[Squawks]

@ Steve - I agree with you that our "national" teams in recent international competitions, namely the last summer olympics basketball tournament and the recent World Baseball Classic, sufferred greatly for that particular reason you have eloquently stated in your post - that all our greatest athletes are not eager enough to join the team because they are not being wooed with huge sums of cash.

But even with that said, there is simply no denying that the good 'ol U.S. of A is among the best of the best in athleticism in the world. Our country has not only the most athletes but also has the most accomplished ones. Years after years we continue to beat every single other country in numbers of gold medals won and total medals won.

If you want to speak of "National Pride" - is the only medium to express such a thing considered to be sports? Foolish to think so - what happened in the good 'ol U.S. of A a week ago on the 4th of July? Memorial day? President's Day? How long was it that the American flag was completely sold out right after the 9/11 event? Do I really need a lecture on "National Pride"?