indoor Hall
–
Olympic Indoor Sports Centre
Olympic Indoor Hall
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OAKA Indoor Hall
Olympic Indoor Hall
–
O.A.K.A. Indoor Hall plan
12.
Athens Olympic Sports Complex
–
The Athens Olympic Park, is a sport facilities complex located at Marousi, northeast Athens, Greece. The complex consists of five major venues as well as other sport facilities. The Olympic Athletic Center of Athens has hosted the Mediterranean Games in 1991, the most significant event the Athens Olympic Sports Complex has hosted, was the Olympic Games. OACA was the venue for the Athens Olympic Games in 2004. The complex was revamped for the games under a design produced by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and it is currently used as the home ground of AEK Athens F. C. one of the biggest football clubs in Greece. The Nikos Galis Olympic Indoor Hall was completed in 1995, and was the largest indoor venue in use for sporting events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and it is part of the Athens Olympic Sports Complex, in the suburb of Maroussi. The arena was used for gymnastics and trampolining and also hosted the finals of the basketball matches at the games. On May 18 and 20,2006, the Olympic Indoor Hall hosted the 51st Eurovision Song Contest, the Athens Olympic Sports Complex can be reached by Metro, by suburban train, or by direct bus lines [A7,602,550. The table below illustrates how the Athens Olympic Sports Complex facilities are used today,2004 Summer Olympics official report, pp.201,207,227,231,242,273,303,324,329,346,409. Media related to Athens Olympic Sports Complex at Wikimedia Commons Official site Olympic Indoor hall info and pictures at stadia. gr
Athens Olympic Sports Complex
–
Athens Olympic Park
Athens Olympic Sports Complex
–
Olympic Stadium
Athens Olympic Sports Complex
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O.A.C.A. Olympic Indoor Hall
Athens Olympic Sports Complex
–
Athens Olympic Aquatic Centre
13.
Yugoslavia
–
Yugoslavia was a country in Southeast Europe during most of the 20th century. The Serbian royal House of Karađorđević became the Yugoslav royal dynasty, Yugoslavia gained international recognition on 13 July 1922 at the Conference of Ambassadors in Paris. The country was named after the South Slavic peoples and constituted their first union, following centuries in which the territories had been part of the Ottoman Empire, renamed the Kingdom of Yugoslavia on 3 October 1929, it was invaded by the Axis powers on 6 April 1941. In 1943, a Democratic Federal Yugoslavia was proclaimed by the Partisan resistance, in 1944, the king recognised it as the legitimate government, but in November 1945 the monarchy was abolished. Yugoslavia was renamed the Federal Peoples Republic of Yugoslavia in 1946 and it acquired the territories of Istria, Rijeka, and Zadar from Italy. Partisan leader Josip Broz Tito ruled the country as president until his death in 1980, in 1963, the country was renamed again as the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The constituent six socialist republics that made up the country were the SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SR Croatia, SR Macedonia, SR Montenegro, SR Serbia, and SR Slovenia. Serbia contained two Socialist Autonomous Provinces, Vojvodina and Kosovo, which after 1974 were largely equal to the members of the federation. After an economic and political crisis in the 1980s and the rise of nationalism, Yugoslavia broke up along its republics borders, at first into five countries, eventually, Serbia and Montenegro accepted the opinion of the Badinter Arbitration Committee about shared succession. Serbia and Montenegro themselves broke up in 2006 and became independent states, the concept of Yugoslavia, as a single state for all South Slavic peoples, emerged in the late 17th century and gained prominence through the Illyrian Movement of the 19th century. The name was created by the combination of the Slavic words jug, Yugoslavia was the result of the Corfu Declaration, as a project of the Serbian Parliament in exile and the Serbian royal Karađorđević dynasty, who became the Yugoslav royal dynasty. The country was formed in 1918 immediately after World War I as the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes by union of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs and it was commonly referred to at the time as the Versailles state. Later, the government renamed the country leading to the first official use of Yugoslavia in 1929, on 6 January 1929 King Alexander I suspended the constitution, banned national political parties, assumed executive power and renamed the country Yugoslavia. He hoped to curb separatist tendencies and mitigate nationalist passions and he imposed a new constitution and relinquished his dictatorship in 1931. None of these three regimes favored the policy pursued by Alexander I, Alexander attempted to create a centralised Yugoslavia. He decided to abolish Yugoslavias historic regions, and new internal boundaries were drawn for provinces or banovinas, the banovinas were named after rivers. Many politicians were jailed or kept under police surveillance, the effect of Alexanders dictatorship was to further alienate the non-Serbs from the idea of unity. During his reign the flags of Yugoslav nations were banned, Alexander was succeeded by his eleven-year-old son Peter II and a regency council headed by his cousin, Prince Paul
Yugoslavia
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Partisan Stjepan Filipović shouting "Death to fascism, freedom to the people!" shortly before his execution
Yugoslavia
–
Marshal
Josip Broz Tito
14.
Serbia and Montenegro
–
Serbia and Montenegro, officially the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, was a country in Southeast Europe, created from the two remaining republics of Yugoslavia after its breakup in 1992. The republics of Serbia and Montenegro together established a federation in 1992 as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the FRY aspired to be a sole legal successor to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, but those claims were opposed by other former republics. The United Nations also denied its request to continue the membership of the former state. It re-applied for UN membership on 27 October and was admitted on 1 November 2000, the FRY was initially dominated by Slobodan Milošević as President of Serbia and then President of Yugoslavia. Milošević installed and forced the removal of several presidents and prime ministers. However, the Montenegrin government, initially enthusiastic supporters of Milošević, a loose union, Serbia and Montenegro were united only in certain realms, such as defense. The two constituent republics functioned separately throughout the period of the Federal Republic, and continued to operate under separate economic policies, on 21 May 2006, the Montenegrin independence referendum was held, and 55. 5% of voters voted in favor of independence. The state union came to an end after Montenegros formal declaration of independence on 3 June 2006, after the dissolution, Serbia became the legal successor of the union, while Montenegro re-applied for membership in international organizations. With the collapse of communism across Eastern Europe, the new state followed the wave of democratic change, Yugoslavias collapse began in 1991 when Slovenia, Croatia, and the Republic of Macedonia declared independence. On 26 December 1991, Serbia, Montenegro, and the Serb rebel-held territories in Croatia agreed that they would form a new third Yugoslavia. Zulfikarpašić believed that Bosnia could benefit from a union with Serbia, Montenegro, the FRY was suspended from a number of international institutions. This was due to the ongoing Yugoslav wars during the 1990s, the Government of Yugoslavia supported Croatian and Bosnian Serbs in the wars from 1992 to 1995. Because of that, the country was under economic and political sanctions, in this way, every Bosnian Serb was transferred from the Yugoslav army to what became the newly created Bosnian Serb Army. Through this, the Bosnian Serb army also received military equipment and full funding from the FRY. Furthermore, Serbian Radical Party founder and paramilitary Vojislav Šešelj claimed that President Milošević personally asked him to send paramilitaries into Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 1995, Serbian President Slobodan Milošević represented the FRY and Bosnian Serbs at peace talks in Dayton, Ohio, US, from 1996, the first public signs of political discord between parts of Montenegrin leadership and the Serbian leadership began to appear. Milošević did not respond to the platform, considering it unconstitutional, by October 2000 Milošević had lost power in Serbia. Subsequent governments of Montenegro carried out policies, and political tensions with Serbia simmered despite political changes in Belgrade
Serbia and Montenegro
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The Zašto? ("Why?") Monument, dedicated to the employees of the Radio Television of Serbia (
RTS) who were killed during NATO bombing of the RTS building in 1999.
Serbia and Montenegro
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Flag
Serbia and Montenegro
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A Federal Republic of Yugoslavia passport
15.
United States
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Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
United States
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Native Americans meeting with Europeans, 1764
United States
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Flag
United States
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The signing of the
Mayflower Compact, 1620.
United States
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The
Declaration of Independence: the
Committee of Five presenting their draft to the
Second Continental Congress in 1776
16.
Americas
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The Americas, also collectively called America, encompass the totality of the continents of North America and South America. Together they make up most of the land in Earths western hemisphere, along with their associated islands, they cover 8% of Earths total surface area and 28. 4% of its land area. The topography is dominated by the American Cordillera, a chain of mountains that runs the length of the west coast. The flatter eastern side of the Americas is dominated by river basins, such as the Amazon, St. Lawrence River / Great Lakes basin, Mississippi. Humans first settled the Americas from Asia between 42,000 and 17,000 years ago, a second migration of Na-Dene speakers followed later from Asia. The subsequent migration of the Inuit into the neoarctic around 3500 BCE completed what is regarded as the settlement by the indigenous peoples of the Americas. The first known European settlement in the Americas was by the Norse explorer Leif Ericson, however, the colonization never became permanent and was later abandoned. The voyages of Christopher Columbus from 1492 to 1502 resulted in permanent contact with European powers, diseases introduced from Europe and Africa devastated the indigenous peoples, and the European powers colonized the Americas. Mass emigration from Europe, including numbers of indentured servants. Decolonization of the Americas began with the American Revolution in 1776, the population is over 1 billion, with over 65% of them living in one of the three most populous countries. As of the beginning of the 2010s, the most populous urban agglomerations are Mexico City, New York, Sao Paulo, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, all of them megacities. The name America was first recorded in 1507 in the Cosmographiae Introductio, apparently written by Matthias Ringmann and it first applied to both North and South America by Gerardus Mercator in 1538. Amerigen means land of Amerigo and derives from Amerigo and gen, America accorded with the feminine names of Asia, Africa, and Europa. When conceived as a continent, the form is generally the continent of America in the singular. However, without a context, singular America in English commonly refers to the United States of America. In some countries of the world, America is considered a continent encompassing the North America and South America subcontinents, the first inhabitants migrated into the Americas from Asia. Habitation sites are known in Alaska and the Yukon from at least 20,000 years ago, beyond that, the specifics of the Paleo-Indian migration to and throughout the Americas, including the dates and routes traveled, are subject to ongoing research and discussion. Widespread habitation of the Americas occurred during the glacial maximum
Americas
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CIA political map of the Americas in
Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection
Americas
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The Americas
Americas
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Parkin Site, a Mississippian site in Arkansas, circa 1539.
Americas
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World map of
Waldseemüller (Germany, 1507), which first used the name America (in the lower-left section, over South America)
17.
List of Olympic medalists in basketball
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Basketball is a sport contested at the Summer Olympic Games. A mens basketball tournament was first held at the 1904 Olympics as a demonstration, the U. S. filed a formal protest but was rejected by FIBA. As a result, the United States refused to accept the silver medal, after a protest of the Soviet war in Afghanistan, the United States boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The Soviet Union responded by leading the 1984 Summer Olympics boycott, both boycotts affected basketball at the Olympics, as both had successful basketball teams at the time. Womens basketball was first held at the 1976 Summer Olympics, both events have been held at every Olympic Games since. The USAs Teresa Edwards is the leader for the most Olympic medals in basketball, with four gold. Leslie, Bird, Catchings, and Taurasi are the leaders for the most consecutive gold medal wins in basketball. The United States have been successful in both the mens and womens tournaments, winning a medal in every Olympiad except the 1980 Summer Olympics, which it boycotted. The Soviet Union is the other country to have won 12 medals in the mens and womens tournaments,10 of which were won from 1952 to 1980. Two other countries have won five medals, Australia and Brazil, as of the 2016 Summer Olympics,90 medals have been awarded to teams from 20 National Olympic Committees. Two gold medal-winning teams, both U. S. mens teams, were inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010. The 1960 team featured four players who would enter the Hall of Fame, a head coach who would enter the Hall as a contributor. The 1992 team, better known as the Dream Team, had 11 future Hall of Fame players, individuals who have been inducted to the Naismith Hall of Fame are indicated as follows, Bold type, Inducted as players. Italics, Inducted in a non-playing role, individuals who have been inducted to the Naismith Hall of Fame are indicated as follows, Bold type, Inducted as players. Italics, Inducted in a non-playing role, a The United States have not accepted their medals after a protest about the replays of the game. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2012. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, specific Basketball, Mens Basketball at Sports-Reference. com Basketball, Womens Basketball at Sports-Reference. com
List of Olympic medalists in basketball
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LeBron James (USA, in white) attempts a shot against China's
Yao Ming at the 2008 Olympics.
18.
Argentina at the 2004 Summer Olympics
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Argentina competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nations twenty-first appearance at the Olympic Games, except for three different editions. Argentina did not attend the sparsely attended 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, the sailor Carlos Espínola was the nations flag bearer at the opening ceremony. 152 competitors,106 men and 46 women, took part in 86 events in 22 sports, mens team event –1 team of 12 players Roster The following is the Argentina roster in the mens basketball tournament of the 2004 Summer Olympics. Group play Quarterfinals Semifinals Gold medal game Won gold medal Two competitors joined Argentina for the canoeing flatwater event only, Argentina qualified boats for the following events. Qualification Legend, Q = Qualify to final, q = Qualify to semifinal Omnium Argentina qualified 1 fencer, women Roster The following is the Argentine roster in the mens field hockey tournament of the 2004 Summer Olympics. ‹See Tfd› Head coach, Marcelo Bielsa * Over-aged player, group play Quarterfinals Semifinals Gold Medal match Won Gold Medal Argentina had one woman competing in artistic gymnastics as an individual. Mens indoor event –1 team of 12 players Roster The following is the Argentine roster in the volleyball tournament of the 2004 Summer Olympics
Argentina at the 2004 Summer Olympics
19.
Carlos Delfino
–
Carlos Francisco Delfino is an Argentine-Italian professional basketball player who plays for Boca Juniors of the Liga Nacional de Básquet. He holds dual citizenship in both Italy and Argentina, standing at 1.98 m, he plays at the small forward and shooting guard positions. He is also noted for his defense and three point shooting skills, Delfino moved to Italy in 2000 and played four seasons in the Italian A-1 League, the first two with Reggio Calabria and the other two seasons with Skipper Bologna. In his first season in Italy, he played for Reggio Calabria, in just under 21 minutes per game he averaged 8.8 points,2.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals. He scored a season-high 25 points in his game against Scavolini Pesaro. He scored 15 points in just 20 minutes against Cordivari Roseto and tallied 14 points apiece against Paf Bologna, Muller Verona and he hit at least one three-pointer in 19 of 24 games. In his first season with Skipper Bologna, he moved into the lineup in the third game of the season. He scored 18 points, including shooting 3-of-5 from three-point range, versus Euro Roseto and posted double-doubles against Benetton Treviso, Oregon Scientific Cantù and he suffered torn ligaments in his ankle late in the season, but returned in late May. In November 2004, he suffered an injury that kept him on the injured list for over three months. He had an operation in the U. S. and then another in Argentina, however, Delfino did not immediately return to form after his rehabilitation, and was left off the Pistons 2005 playoff roster. After he recovered from the injury, Delfino averaged 15.3 minutes,3.9 points,1.8 rebounds. Many regarded Brown as having limited space for Delfinos offensive creativity and it was perceived that under the Pistons upcoming new coach Flip Saunders, that Delfino would thrive. In his second season on the Pistons active roster, Carlos averaged 10.7 minutes,3.6 points,1.7 rebounds, Delfino played off the bench substituting for either Tayshaun Prince or Richard Hamilton. He had three games where he scored in double digits before being sidelined for the next 4 with the flu. Delfino became an important change-of-pace player in Flip Saunders offensive scheme, on June 15,2007, the Detroit Pistons traded Delfino to the Toronto Raptors for 2nd round draft picks in both the 2009 NBA Draft and the 2011 NBA Draft. The 2007–08 season was his most productive in the NBA, as he averaged 9 points,4.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game during the regular season, on June 16,2009, the Toronto Raptors extended a qualifying offer to Delfino. In the summer of 2008, Delfino signed a 3-year contract with the Russian Super League club Khimki Moscow Region. Delfino was one of the highest paid players in Europe, earning about $10 million US dollars per season, plus a house, a car and a driver
Carlos Delfino
–
Delfino with the Rockets
20.
Fabricio Oberto
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Fabricio Raúl Jesús Oberto is an Argentine-Italian former professional basketball player. At 6 ft 10 in and 256 pounds, he played as a center, with the LNB club Atenas, in his native Argentina, Oberto began playing professionally in 1993, and later played overseas with teams in Spain and Greece. In 2005, Oberto signed with the San Antonio Spurs, a team of the American National Basketball Association and he is also a former member of the Argentina national basketball team. After 2 seasons with TAU, he moved to Pamesa Valencia in 2002, in 2005, after voiding his contract with Pamesa, Oberto signed a 3-year, US$7.5 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA, where he joined fellow Argentine Manu Ginóbili. He kept jersey #7, the number used with the Argentine national team. Oberto was the oldest rookie in Spurs history at the age of 31, during the first year of his NBA stint, Oberto was no longer the key player he had been in Europe, playing less than 9 minutes per game on average. He nonetheless was very satisfied with his role on the Spurs and he also became a pivotal player for the Spurs during the 2006–2007 Western Conference Finals, averaging 31 minutes and 14 points in the first two games of the series. On June 23,2009, Oberto was traded to the Detroit Pistons as a part of a three-team trade among Pistons, Spurs and the Milwaukee Bucks, then he was immediately waived by the Pistons. On August 11,2009, he was signed by the Wizards. Since jersey number 7 was already taken by Andray Blatche, he chose to wear number 21 because of his date and in honor of one of his idols. Oberto once more was part of the Argentine National Team for the 2010 FIBA World Championship, after his solid play during the World Championship in Turkey, he received multiple offers from European teams, most notably Efes Pilsen and Real Madrid. Oberto, however, decided to continue to wait for an opportunity to sign with an NBA team and he eventually reached an agreement to join the Portland Trail Blazers for the 2010–11 season. However, on November 4,2010, after playing five games for Portland, he began experiencing palpitations related to a heart condition. On January 2013, Oberto signed a contract with his team, Atenas de Córdoba. Oberto was hired for the remainder of the season as a replacement for center Julián Aprea, Oberto started playing with Argentine national team shortly before his 20th birthday in 1995, and since then has won a number of tournaments including the 2004 Olympic gold medal match. In July 2011, Oberto announced that he was coming out of retirement to play in the FIBA Americas Championship and he said that doctors had cleared him to participate. However, he could not participate in the 2012 Summer Olympics because of personal problems, Oberto and his wife, Lorena, have a daughter, Julia, who was born in the summer of 2005. He also enjoys playing the guitar and his bands include Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, U2
Fabricio Oberto
–
Fabricio Oberto
21.
Luis Scola
–
Luis Alberto Scola Balvoa is an Argentine professional basketball player who last played for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association. A three-time All-EuroLeague selection with Tau Ceramica, he signed with the Houston Rockets in 2007, later on, he played for the Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors. Scola has been a member of the Argentina national team and won an Olympic gold medal in 2004. These successes enabled him to become Argentinas flag bearer at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Scola started his career with the Buenos Aires youth teams of Ferro Carril Oeste. He made his debut with the same clubs pro team in the Argentine league during the 1995–96 season. After the 1997–98 basketball season in the Argentine League, Scola moved to Spain and he was loaned to Gijón Baloncesto, where he helped the then Spanish League Second Division club achieve promotion to the Spanish League First Division. He then was loaned back to Gijón through the 1999–2000 season, before arriving at Baskonia, with Saski Baskonia, Scola reached the EuroLeague Finals in the 2000–01 season, and three consecutive EuroLeague Final Fours, between 2005 and 2007. His outstanding performances earned him an All-EuroLeague Second Team selection in 2005, in the summer of 2005, the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA, attempted to negotiate with Baskonia to buy out his contract. After throwing around numbers as large as US$15 million, Baskonia settled on a number of over $3 million for the buyout of the contract, Scola would have been responsible for paying Baskonia the remaining $2.5 million amount of the buyout. When the deal to buy out Scolas contract fell through, the Spurs instead signed an Argentine national team teammate and friend of Scolas and he signed with the Rockets soon after and his sticky buyout situation was resolved a few days later. Scola signed a contract with the Rockets, at a salary of $9.5 million. Scola placed third in the NBA 2007–08 Rookie of the Year Award voting, on March 13,2010, he scored a career high 44 points against the New Jersey Nets. In exchange, the Rockets would have received Pau Gasol, and that night, after other team owners voiced their opposition, league commissioner David Stern nullified the trade. On July 13,2012, he was waived by the Rockets using the leagues amnesty clause to provide salary cap relief, on July 15,2012, Scola was claimed off amnesty waivers by the Phoenix Suns. Reportedly, the Dallas Mavericks and the Cleveland Cavaliers were also interested in acquiring Scola during the amnesty process, on November 21,2012, Scola was relegated to playing off the bench for the first time in his NBA career since the start of his rookie season. He regained his starting spot less than a later, and on December 29. While Scola did become a leader for the Suns, he finished the season with declining averages, on July 27,2013, the Suns traded Scola to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Gerald Green, Miles Plumlee, and a future second round draft pick. In his two seasons for the Pacers, Scola played a power forward role to David West as he started just 18 games over his two-year stint
Luis Scola
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Scola in 2014
Luis Scola
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Scola with the Suns in December 2012
22.
Italy at the 2004 Summer Olympics
–
Italy competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from the 13th to the 29th of August 2004. This nation has competed at every Summer Olympic games in the modern era, the Italian National Olympic Committee sent the nations largest ever delegation in history to the Games. A total of 364 athletes,229 men and 135 women, three Italian archers qualified each for the mens and womens individual archery, and a spot each for both mens and womens teams. Marco Galiazzo earned the first archery gold medal in Italys history, on his way to the final, he defeated countryman Ilario Di Buò in the round of 16. The three men did well enough in the round to receive a bye in the first round of team competition. Italian athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the athletics events. Roster Manager,30 – Giampiero Faraone Coaches,8 – Claudio Corradi,12 – Manuel Cortina,27 – Salvatore Varriale, round robin Roster The following is the Italy roster in the mens basketball tournament of the 2004 Summer Olympics. Group play Quarterfinal Semifinal Gold medal game Won silver medal Italy sent six boxers to Athens, both boxers that had matches in the round of 32 won those bouts. Four boxers won in the round of 16 to advance to quarterfinals, only the super heavyweight Roberto Cammarelle survived the quarterfinal round, not falling until the semifinals to win the bronze medal. The combined record of the Italian boxers was 7-6, Men Women Omnium Italian divers qualified for eight individual spots at the 2004 Olympic Games. Men Women # indicates that the score of this rider does not count in the team competition, twelve Italian fencers qualified for the following events, Men Women Roster The following is the Italian squad in the mens football tournament of the 2004 Summer Olympics. ‹See Tfd› Head coach, Claudio Gentile * Over-aged player, Group play Quarterfinal Semifinal Bronze Medal Final Won bronze medal Men Team Individual finals Women Nine Italian judoka qualified for the following events. Five Italian table tennis players qualified for the following events, three Italian taekwondo jin qualified to compete. Six Italian tennis players qualified to compete in the tennis tournament, Men Women Italy was again represented by three triathletes at the 2004 event, but unlike in the first competition in 2000 all the Italians in 2004 were women. Gemignani, who had been the nations best finisher four years earlier, however, the two Olympic rookies both placed better than Gemignani had in the first race. Roster The following is the Italian roster in the volleyball tournament of the 2004 Summer Olympics. ‹See Tfd› Head coach, Marco Bonitta Group play Quarterfinal Roster The following is the Italian roster in the water polo tournament of the 2004 Summer Olympics. ‹See Tfd› Head coach, Paolo de Crescenzo Group play 7th-10th Semifinal 7th-8th Place Final Roster The following is the Italian roster in the water polo tournament of the 2004 Summer Olympics
Italy at the 2004 Summer Olympics
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Italy captures the silver medal in women's rhythmic gymnastics team all-around
Italy at the 2004 Summer Olympics
23.
Roberto Chiacig
–
Roberto Chiacig is an Italian professional basketball player for Gecom Mens Sana 1871 Siena of the Serie B Basket. Playing as a center, his most notable achievement was the medal obtained by Italian national team of which he was a member at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Beyond playing internationally, he also has had a club career in Italy and abroad. Chiacig grew up in the ranks of Benetton Treviso, making his debut for the side in a first division Serie A game on 6 February 1994. After a one-year loan to Serie A2 side Floor Padova, he broke into the first team, the Italian moved abroad in 1996, spending one year with Greek Basket League side AEK Athens. Returning to Italy in 1997, he signed with Teamsystem Bologna, with the Bologna team he would win the Italian Cup and Italian Supercup in 1998. He stayed there until early 1999, finishing the season with Zucchetti Reggio Emilia, Chiacig then spent the 1999-2000 season with Zucchetti Montecatini. Joining Montepaschi Siena in 2000, he spent 6 seasons with the club, winning the 2001–02 FIBA Saporta Cup and he then moved to the Spanish Liga ACB in 2006, with Pamesa Valencia. However he only stayed until February 2007, finishing the season with Pallacanestro Virtus Roma, in 2007, he joined La Fortezza Bologna, rivals of former club Fortitudo. He stayed there for two years, winning the 2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge, Chiacig then moved to Scafati Basket in 2009, also staying there two years. After another season at Pallacanestro Reggiana, he joined Angelico Biella in September 2012 and he was released after around three months, joining amateur side Costone Siena in January 2013. Chiacig only stayed a month with Costone, signing with Fortitudo Agrigento in February, the next year he had another stint with Scafati Basket. In 2014 Chiacig returned to the club where he had the most success, Mens Sana 1871 Siena, making his international debut with the Italy national basketball team in 1994, he participated in the 1997 Summer Universiade. With the senior national side he took part in a succession of international tournaments and he posted 6,6 points and 3,1 rebounds in nearly 18 minutes per game as Italy won the gold at the EuroBasket 1999. In the EuroBasket 2003, he had 22.1 points and 14.3 rebounds in around 18 minutes as Italy took home bronze, chiacigs last games with the national team came during the EuroBasket 2005. Premio Reverberi, Best Player Order of Merit of the Italian Republic 2nd Class / Grand Officer, conferred on 27 September 2004 by President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
Roberto Chiacig
–
Roberto Chiacig
24.
Luca Garri
–
Luca Garri is an Italian professional basketball player who plays for Derthona Basket of the Italian Serie A2. Garri moved to Don Bosco Livorno aged 15, loaned to Zucchetti Montecatini in 1999-00 and he made his professional debut with Mabo Livorno during the 2000-01 season, in the second division Serie A2, helping the side earn a promotion. He then spent the three seasons in the Serie A with the side. He was loaned to Angelico Biella for 2005-06, refinding his form to more than 11 points per game in leading Biella to the title playoffs. He returned to Roma afterwards but his 2006-07 season with the side was no more successful than his first, Garri then signed a three-year contract with Virtus Bologna in August 2007. After one season in Bologna, he returned to Biella in 2008 on another three-year deal, in July 2010, he moved to Pepsi Caserta on a two-year deal. After spending the 2011-12 season with Cimberio Varese, Garri returned to the second division, in June 2015, Garri joined Derthona Basket of the Serie A2. Garri played for the Italian under-age teams at the 2000 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and he made his debut for the senior Italian national team on 1 June 2002, scoring five points against Latvia, gradually working his way into the Italy fold over the next two seasons. The following year, he was in the Italy experimental squad that won the 2005 Mediterranean Games in Almeria, Garri was recalled for the 2006 FIBA World Championship, averaging 4.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in around 12 minutes per game over the tournament. FIBA game center profile Retrieved 31 August 2015 Serie A profile Retrieved 31 August 2015 RealGM profile Retrieved 31 August 2015
Luca Garri
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Garri with Trento in 2012
25.
Denis Marconato
–
Denis Marconato is an Italian professional basketball player currently playing for Dinamo Basket Sassari of the Italian Serie A. He is 211 cm tall and he plays at the center position, Marconato joined Benetton Trevisos youth team in 1990 and with them he won three juniors titles between 1991 and 1994. In the 1996-97 season, he returned to Treviso and Benetton coach Mike DAntoni gave him an important role in the team. After winning the Italian SuperCup title and MVP in 1997 and the Saporta Cup in 1999, in the following years, he won two more Italian championships, three more Italian Cups and played at two Euroleague Final Fours. During his last season with Treviso, Marconato was also the captain of the team, in the summer of 2005, he moved to the Spanish ACB League club FC Barcelona, together with his Italian national team teammate Gianluca Basile. On January 14,2015 he signed with Montichiari of the Serie B Basket, Marconato played in 1994 with the Under-20 junior Italian national team, and he also participated at the Under-22 European Championship held in Istanbul in 1996. In addition, Marconato was also a member of the Italian roster at the World Championship in 2006, the initiative of the President of the Republic
Denis Marconato
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Denis Marconato warming up in the second game of the 2008
ACB Finals.
26.
Giacomo Galanda
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Giacomo Jack Galanda is a retired Italian professional basketball player. He was a forward-center of 2.10 m. and 110 kg, Galanda was born in Udine, Friuli. He grew up in the Scaligera Basket Verona junior teams, with which he made his debut in the Italian League on October 17,1993, after four years in the Verona team, he was traded to Fortitudo Bologna. However, in his first year he was utilized as a reserve to Gregor Fučka, in 1998, he was loaned to Pallacanestro Varese, where he was a leader of the team that, surprisingly, won the Italian League championship. Galanda therefore returned to Bologna, where he remained until 2003 and he won two further Italian league championships in 2000 and 2004. In the 2005-06 season, Galanda played with Armani Jeans Milano, from 2006 to 2011, he played for Pallacanestro Varese. In 2011, he signed with Giorgio Tesi Group Pistoia, in May 2014, he announced his retirement. Galanda made his debut with the senior mens Italian national basketball team in 1997, some of his successes with the Azzurri jersey include silver and gold medals at the FIBA EuroBasket, and a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games of Athens. Euroleague. net Profile FIBA. com Profile Eurobasket. com Profile Italian League Profile
Giacomo Galanda
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Giacomo Galanda
27.
Gianluca Basile
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Gianluca Basile is an Italian former professional basketball player. At a height of 1. 92m tall and a weight of 95 kg and he is considered to be one of the best 1990s and 2000s era Italian basketball players. He won the medal at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. He was also the captain of the senior mens Italian national team, Basile excelled in the role of shooting guard, or point forward, and was a very effective three-point shooter. He invented and named the tiro ignorante, a three-point shot taken under difficult conditions, Basile played four years with Italian club Pallacanestro Reggiana, and seven years with Fortitudo Bologna, with whom he won two Italian League championships, as the teams captain. In 2005, he moved to Spanish club FC Barcelona, in July 2011, he signed a two-year deal with Italian club Pallacanestro Cantù. On July 6,2012, Italian club Emporio Armani Milano, officially announced the signing of Basile and his contract with the team expired on June 30,2013, and he became a free agent. He finished his career with Italian club Orlandina Basket, and last played in the 2015–16 season, note, The EuroLeague is not the only competition in which the player participated for the team during the season. He also played in competition, and regional competition if applicable. He also helped Italy beat Team USA, by a score of 95-78, by scoring 25 points in a pre-Olympic friendly game against the US in 2004
Gianluca Basile
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Basile with
FC Barcelona.
28.
Gianmarco Pozzecco
–
Gianmarco Pozzecco is an Italian professional basketball coach and a former player. He currently serves as an assistant coach of Cedevita Zagreb, in 1999 he won the Italian League and the Italian Supercup with Varese. In 2004 he lost the Euroleague Final Four against Maccabi Tel Aviv and he played from 1999 to 2001 in the Italian All Star Game and in the 1999 McDonald’s Open Championship. In 2001 he tried to join the NBA franchise attending the Summer League with the Toronto Raptors and he had the most assists per game in seven seasons of the Italian League. In 2014, he went back to Varese as a head coach, on July 3,2015, he parted ways with Varese. Day later, on July 4,2015, he signed with the Croatian team Cedevita Zagreb to be the assistant coach. The following year he was part of the Italian squad at the Eurobasket 2005, standing at 1.81 m, he played at the point guard position. He had great skills, court-vision, and shooting ability. He was a full of fantasy, but weak on defense. He was dubbed as an offensive talent. He is famous for his character, and, although it has caused problems for him with coaches through the years. His nicknames are “Poz”, and “La Mosca Atomica”, although he was born in Gorizia and he grew up as a basketball player in Udine, he is from Trieste. NBA star Tim Duncan once said that he was impressed by the Italian player, Gianmarco Pozzecco at draftexpress. com Gianmarco Pozzecco at fiba. com
Gianmarco Pozzecco
–
Pozzecco in March 2013.
29.
United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics
–
The United States, represented by the United States Olympic Committee, competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. The delegation of 613 athletes was the largest the country has sent to the Summer Olympics outside the home country. The team won 101 total medals, including 36 gold medals, three U. S. archers qualified each for the mens and womens individual archery, and a spot each for both mens and womens teams. Men Women U. S. athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the athletics events. The team was selected based on the results of the 2004 United States Olympic Trials, adam Nelson originally claimed a silver medal in mens shot put. On December 5,2012, the International Olympic Committee and the IAAF stripped off Ukrainian shot putter Yuriy Bilonohs gold medal after drug re-testings of his samples were discovered positive, following the announcement of Bilonohs disqualification, Nelsons medal was upgraded to gold. Sprinter Crystal Cox, who ran in the round of the womens 4 ×400 m relay. On July 24,2012, IOC decided to strip Coxs gold medal, on May 31,2013, IOC and IAAF announced that the squad were allowed to retain their medals and thereby, the case had been dismissed. The so-called Dream Team overcame a poor showing against Puerto Rico to win 3 out of their five preliminary games and they failed to defend their gold medal from the 2000 games in Sydney, however, losing to Argentina in the semifinals. Argentina became the first team to prevent the U. S. team with NBA players to win the gold in mens basketball, Roster The following is the United States roster in the mens basketball tournament of the 2004 Summer Olympics. Group play Quarterfinals Semifinals Bronze medal final Roster The following is the United States roster in the basketball tournament of the 2004 Summer Olympics. Group play Quarterfinals Semifinals Gold medal final The United States sent nine boxers to Athens and they claimed two medals, a gold and a bronze. Only two boxers lost their first bouts, Four made the quarterfinals, with two falling there, one falling in the semifinal, and the fourth taking the gold by going undefeated. The combined record of the nine Americans was 12-8, the U. S. was fifth in the boxing medal count. This upgraded Julichs original bronze medal finish, Women Sprint Pursuit Keirin Omnium U. S. divers qualified for eight individual diving spots at the 2004 Olympic Games. Three US synchronized diving teams qualified through the 2004 FINA Diving World Cup and they received rankings below all pairs that did advance. # indicates that the score of this rider does not count in the team competition, men Women Roster The following is the American squad in the womens football tournament of the 2004 Summer Olympics. Men Women Four U. S. athletes qualified to compete in the pentathlon event through the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo
United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics
–
The warm-up for the pre-Olympic friendly match between
Serbia and Montenegro and
United States (
Belgrade,
Serbia and Montenegro, August 6, 2004).
United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics
30.
Allen Iverson
–
Allen Ezail Iverson is an American retired professional basketball player who played for 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association. He played both the guard and point guard positions. Iverson was an eleven-time NBA All-Star, won the All-Star game MVP award in 2001 and 2005, Iverson attended Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia, and was a dual-sport athlete. He earned the Associated Press High School Player of the Year award in football and basketball, and won the Division AAA Virginia state championship in both sports. After high school, Iverson attended Georgetown University for two years, where he set the record for career scoring average and won Big East Defensive Player of the Year awards both years. Following two successful years at Georgetown, Iverson declared eligibility for the 1996 NBA draft, and was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the first overall pick and he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in the 1996–97 season. Winning the NBA scoring title during the 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02 and his regular season career scoring average of 26.7 points per game ranks sixth all-time, and his playoff career scoring average of 29.7 points per game is second only to Michael Jordan. Iverson was also the NBA Most Valuable Player of the 2000–01 season, Iverson represented the United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics, winning the bronze medal. He also played for the Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and the Memphis Grizzlies, Iverson was rated the fifth-greatest NBA shooting guard of all time by ESPN in 2008. He officially announced his retirement from basketball on October 30,2013. On April 4,2016, Iverson was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Allen Iverson was born on June 7,1975 in Hampton, Virginia to a single 15-year-old mother, Ann Iverson and he attended Bethel High School, where he started as quarterback for the school football team, while also playing running back, kick returner and defensive back. He also started as point guard for the basketball team. During his junior year, Allen was able to both teams to Virginia state championships, as well as earning The Associated Press High School Player of the Year award in both sports. On February 14,1993, Iverson and several of his friends were involved in an altercation with several patrons at an alley in Hampton. Allegedly, Iversons crowd was raucous and had to be asked to quiet down several times, shortly thereafter, a huge fight erupted, pitting the white crowd against the black crowd. During the fight, Iverson allegedly struck a woman in the head with a chair and he, along with three of his friends who are also black, were the only people arrested. Iverson, who was 17 at the time, was convicted as an adult of the charge of maiming by mob
Allen Iverson
–
Iverson in 2008
Allen Iverson
–
Allen Iverson attempting a free throw against the Lakers
Allen Iverson
–
Allen Iverson and then-teammate
John Salmons
Allen Iverson
–
Allen Iverson during his tenure with the Nuggets
31.
Stephon Marbury
–
Stephon Xavier Marbury is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association. He has won three CBA championships with Beijing in 2012,2014 and 2015, and is considered as the greatest foreign player to ever play in the Chinese Basketball Association. He was an NBA All-Star in 2001 and 2003 and was voted into the All-NBA Third Team in 2000 and 2003, Marbury has often gone by the nickname Starbury, a name created during his youth. Marbury, the sixth of seven children, was born and raised in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn and he attended elementary school, PS329. During his teenage years, he starred at NYC powerhouse Abraham Lincoln High School and he was often heralded as the next great NYC point guard, expected to follow the success of NBA stand-outs Mark Jackson and Kenny Anderson. In high school, he played for the renowned AAU team the New York Gauchos and he was named a 1995 McDonalds All-American along with future NBA All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and Antawn Jamison. Marbury was listed as one of the top five recruits in the country that year and heavily pursued by Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets coach Bobby Cremins, at Georgia Tech, Marbury took over the starting point guard role left vacant with Travis Bests departure. For the season, Marbury averaged 18.9 ppg and 4.5 assists and was named a Third Team All American by the Associated Press, following the season he declared himself eligible for the 1996 NBA draft. He was selected fourth overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1996 NBA draft, then traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the rights to Ray Allen. In his first season in the league, Marbury averaged 15.8 points and 7.8 assists per game and was named to the 1997 All-Rookie Team and he and second-year player Kevin Garnett led the Timberwolves to the NBA Playoffs in 1997 and 1998. During the lockout-shortened 1999 season, Marburys agent, David Falk, Marbury said he wanted to be closer to his family and friends. Marbury was ultimately traded to the New Jersey Nets in a trade in which Terrell Brandon was sent from Milwaukee to Minnesota. While in New Jersey, Marbury blossomed into an All-Star, Marbury made the All-NBA 3rd Team in 2000 and was selected as a reserve for the 2001 All-Star Game, where he hit 2 clutch threes to win the game. Marbury also scored a career-high 50 points on February 13,2001 in a loss against the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite his individual accolades, the Nets never made the playoffs during Marburys time with the team, Marbury was traded to the Phoenix Suns along with Johnny Newman and Soumaila Samake in the 2001 offseason for Jason Kidd and Chris Dudley. As a Sun, Marbury made his second All-Star team and the All-NBA 3rd team in 2003. Teamed with Rookie of the Year Amare Stoudemire and All-Star Shawn Marion, the trio took the team to the playoffs and this brought Marbury full circle, as he grew up in New York and was a lifelong Knicks fan. Marbury played for the U. S. in the 2004 Summer Olympics and he and his teammates returned with bronze
Stephon Marbury
–
Stephon Marbury
Stephon Marbury
–
Marbury with the Knicks
32.
Dwyane Wade
–
Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association. He has established himself as one of the most well-known and popular players in the league, Wade had the top-selling jersey in the NBA for nearly two years, leading the league in jersey sales from the 2005 NBA Playoffs, until the midpoint of the 2006–07 season. After a successful career at Marquette, Wade was drafted fifth overall in the 2003 NBA draft by the Miami Heat. He was named to the All-Rookie team and the All-Star team the following twelve seasons, in his third season, Wade led the Heat to their first NBA championship in franchise history and was named the 2006 NBA Finals MVP. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Wade led the United States mens basketball team, commonly known as the Redeem Team, in scoring, in the 2008–09 season, Wade led the league in scoring and earned his first NBA scoring title. With LeBron James and Chris Bosh, Wade guided Miami to four consecutive NBA Finals from 2011 to 2014, in 2016, Wade departed the Heat in free agency to play for the Chicago Bulls. Dwyane Wade was born on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, to JoLinda and Dwyane Wade Sr, in 1977, JoLinda, at the age of 18, already had two children. Wade has described his upbringing in Chicago as being very difficult, Wade stated that mom was on drugs and family was in the gang environment, so it was a rough childhood. At a very young age, Wade already witnessed police raids, when he was only 4 months old, his parents separated – and would later divorce. Jolinda was given custody of the two children, and she moved to her mothers house with them, the family struggled financially, and it was around that time when Jolinda started dealing drugs. His mom was addicted to substances including cigarettes, alcohol, heroin. JoLinda would get high with friends at her home, even in the presence of her children, in an interview with ESPN, Wade said Ive seen the needles laying around the house. Ive seen my mother shoot up before, Ive seen a lot of things my mother didnt even know Id seen as a kid. At the age of 6, he recalls police – with guns drawn – raiding his home as they searched for his mother, Wade would still occasionally visit his mom. A year later, his father moved the family to Robbins, after moving to Robbins, Wade didnt see his mother for two years. During this time, JoLinda was able to access a supply of drugs by volunteering to be a tester – i. e. someone who tests street drugs for impurities before the dealers try to sell them. JoLinda was hospitalized and nearly died after she mistakenly injected herself with LSD, in 1994, JoLinda was arrested for possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell and locked up in Cook County Jail. Wade, at the age of 10, reunited with his mom by talking with her at Cook County Jail through a panel over a telephone
Dwyane Wade
–
Wade with the Heat in 2011
Dwyane Wade
–
Wade dunking the ball during the
2004 Rookie Challenge game for the Rookies team.
Dwyane Wade
–
Wade with the ball versus the
Milwaukee Bucks in 2005
Dwyane Wade
–
Wade at the free throw line
33.
Carlos Boozer
–
Carlos Austin Boozer, Jr. is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association. As a member of Team USA, Boozer won an Olympic bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics, the two-time NBA All-Star has also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. Although born at a base in Aschaffenburg, West Germany, Boozer grew up in Juneau. As a child, Boozer practiced basketball outside at his middle school with his father. Boozer was a member of the PARADE All-American high school basketball team. In April 2002, Boozer declared for the NBA draft, foregoing his final year of college eligibility, Boozer was selected with the 35th overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Boozer averaged 10.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in his rookie campaign, and followed it up with 15.5 points and 11.4 rebounds per game his second year. After the 2003–04 NBA season, the Cavaliers had the option of allowing him to become a free agent. Cleveland then proceeded to release him from his contract making him a free agent. During this period, the Utah Jazz offered Boozer a six-year, on July 30,2004, Boozer officially signed with the Jazz. Then Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund said, In the final analysis, I decided to trust Carlos and he did not show that trust and respect in return. However, Boozer denied that he made any commitment to the Cavaliers and its unfortunate how the turn of events went through the media, Boozer said shortly after signing the deal with Utah. Im not a guy that gives my word and takes it away, I think Ive made that clear. In his first season with the Jazz in 2004–05, Boozer averaged 17 points and 9 rebounds per game. As the 2005–06 NBA season began, Boozer was still recovering from injury and he returned to action in late February, easing into action by coming off the bench for the Jazz. In the middle of March, he was placed back into the starting lineup, from that point, he finished the season in impressive fashion, averaging over 20 points and almost 10 rebounds per game and firmly establishing himself as the Jazzs starting power forward once again. Boozer got off to a start in the 2006–07 season, winning the Western Conference Player of the Week Award. Boozer was named part of the NBA All-Star roster as a reserve, in an April 23,2007 game against the Houston Rockets, Boozer scored 41 points, tying the career high he had set a month earlier on March 26
Carlos Boozer
–
Boozer with the Bulls in February 2011
Carlos Boozer
–
Carlos Boozer shooting a free throw while playing with the
Utah Jazz in March 2008.
Carlos Boozer
–
Boozer posting up
Andray Blatche in a game for the Bulls in 2011.
34.
Carmelo Anthony
–
Carmelo Kyam Anthony is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association. Anthony attended Towson Catholic High School and Oak Hill Academy before playing college basketball at Syracuse, in Anthonys freshman season, he led the Orangemen to their first and only National Championship and was named the NCAA Tournaments Most Outstanding Player. Anthony then entered the 2003 NBA draft where he was selected with the third pick by the Denver Nuggets. Since entering the NBA, Anthony has been named an All-Star ten times, while playing for Denver, he led the Nuggets to the playoffs every year from 2004 to 2010, winning two division titles in that span. In 2009, Anthony led the Nuggets to their first Conference Finals appearance since 1985, in 2011, he was traded from Denver to the New York Knicks just days prior to the NBA trade deadline. On January 24,2014, against the Charlotte Bobcats, Anthony set the Madison Square Garden and Knicks single-game scoring record with a career-high 62 points. Anthony has been a member of the USA Olympic basketball team a record four times, winning a medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and gold medals at the 2008,2012. He is the United States Olympic mens national basketball team all-time leading scorer, leader in rebounds, Anthony was born in the Red Hook projects in Brooklyn, New York City. He was born to a Black Puerto Rican father and an African-American mother and his father died of cancer when Anthony was two years old. When Anthony turned eight, his family moved to Baltimore, where he honed not only his athletic skills, but his survival skills. Kenny Minor, one of Anthonys childhood friends, said, from drugs, to killings, to anything you can name that goes on in the roughest parts of town, weve seen and those are the things that teach you toughness and keep you mentally focused on your goals. Sports would serve as an important diversion from the violence and drug dealing that were pervasive in the housing projects a few blocks from the homes of Anthony, Anthony commuted to Towson Catholic High School for his first three years of high school. During the summer of 1999, Anthony grew five inches into the frame of a 6–5 swingman, during his sophomore year, he averaged 14 points,5 rebounds,4 assists and 2 steals. Towson Catholic surged to a record of 26–3 and finished third in the state tournament, Anthony enjoyed a successful high school basketball career as a junior, almost doubling his numbers in scoring and rebounds, averaging 23 points and 10.3 rebounds. Despite his successful year, Anthony was distracted by all of the attention and he barely registered a blip on the radars of pro scouts with his skinny frame and lack of strength, many scouts felt that he was not ready for the physical demands of the NBA. After his junior year, Division I coaches were lined up to recruit Anthony to a school on the East Coast, which included North Carolina and Syracuse. As Anthonys grades dropped under a C average and his scores on the ACT were below acceptable standards, for his senior year, his mother considered transferring him to a different school. During the summer of 2001, Anthony led an AAU Baltimore Select team to the Final Four of the Adidas Big Time Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada
Carmelo Anthony
–
Anthony with the Knicks in November 2013
Carmelo Anthony
–
Anthony receiving an alley-oop during the
2004 Got Milk? Rookie Challenge game for the Rookies team.
Carmelo Anthony
–
Anthony during his tenure with the Nuggets.
Carmelo Anthony
–
Anthony as a member of the Nuggets.
35.
LeBron James
–
LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association. James has won three NBA championships, four NBA Most Valuable Player Awards, three NBA Finals MVP Awards, two Olympic gold medals, an NBA scoring title, and the NBA Rookie of the Year Award. He has also selected to 13 NBA All-Star teams,12 All-NBA teams, and six All-Defensive teams. James played high school basketball at St. Vincent–St, mary High School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, where he was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar. After graduating, he was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers as the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft, James led Cleveland to the franchises first Finals appearance in 2007, losing to the San Antonio Spurs. In 2010, he left the Cavaliers for the Miami Heat in a highly publicized ESPN special titled The Decision, James played four seasons with the Heat, reaching the Finals all four years and winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013. In 2013, he led Miami on a 27-game winning streak, following his final season with the Heat, James opted out of his contract and returned to the Cavaliers. Off the court, James has accumulated wealth and fame from numerous endorsement contracts. His public life has been the subject of scrutiny, and he has been ranked as one of Americas most influential. He has been featured in books, documentaries, and television commercials and he also hosted the ESPY Awards, Saturday Night Live, and appeared in the 2015 film Trainwreck. James was born on December 30,1984 in Akron, Ohio to a 16-year-old mother, Gloria Marie James, who raised James on her own. Growing up, life was often a struggle for the family, as a youth, James played Amateur Athletic Union basketball for the Northeast Ohio Shooting Stars. The team enjoyed success on a local and national level, led by James and his friends Sian Cotton, Dru Joyce III, the players were inseparable and dubbed themselves the Fab Four, promising each other that they would attend high school together. In a move that stirred controversy, they chose to attend St. Vincent–St. Mary High School, a predominately white private Catholic school, as a freshman, James averaged 21 points and 6 rebounds per game for the St. Vincent-St. The Fighting Irish finished the year 27–0, winning the Division III state title, as a sophomore, he averaged 25.2 points and 7.2 rebounds with 5.8 assists and 3.8 steals per game. For some home games during the season, St. Vincent-St, mary played at the University of Akrons 5, 492-seat Rhodes Arena to satisfy ticket demand from alumni, fans, and college and NBA scouts who wanted to see James play. The Fighting Irish finished the season 26–1 and repeated as state champions, for his outstanding play, James was named Ohios Mr. Basketball and was selected to the USA Today All-USA First Team, becoming the first sophomore to do either
LeBron James
–
James with the Cavaliers in November 2014
LeBron James
–
James picks up his dribble against the
Washington Wizards in November 2006.
LeBron James
–
James engages in his pre-game ritual of tossing crushed chalk into the air in March 2008. The routine was retired from 2011 to 2014.
LeBron James
–
James and
DeShawn Stevenson in April 2008. The two had a short feud after Stevenson called James "overrated".
36.
Emeka Okafor
–
Chukwuemeka Ndubuisi Emeka Okafor is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. Prior to the National Basketball Association, Okafor attended Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas, Okafor was born in Houston, Texas. Both of his parents are natives of Nigeria, and Emeka was the first member of his family born in the United States and his father, Pius Okafor, is a member of the Igbo ethnic group. Okafors family moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma when he was young because his father worked for Phillips Petroleum Company, while in Bartlesville, Okafors father took his son to the Bartlesville YMCA to learn the game of basketball. Okafor played at Bellaire High School with future Oklahoma State star John Lucas III, Okafor averaged 22 points,16 rebounds and 7 blocks in his senior season. Bellaire was 26–5 in that season, losing 56–42 in the round of the 2001 UIL state playoffs, to Willowridge High School. This game is notable, however, because it featured five players who would go on to play in an NCAA Final Four. All five of these players would go on to play at least a season in the NBA. He majored in finance during his time at Connecticut, and he graduated with honors after three years in May 2004 with a 3.8 GPA, Okafor was named the Academic All-American of the Year in 2004 for his work on and off the court. Okafor is noted for his defensive ability, especially his shot-blocking. Although he was plagued by problems for most of the 2003–04 season. He was crowned as the NCAA tournaments Most Outstanding Player, in addition, Okafor led the nation in blocks that season and was also named National Defensive Player of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. He also received the Big East Player of the Year award, Okafor graduated as Connecticuts leader in blocked shots with 441. In light of his achievements, Okafor was made a member of the 2004 U. S. National Mens Basketball Team which represented the U. S. at the Olympics in Athens. On April 16,2004, Okafor declared his eligibility for the 2004 NBA draft and he did, however, receive his undergraduate degree in Accounting/Finance in three academic years. On June 24, Okafor was selected second overall in the draft, the following day, he accepted an invitation to join the United States team for the 2004 Summer Olympics, which finished with the bronze medal in Athens. The 2004–05 NBA season was a campaign as Okafor coped well with the pressures of being the star rookie on an expansion franchise. At the end of the season, Okafor beat out his friend and former teammate and roommate, Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon
Emeka Okafor
–
Okafor during his tenure with the Washington Wizards
Emeka Okafor
–
Okafor tipping-off against
Rasheed Wallace.
37.
Shawn Marion
–
Shawn Dwayne Marion is an American former professional basketball player who played 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association. In a career spanned five teams, Marion earned NBA All-Star honors four times. He was also known for his unorthodox shooting form, Marion was born in Waukegan, Illinois and played high school basketball in Clarksville, Tennessee at Clarksville High School, where he was a teammate of future NBA player Trenton Hassell. After high school he played basketball at Vincennes University, a junior college in Indiana. In his second year with Vincennes, Marion played 36 games and he was also the 1998 NJCAA Male Student Athlete of the Year. Marion was selected by the Suns in the first round and ninth overall in the 1999 NBA draft, showing explosive scoring potential and double-digit rebounding ability by his sophomore season, he was selected to the Western Conference All-Star team for the first time in 2002–03 season. In 2004 he was selected to the US Olympic mens basketball team, in 2005, Marion was named a reserve on the Western Conference All-Star Team and selected to the 2004–05 All-NBA Third Team. That year he became the first player since David Robinson in 1991–92 to average in the top five in rebounding and steals since the league began tracking steals in 1973, Marion was also selected as a Western Conference reserve on the 2006 All-Star team, and the 2007 All-Star team. The 2005–06 NBA season was perhaps the best season of his career and he was the only player in the NBA ranked in the top 20 in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, field goal percentage and minutes. He finished the leading the Suns in points per game, rebounds per game, blocks per game. Marion also ranked 3rd in efficiency and he helped fill in the void left by star Amare Stoudemire, who missed nearly the entire season due to injury. Marion also earned a spot in the NBA All-Star Game for the third time and he was named to his fourth NBA All-Star Team and collected 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals in 22 minutes in his hometown of Las Vegas at the 2007 contest. Following a summer filled with rumors and trade speculation involving possible deals with the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, by the start of the season, though, Marion continued to play well for the Suns. On February 6,2008, the Phoenix Suns traded Shawn Marion and his last basket with the Heat was a game-winning dunk against the Chicago Bulls. On February 13,2009, Marion was traded to the Toronto Raptors along with Marcus Banks and cash considerations for Jermaine ONeal, Jamario Moon and a future conditional draft pick. He won the first championship of his career in the 2010–11 season when the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat 4–2 in the 2011 NBA Finals. On April 13,2011, Marion became the man to compile 1,500 steals and 1,000 blocks in the NBA. He joined Hakeem Olajuwon, Karl Malone, Kevin Garnett and Julius Erving in the exclusive club, in the 66 game 2011–12 season, Marion led Dallas in rebounding with 7.4 rebounds per game
Shawn Marion
–
Marion with the Mavericks
Shawn Marion
–
Shawn Marion played for the
Phoenix Suns from 1999 to 2008.
38.
Tim Duncan
–
Timothy Theodore Duncan is an American retired professional basketball player who played his entire 19-year career with the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association. Widely considered to be the greatest power forward of all time, he is a five-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP, three-time NBA Finals MVP, and NBA Rookie of the Year. He is also a 15-time NBA All-Star and the player to be selected to both the All-NBA and All-Defensive Teams in all of his first 13 seasons. Duncan started out as a swimmer and only began playing basketball in ninth grade after Hurricane Hugo destroyed the only Olympic-sized pool on his home of Saint Croix and he played for St. Duncan graduated from college before entering the 1997 NBA draft as the number one pick. Off the court, Duncan is known for his quiet and unassuming ways and he holds a degree in psychology and created the Tim Duncan Foundation to raise general health awareness and fund education and youth sports in various parts of the United States. Duncan is the son of Ione Duncan, a midwife, and William Duncan, a mason. He was born and raised in Christiansted, a town on Saint Croix, in school, Duncan was a bright pupil and dreamt of becoming an Olympic-level swimmer like his sister Tricia. Duncan was dealt another blow when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. In her last days, she made Duncan and his sisters promise to finish college with a degree, Duncan never swam competitively again, but was inspired by his brother-in-law to turn to basketball. Duncan initially had difficulties adapting to the game he thought would help relieve his pain, nancy Pomroy, the athletic director of the St. Croix Country Day School was quoted, was so huge. So big and tall, but he was awkward at the time. He overcame this to become a standout for the St. Dunstans Episcopal High School and his play attracted the attention of several universities, despite having only picked up the game in ninth grade. Wake Forest University basketball coach Dave Odom in particular interested in Duncan after the 16-year-old allegedly played NBA star Alonzo Mourning to a draw in a 5-on-5 pick-up game. Odom was searching for a tall, physical player to play near the basket, however, after the first talk, Odom understood that this was just Duncans way of paying attention, and discovered that he was not only athletically talented, but also a quick learner. Eventually, despite offers by the University of Hartford, the University of Delaware and Providence College. In the year before Duncans arrival at Wake Forest University, the Demon Deacons reached the Sweet 16, but then lost main scorer Rodney Rogers, Duncans style of play was simple but effective, combining an array of low-post moves, mid-range bank shots and tough defense. He was chosen to represent the U. S. in the 1994 Goodwill Games, meanwhile, Duncan worked towards a degree in psychology and also took classes in anthropology and Chinese literature. Despite focusing heavily on basketball, Wake Forest psychology department chairperson Deborah Best was quoted, other than his height, I couldnt tell him from any other student at Wake Forest
Tim Duncan
–
Duncan in 2011
Tim Duncan
–
Duncan at the
free throw line in 2005
Tim Duncan
–
Duncan (middle) and the Spurs at the
White House after winning the
2003 NBA Finals
Tim Duncan
–
Duncan backs down
Ben Wallace in a 2005 game.
39.
Lamar Odom
–
Lamar Joseph Odom is an American retired professional basketball player. As a member of the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association, as a high school player, Odom received national player of the year honors from Parade in 1997. He played college basketball for the University of Rhode Island, earning all-conference honors in his season in the Atlantic 10 Conference. He was drafted in the first round of the 1999 NBA draft with the fourth pick by the Los Angeles Clippers. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team, but twice he violated the leagues drug policy in his four seasons with the Clippers and he signed as a restricted free agent with the Miami Heat, where he played one season in 2003–04 before being traded to the Lakers. Odom spent seven seasons with the Lakers, who traded him to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, after the move, his career declined. He was traded back to the Clippers in 2012 and played briefly in Spain in 2014, Odom played on the United States national team, winning a bronze medal in the Olympics in 2004 and gold in the FIBA World Championship in 2010. He married Khloé Kardashian in 2009, and has several appearances on her familys reality television show. He and Kardashian also had their own reality series, Khloé & Lamar, Odom was born in South Jamaica, Queens, New York City, to Joe Odom and Cathy Mercer. His father was an addict, and Odoms mother died of colon cancer when he was twelve years old. At her deathbed, Odoms mom told him, Be nice to everybody, afterwards, he was raised by his maternal grandmother, Mildred Mercer. In his first three years of school, Odom played for Christ The King Regional High School in Middle Village. As a senior, Odom was recognized nationally as the Parade Player of the Year in 1997 and he also was named to the Parade All-American First Team for the second consecutive year, and earned USA Today All-USA 1st Team honors. During his youth, Odom was teamed with future NBA players Elton Brand and Ron Artest on the same AAU team, Adidas executive Sonny Vaccaro commented at the time that Odom possessed a $2 million smile. Odom contemplated entering the NBA directly out of school, and consulted with Bryant. He decided he was not ready, and decided to attend the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. However, after a Sports Illustrated report questioned his unexpectedly high score of 22 out of 36 in the ACT and that same summer, he received a citation for soliciting prostitution following an undercover operation by the Las Vegas police. Later, an NCAA inquiry found Odom received payments amounting to $5,600 from booster David Chapman, coach Bill Bayno was fired and UNLV was placed on probation for four years
Lamar Odom
–
Odom at the 2012
Tribeca Film Festival
Lamar Odom
–
Odom in a
Lakers vs
Spurs game in 2007.
Lamar Odom
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Odom in 2011, when he was named
NBA Sixth Man of the Year
Lamar Odom
–
Chauncey Billups (left) and Odom holding 2010
FIBA World Championship trophy
40.
Richard Jefferson
–
Richard Allen Jefferson is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association. Jefferson was born in Los Angeles and was raised in Phoenix and his parents were both Christian missionaries, and he moved around frequently growing up. He attended Moon Valley High School in West Phoenix, where he was a part of the varsity basketball team that won the 4A State Championship in 1998. Jefferson played college basketball at the University of Arizona, under Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson from 1998 to 2001, during his 84-game career, Jefferson averaged 11.2 points,5.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He capped his career by being part of the Arizona team that advanced to the 2001 national championship game, along the way, Jefferson was an all-Midwest Regional and all-Final Four selection. He was inducted into the Pac-12 Basketball Hall of Honor during the 2012 Pac-12 Conference Mens Basketball Tournament, Jefferson played seven seasons with the New Jersey Nets and was a key element of their back-to-back Eastern Conference Championship teams of 2002 and 2003. In addition, Jefferson was a member of the USA Mens Olympic basketball team in the 2004 Summer Olympics, Jefferson competed in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 2003. Jefferson began his career as a small forward for Keith Van Horn and showed great defensive skills. Because of his potential, and Van Horns conflict with power forward Kenyon Martin, Jefferson blossomed in the role, becoming a good mid- and long-range shooter in addition to his slashing ability. On August 13,2004, Jefferson signed a six-year, $78,000,000 contract extension with the Nets, Jefferson ended up missing 49 games, but returned to action for the first round of the playoffs against the Miami Heat. Prior to suffering the injury, he had missed five games in his three NBA seasons. Jefferson had been enjoying his best professional season, averaging 22.2 points,7.3 rebounds, through the 2005–06 season, Jefferson continued to perform at a high level and established himself as one of the NBAs most versatile players. On January 21,2007, Jefferson decided to have ankle surgery, after missing around six weeks, he was back in the lineup. His absence proved to be a setback for the struggling Nets. In August 2007, Richard Jefferson pledged $3.5 million toward the University of Arizonas then-planned basketball and volleyball practice facility, UA officials believe it is the largest donation ever from a former player. He started the 2007–08 season in the best form of his NBA career. In the first 7 games, he averaged 26.9 points,5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists, on October 31, in a game against the Chicago Bulls, Jefferson injured his right wrist slightly, thumping his chest following a clutch three-pointer. The Nets went on to win the game in overtime, on December 4 he passed Kerry Kittles to become the Nets second all-time leading scorer
Richard Jefferson
–
Jefferson with the Warriors
Richard Jefferson
–
Jefferson played for the
San Antonio Spurs from 2009 to 2012.
41.
Dawn Staley
–
Dawn Michelle Staley is an American basketball Hall of Fame player and coach. Staley is a three-time Olympian and was elected to carry the United States flag at the ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics. In 2011, Staley was voted in by fans as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history and she was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. While still a WNBA player, she started coaching the Temple University Owls womens basketball team in 2000, in six years at Temple, she led the program to six NCAA tournaments, three regular season conference championships, and four conference tournament titles. On May 7,2008, she was named the University of South Carolina womens head basketball coach, over the following six seasons, she improved her programs record every year, up to winning the SEC in 2013-2014. In late 2014 her team achieved the programs first #1 ranking, making her only the individual to both play on and coach a #1 ranked team. On March 10,2017, she was named coach of USA national team. On April 2,2017, she guided the South Carolina Gamecocks to the schools first NCAA Womens Basketball title, Staley was named the national high school player of the year during her final season at Murrell Dobbins Tech High School in Philadelphia. Staley attended the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, during her four seasons in college, she led her team to four NCAA Tournaments, three Final Fours and one National Championship game. She was named the ACC female athlete of the year and the player of the year in 1991 and 1992. Staley finished her career with 2,135 points and holds the NCAA record for career steals with 454. Her number 24 is retired at UVA, in 1994-1995, after graduation, Staley played professional basketball in France in Tarbes, Italy, Brazil, and Spain before joining the ABL and then the WNBA. In 1996, she joined the Richmond Rage of the American Basketball League, the following season, the team moved to Staleys hometown of Philadelphia. In the 1999 WNBA Draft, Staley was selected with the ninth overall pick by the Charlotte Sting, in 2001, she led the Sting to the Championship game of the WNBA playoffs. On August 1,2005, Staley was traded to the Houston Comets, Staley announced before the start of the WNBA season that she would be retiring after the Comets season was over. The Comets made the playoffs and faced the Sacramento Monarchs in the first round, the Monarchs swept the Comets and won the series 2–0, ending Staleys career. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the Top 15 players in the history of the WNBA. Staley was named to the USA Basketball Womens Junior National Team, the team participated in the second Junior World Championship, held in Bilbao, Spain in July 1989
Dawn Staley
–
Dawn Staley
42.
Sue Bird
–
Suzanne Brigit Sue Bird is an American professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Womens National Basketball Association. Bird was the first overall pick of the 2002 WNBA Draft, in high school, she was the New York State Player of the Year, the New York Daily News Player of the Year, and a WBCA All-American. In her senior year at undefeated UConn in 2002, she won the Wade Trophy, Bird has won two WNBA championships, four Olympic gold medals, and led the WNBA in assists three times. She has also selected to nine WNBA All-Star teams and seven All-WNBA teams. Bird is one of nine women to win an Olympic Gold Medal, an NCAA Championship, and a WNBA Championship. In 2011, she was voted by fans as one of the WNBAs Top 15 Players of All Time and was voted into the WNBA Top 20@20 as one of the leagues Top 20 Players of All Time. Bird was born on October 16,1980 in Syosset, Nassau County, New York on Long Island to Herschel and she has one sibling, an older sister named Jen. Her father is an Italian-born Russian Jew and their original last name was Boorda, as a result, she has also held Israeli citizenship since 2006 but represents her birth country in international competitions. Bird was raised in her mothers Christian religion, Bird was interested in sports from an early age, which was partly influenced by her athletic older sister. Besides basketball, she played soccer, tennis, and ran track, Sue became a very good player and started playing AAU basketball in the sixth grade. While only 11 years old, she played during halftime of a St. Johns basketball game and she played her freshman and sophomore years at Syosset High School, but wanted more competition. She therefore enrolled at Christ the King Regional High School in Queens, Sue spent two seasons at Christ the King, and the Royals went 24–3 her Junior year. In the second season her team finished undefeated and won the New York state championship, Bird won many awards, including the New York State Player of the Year, and the New York Daily News Player of the Year. Bird was named a WBCA All-American and she participated in the WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored 11 points. Bird was recruited by a number of teams, including Stanford and she considered UConn the favorite, but she began to waver when Keirsten Walters and Brianne Stepherson, both point guards, announced commitments to UConn. She worried that there not be room for her to play. However, Stepherson changed her mind, and decided to go to Boston College, making the decision a bit easier, in addition, she chose UConn because it was close to home, and the UConn program had a winning tradition like the one at Christ the King. She suffered a torn ACL eight games into her freshman season and she was not able to redshirt, because she had played in more than 20% of the teams games
Sue Bird
–
Sue Bird in 2012
Sue Bird
–
Bird during the
2008 playoffs against the
LA Sparks
Sue Bird
–
Sue Bird at 2 August 2015 game in Madison Square Garden
43.
Sheryl Swoopes
–
Sheryl Denise Swoopes is a retired American professional basketball player. She was the first player to be signed in the WNBA, is a three-time WNBA MVP, Swoopes has won three Olympic gold medals. She was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, born in Brownfield, Texas, Swoopes was raised by her mother Louise Swoopes and played basketball with her three older brothers. She began competing at age seven in a childrens league called Little Dribblers. She played basketball at Brownfield High School, initially recruited by the University of Texas, Swoopes left the school shortly after her arrival without playing a game, and enrolled at South Plains College. After playing at South Plains for two years, Swoopes transferred to Texas Tech, in 1993, Swoopes won the NCAA womens basketball championship with the Texas Tech Lady Raiders during her senior season. Her jersey was retired by the school the year, making her one of only three Lady Raiders to be honored in this way. The others are Carolyn Thompson and Krista Kirkland, Swoopes teammate from the 1993 championship team and she set the record for the most field goals in the championship game with 16. Swoopes also set school records at Texas Tech. She scored 955 points in the 1992–93 season, which is a scoring record for a single season. Swoopes 24.9 points-per-game average for her career is the best in school history, Swoopes was named the 1993 Sportswoman of the Year by the Womens Sports Foundation. Swoopes was named to the USA national team and competed in the 1994 World Championships, held in June 1994 in Sydney, the team was coached by Tara VanDerveer, and won their first six games, when they faced Brazil. In a closely contested, high-scoring game, Brazil hit 10 of 10 free throws in the minute to secure a 110–107 victory. The USA won a final game against Australia 100–95 to earn the bronze medal. Swoopes averaged 9.1 points per game, while recording seven steals, Swoopes was selected to represent the USA at the 1995 USA Womens Pan American Games, but only four teams committed to participate, so the event was cancelled. Swoopes continued as a member of the USA team at the 1996 Olympics, held in Atlanta, Georgia. The USA team won all their pool play games by large margins, in 2002, Swoopes was named to the national team which competed in the World Championships in Zhangjiagang, Changzhou, and Nanjing, China. The team was coached by Van Chancellor, Swoopes scored 16.9 points per game, second-highest on the team and recorded a team-high 24 steals
Sheryl Swoopes
–
Swoopes at the 2014 World Basketball Festival
Sheryl Swoopes
–
Swoopes for the
Seattle Storm in 2008
44.
Ruth Riley
–
Ruth Ellen Riley is the general manager for the San Antonio Stars as of May 2016. She is a retired American professional basketball player, playing most recently for the Atlanta Dream in the Womens National Basketball Association and her Notre Dame team won the NCAA womens championship in 2001, and her Detroit Shock team won the WNBA championship in 2003 and 2006. Riley was the Most Valuable Player in the 2001 and 2003 championship series and she has also played on teams that won the National Womens Basketball League championship, the gold medal at the Olympic Games, and the 2010 EuroCup Championship. In March 2016, Riley participated in Moguls #IAmAMogul campaign for inspiring women to believe that they have the power to shape the world through their voices, Riley was born in Ransom, Kansas and grew up in Macy, Indiana. She has always been tall, measuring 25 inches at birth, while attending North Miami Middle/High School outside Denver, Indiana, she was on the basketball, volleyball and track teams. It was in school that she began her practice of wearing a headband while playing. During her four years at school she scored 1,372 points, acquired 1,011 rebounds. She averaged 26 points a game as a senior, and had her number retired by the high school. In her freshman year at Notre Dame, Riley played in all 32 of the teams games, thereafter she was the starting center in all but one of Notre Dames games. She was a mainstay of the team in all four years, in both her junior and senior years she was an Associated Press First Team All-American selection. As a senior, she won the Naismith Award and was the Associated Press Player of the Year, in addition, she was the 2000-01 Verizon Academic All-American of the Year for the University Division I. The highlight of her career came in the 2001 NCAA tournament. In the championship game, Notre Dame was trailing Purdue, 66-64, then, with 5.8 seconds left and the score still tied, Riley drew a foul. She made both free throws to give Notre Dame its final 68-66 edge and its first womens national championship, Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw, when asked about the critical play on which Riley was fouled, said, its the same play weve been running all season. Its called, Get the ball to Ruth, Riley was the Most Outstanding Player of that years Final Four. The only player in Notre Dame womens basketball history to score 2,000 career points and grab 1,000 career rebounds, Riley was a two-time first-team Academic All-American in both 2000 and 01. In 1999, Riley led the nation in field goal percentage shooting 68. 3% to become the first Irish player to rank first in an NCAA statistical category, Riley graduated from Notre Dame in 2001 with a degree in psychology, having made the Deans List every semester. She finished her Notre Dame career with 2,072 points, and school records for rebounds, blocked shots and she came off the bench for the first 12 games
Ruth Riley
–
Ruth Riley
Ruth Riley
–
Riley at the ribbon cutting for four donated basketball courts in Angola
45.
Lisa Leslie
–
Lisa Deshaun Leslie is a former American professional basketball player who played in the Womens National Basketball Association. She is a three-time WNBA MVP and a four-time Olympic gold medal winner, Leslie was the first player to dunk in a WNBA game. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history, in 2015, she was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Leslie is the daughter of Christine Lauren Leslie, who stood 6 ft 3 in, and Walter Leslie, Christine started her own truck driving business to support her three children. Walter left the family when her mother was four months pregnant with her, Leslie has two sisters, Dionne, who is five years older, and Tiffany, who is eight years younger. She also has a brother, Elgin, who is now the Carondelet high school basketball coach, Lisa played basketball on an all-boys basketball team in middle school. She also played on a team with the record 33-1. By the time Leslie was in school in California, she had grown to over 61 but never participated in athletic activities besides tetherball. Her dream then was to be a weather reporter. During the first few weeks of high, a classmate begged Leslie to help out the basketball team. On her first day of tryouts, team members were told to split into two groups for layup drills, lefties and righties. Leslie was the only lefty in the group, so from then on and that decision worked to her advantage, as she became ambidextrous. In eighth grade, she transferred to a high school without a girls basketball team. Her success there contributed to her confidence in her playing abilities, Leslie continued her education in 1986 by enrolling at Morningside High School in Inglewood, California. She made an impact on the basketball program, starting every game for the girls varsity team. She also found time to join the team and compete in track. She ended up being a state qualifier in the 400-meter run, by the time she was a sophomore in high school, she was able to dunk the ball in the open court, even though she was not able to palm the ball. She was her teams leading scorer and rebounder and led them to the 1989 California state championship, Leslie was so talented that she was invited to participate in the USAs Junior World Championship team
Lisa Leslie
–
Leslie in December 2010
Lisa Leslie
–
Leslie playing against
Spain during the
2008 Summer Olympics.
46.
Tina Thompson
–
Tina Marie Thompson is an American retired professional basketball player. The first draft pick in WNBA history, Thompson was selected first by the Houston Comets and she helped lead the Comets to four WNBA championships. She has won two Olympic gold medals and has made nine WNBA All-Star Game appearances and she is the WNBAs all-time leading scorer. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the top 15 players in WNBA history, as of the 2013 season, she is also the only player to play in every WNBA season. Her final professional game occurred on September 22,2013, in the WNBA Western Conference first round playoff Game 2 at the Tacoma Dome for the Seattle Storm in a 58–55 loss to the Minnesota Lynx. Thompson grew up playing basketball with her brother TJ and his friends at Robertson Park in West Los Angeles, California. She recorded more than 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds in her school career at Morningside High School in Inglewood, California. She then went on to basketball at the University of Southern California. She attended both school and college with fellow WNBA player Lisa Leslie. Thompson represented the USA at the 1995 World University Games held in Fukuoka, Japan, in August, the team had a record of 5–1, securing the silver medal. The USA team won early and reached a record of 5–0 when the USA beat Yugoslavia, in the semi-final game, the USA faced Russia. The team was much of the first half but tied the game at the half. The USA broke the open in the second half and won. The gold medal match was against unbeaten Italy, the Italian team started strong, scoring 12 of the first 14 points of the contest. Sylvia Crawley scored eight points to end the first half. The USA took a lead in the second half, but the team from Italy responded with a ten-point run, and won the game. Thompson averaged 9.9 points per game and was second on the team with 7.3 rebounds per game, Thompson was invited to be a member of the Jones Cup team representing the USA in 1996. She helped the team to a 9–0 record, and the medal in the event
Tina Thompson
–
Thompson at the 2013 WNBA All-Star game
47.
Diana Taurasi
–
Diana Lorena Taurasi is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the Womens National Basketball Association and UMMC Ekaterinburg of Russia. Taurasi has won three WNBA championships, WNBA Most Valuable Player Award, two WNBA Finals MVP Awards, four Olympic gold medals, five scoring titles, and the WNBA Rookie of the Year Award and she has also been selected to seven WNBA All-Star teams and nine All-WNBA teams. She is one of 9 women to win an Olympic Gold Medal, an NCAA Championship, in 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the WNBAs Top 15 Players of All Time. Taurasi grew up in Chino, California, where she attended and played basketball at Don Antonio Lugo High School, Taurasis father, Mario, was born in Italy, and raised in Argentina. He has been a soccer player in Italy, and played for several years as a goalie. Diana Taurasis mother, Liliana, is Argentinian, Mario and Liliana Taurasi emigrated from Argentina to the United States before Diana was born. She has a sister named Jessika. Taurasi attended Don Antonio Lugo High School, where she was the recipient of the 2000 Cheryl Miller Award and she was also named the 2000 Naismith and Parade Magazine National High School Player of the Year, and the 1999 and 2000 Ms. Basketball State Player of the Year. Taurasi finished her career ranked fifth in state history with 2,156 points. Taurasi was named a WBCA All-American and she participated in the 2000 WBCA High School All-America Game, where she scored twelve points, and earned MVP honors. Following a highly decorated high school career, Taurasi enrolled at the University of Connecticut, taking the court primarily at point guard and shooting guard, she led the team to three consecutive NCAA championships. Leading up to the championship, her coach, Geno Auriemma, would declare his likelihood of winning with the claim, We have Diana. In addition to the recognition she received during her time at UConn. For example, state senator Thomas Gaffey nominated her to join Prudence Crandall as the states heroine and she averaged 15.0 points,4.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in her collegiate career. During her time at UConn, her team compiled a record of 139 wins and 8 losses, Diana was a member of the inaugural class of inductees to the University of Connecticut womens basketball Huskies of Honor recognition program. Following her collegiate career, Taurasi was selected first overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury, at times in her career, she had to play forward because there were shorter players in the starting five on her team. Also, right before the 2004 season, the Mercury acquired all-star Penny Taylor in a dispersal draft, in her WNBA debut, Taurasi netted 26 points and led the Mercury to an 84–76 victory over the Seattle Storm. For the season, the rookie averaged 17.0 points,4.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game
Diana Taurasi
–
Taurasi in 2013.
Diana Taurasi
–
Taurasi with
President of the United States George W. Bush at a
White House ceremony for, inter al., the
national champion 2002–03
Connecticut Huskies.
48.
Yolanda Griffith
–
Yolanda Evette Griffith is an American professional basketball hall of fame player who played in both the ABL and WNBA. A former WNBA MVP, she is considered one of the greatest rebounders and she last played in the WNBA as a member of the Indiana Fever. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the top 15 players in WNBA history and she is sometimes called by her nicknames, Yo and Yo-Yo. Since retiring from the ranks, Griffith was as assistant coach at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is currently an assistant coach with UAlbany Great Danes, Griffith was inducted into the 2014 Womens Basketball Hall of Fames class on her first year of eligibility. Born in Chicago, Illinois, she attended George Washington Carver High School in the Chicago area, in her senior year, she was named in Parade Magazines All-American basketball team, as well as first team All-America in softball. She was offered a scholarship to play for the basketball team at the University of Iowa. Afterward, she attended Palm Beach Junior College in Lake Worth, Florida and she later transferred to Florida Atlantic University, which was then a Division II school, where she graduated in 1993, earning Kodak Division II Player of the Year honors. While in school, she supported herself and her daughter by working for a car repossession company, in 1997, she joined the American Basketball League after playing pro basketball in Germany. Griffith was selected by the Long Beach Stingrays as the number one overall in the ABL players draft. In their only season, Griffith led the Stingrays to the brink of the ABL title, only to lose to the defending champions, Griffith was named the 1997–1998 ABL Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-ABL first team. She finished second in the ABLs 1998 Most Valuable Player voting to her future 2000 Summer Olympics teammate Natalie Williams, when the Long Beach franchise folded after the end of the 1997–98 season, she was dealt to the expansion Chicago Condors, in her hometown. She played there only briefly, however, as the league folded on December 22,1998, prior to that, Griffith ranked fifth among league leaders in scoring, first in rebounding, 19th in assists, second in steals, and second in blocked shots. The Sacramento Monarchs selected Griffith as the no.2 overall draft pick in the 1999 WNBA Draft and she is a seven-time WNBA All-Star, and won the WNBAs MVP, Newcomer of the Year and Defensive Player awards in 1999. In 2005, the Monarchs won their first WNBA title over the Connecticut Sun, on April 8,2008, after nine seasons with the Sacramento Monarchs, Griffith signed with the Seattle Storm. On February 20,2009, Griffith signed with the Indiana Fever, after a stint with the Storm. On June 9,2009, Griffith tore her achilles tendon in a game against the Seattle Storm and she was out for the season, and since she retired at the end of the season, it ended her career. In 2011, she was voted in by fans as one of the top 15 players in the history of the WNBA
Yolanda Griffith
–
Yolanda Griffith
Yolanda Griffith
–
Yolanda Griffith coaching from the sidelines
49.
Katie Smith
–
Katie Smith is an American retired professional basketball player, who played most recently in the WNBA. Her primary position was shooting guard, although she sometimes plays small forward or point guard and she is the all-time leading scorer in womens professional basketball, having notched over 7000 points in both her ABL and WNBA career. In 2016, she was voted one of the WNBAs Top 20 at 20, Smith was born in Logan, Ohio and spent her formative years in Logan, Ohio. She began playing basketball as early as the 5th grade on a team and took tap dance. She grew up in a family of student-athletes and her father, John, Jr. played football at Ohio University, and won three varsity letters in the 1960s before becoming a dentist. Her younger brother, Tom, earned three varsity letters playing football at Ohio University as well as being a member on their track, Tom won the 1996 Mid-American Conference championship in the discus throw. Her older brother, John, was a member of one of 11 University of Mount Union football teams won the NCAA Division III title. He now is the football coach at Bexley High School. Smith was named a High School All-American by the WBCA and she participated in the inaugural WBCA High School All-America Game in 1992, scoring fourteen points, and earning MVP honors. Smith attended Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio from 1992 to 1996, and helped lead the Buckeyes to a Big Ten championship, during her career at OSU, Smith broke the Big Ten scoring record for points scored in a career, in mens or womens basketball. She earned two Big Ten Conference player of the awards as a senior, the conferences own award. Smith graduated in 1996 with a degree in zoology, on January 21,2001, Ohio State honored her as the first female Buckeye athlete to have her number retired. She was also inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame in October 2001, Smith was chosen to join the team which was invited to the 1993 U19 World Championship. The team won five games and lost two, but that left them in seventh place. Smith was the leading scorer for the team with 9.9 points per game Smith represented the USA at the 1995 World University Games held in Fukuoka, Japan in August. The team had a record of 5–1, securing the silver medal, the USA team won early and reached a record of 5–0 when the USA beat Yugoslavia. In the semi-final game, the USA faced Russia, the team was behind much of the first half but managed to tie the game at the half. The USA broke the open in the second half and won 101–74
Katie Smith
–
Katie Smith
Angola
United States
Argentina
Puerto Rico
China
Lithuania
Spain
Italy
Australia
New Zealand
Serbia and Montenegro – World champions
Greece – Olympic hosts
Nigeria
Brazil
Japan
South Korea
Russia
Czech Republic
