Garnett Turns Down Team USA

Pretty simple story here: Kevin Garnett was asked about playing in this summer's Olympics. He brusquely refused and no one was upset. From The Boston Globe:

"There is no discussion about that," Garnett said. "I don't want to discuss that. They know that."

Said [USA Basketball President Jim] Tooley: "We understand his decision and respect it. He's with a good team and he's focused on that."

Great, I'm glad there are no hard feelings. Kind of sucks for the Team USA, since Garnett's likely going to be this season's MVP, and his game is tailor-made for the international context. And he's already got the gold medal experience from 2000.

I don't get, though, why Team USA doesn't put at least a little pressure on him, or try and guilt trip him in public. Surely, KG turning his back on our national basketball security is bad for the program, and a bad precedent to set. It's basically the same attitude that pissed off the public in the first place. You know, NBA players wouldn't stand up for their country because they're lazy and selfish. Apparently, if one is as reputable as Garnett, he's got nothing to prove and can dismiss this duty--and honor.

The flip side of this: Without Garnett-caliber players on the team, don't we run the risk of regressing back to 2004, when Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury, and Lamar Odom made a mockery of our flag? If participating becomes a rite of passage for players with sketchy reputations, the red, white and blue will also likely suffer on the court. Or maybe not, as long as they keep Larry Brown away from the cauldron.