By Henry Young

The NBA is always tooting it's horn about having the best basketball players in the world assembled in one league. Oops...after the World Games, I guess we don't have the "best" players in the world.

Okay, anyone can argue that the USA didn't field their "best" team. The USA team didn't have Shaq, Kobe, Iverson, Garnett and McGrady but they still should have been able to get at least the silver medal. Baron Davis, Ray Allen, Antonio Davis, Ben Wallace, Reggie Miller, Paul Pierce and Jermaine O'Neal are NBA All-Stars too. Those guys put up above average stats against Kobe, Shaq, Garnett and McGrady. So, why couldn't they do the same in the World Games? Has international competition advanced that much that our NBA players aren't considered the best? Better yet, according to the outcome, shouldn't be considered to be among the top four in the world.

Having the best talent assembled doesn't automatically guarantee a win. Good coaching is what separate winners from losers - first place from fifth place. So I compelled to believe that George Karl wasn't the "best" choice to lead that USA team to the gold. Why didn't Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, Larry Brown, Lenny Wilkins or Jerry Sloan asked to coach that team? I wouldn't have mind if Red Auerbach was asked.

Now, that the Olympics is about two years away, Phil Jackson and Larry Brown have come forward by saying that they would love the opportunity to coach the 2004 Olympics. How is the team assembled? Who decides which player is asked or what coach gets a turn? Is this about image? I hope not.

I think that best way to assemble the best of the rest is use one of two methods. Having a national balloting like for the All-Star game (sorry Florida...your votes will not be included). Or look at the previous season statistics and choose players based on who falls in the top ten. This way the Olympic or World Game committee is always selecting one of the best.

Contrary to what George Karl believes caused the loss, Greed and money had nothing do with it. Those players had more to gain by winning the gold than losing it. It's funny that he would mention greed and money given that he has a huge contract.

So I'm appealing to the USA World Games and Olympic committee, let's present the best players and coaches in these competitions.