Basketball Buckeyes Check in from Beijing – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Michael Redd and Katie Smith offered some thoughts to www.USABasketball.com from Beijing during the first few days of the 2008 Olympics
Michael Redd, Milwaukee Bucks/Ohio State
Your reaction to the Opening Ceremonies Friday?
“The Opening Ceremonies was an absolutely phenomenal experience, a once-in-a-lifetime honor. To see the other athletes, to see the spectacle, it was fantastic.”
Anything in particular stick out in your mind?
“The guy walking along the roof of the stadium was unbelievable. I think his name was Li. That was incredible. I enjoyed the lighting of the torch.”
Katie Smith, Detroit Shock/Ohio State
On the level of excitement among the first-time Olympians …
“I don’t think it’s really hit them yet. We’re so used to the traveling and the tournament in Haining. But now that we’re here, seeing everything, the security, credentials, all of that, it’s going to really start to hit them. I think they’re excited. It’s neat because it’s their first time, their guests are coming in and it’s going to be a fun time.”
Is there going to be tension between the USA and Australia if you play them later in the tournament?
“No. Actually it’s a lot of fun. For us, with Russia there’s a rivalry because there’s so many years of competition. With Australia, you can go back to Sydney where we beat them in their home country, they won the (FIBA) World Championship this last time. For us, it’s a great rivalry. We play against them in the WNBA, we play with them, we play overseas. To me it’s a friendly competition in a sense that we all know each other and play together. We respect each other and we’re going out there to play a great basketball game.”
If you play Russia later in the medal rounds, you’ll face Becky Hammon. Will that be a little weird?
“We just saw her. Honestly, we’re playing Russia. It has nothing to do with Becky. She’s on their team and obviously she’ll be on the scouting report. But when it comes down to playing Russia, that’s just what it is. It is Russia versus the USA. It is not the USA versus Becky. The history of our rivalry and our competition with them goes way back before Becky. This game is about Russia versus the USA and that’s it. If she’s on the floor, great. If she’s not, no worries. It doesn’t have any bearings on how we approach that game. That game, whenever that happens or if it happens, it’ll be the importance of us going out there and playing great basketball, hopefully getting past them and move on to where we want to be.”
