AMERICAN basketball legend, a HUGE honor to be a flag bearer. I want to have F

[powderman]

   
AMERICAN basketball legend, a HUGE honor to be a flag bearer. I want to have FUN
« on: Today at 10:25:51 AM »

https://www.foxnews.com/sports/sue-bird-us-flag-bearing-opportunity#&_intcmp=hp1r_26

USA Basketball Olympian Sue Bird on carrying US flag in opening ceremony: 'I want to have fun'
Bird is looking for a fifth Olympic gold medal as Team USA gets ready for its first game against Nigeria next week
By Ryan Gaydos | Fox News


Fox News Flash top headlines for July 22
Basketball legend Sue Bird will be one of the flag bearers for the U.S. when the opening ceremonies begin at the Tokyo Olympics on Friday.

Bird will be representing the U.S. with baseball player Eddy Alvarez. She told reporters Thursday she is looking to go out there and just have fun with it.

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"It’s obviously a huge honor and a big moment and I’m so glad my team’s going to be there with me because it’s only right to celebrate and enjoy it with them," she said, via Olympics.com.

"I want to have fun. You know that’s what the Olympics are about. Yes, there are times to be serious and obviously there are times to focus on your mission and why you’ve come here but I think Opening ceremonies is really the one time you let loose and enjoy it."

SUE BIRD, EDDY ALVAREZ TO CARRY US FLAG AT OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONIES

On Wednesday, she said she got to watch her now head coach Dawn Staley carry the American flag in 2004. Bird is the second female basketball player to have the honor, after Staley.

Bird is a basketball legend on the global and club level. She already comes into the 2020 Games with four gold medals to her credit and is poised for another one this summer. Bird is also a four-time WNBA champion with the Seattle Storm and a five-time Russian National League champion.

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The U.S. begins its quest for gold on Tuesday with its first Group B game against Nigeria. The team has Japan and France in its group.


The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Ryan Gaydos is the sports editor for FoxNews.com. Follow him on social media @Gaydos_

[Ranger99]

Never understood why there's professional
game players participating in the Olympic
games
From a very young age it was my understanding
that only amateurs were allowed

[powderman]

Never understood why there's professional
game players participating in the Olympic
games
From a very young age it was my understanding
that only amateurs were allowed

SAME HERE. I'm glad he sees it as the true honor it is. To me, being a torch bearer would be the ultimate honor for an olympian, more than a gold medal to me. CHARLIE. 

[Lloyd Smale]

i think its time to pull the plug on the Olympics or at least our participation. We spend money to send athletes there for free that turn around and disrespect the people who paid there way. Its not about the competition. Its about the politics. Today we are using it politically as much as hitler did before the war. They want to compete? Let them compete as individuals and get sponsors to pay. Im tired of our money paying for people that disrespect our flag. At least with pro athletes we have a choice. We can opt to not pay the gate price and stay home and switch the channel of the tv and not buy products that are advertised during it. Do that enough and it dies a slow death. I think pro sports are going that way already. Just look at nascar. Since they became this new world blm bunch of pansies there audience has fell dramatically. Sponsors have left and teams have dissolved. These Olympians have the power. They can kneel, piss on the flag disrespect our country and nobody dares ban them for it. The left would go nuts. They have nothing to loose. They dont have multi million dollar contracts that can be taken away. There basically just a bunch of punch college kids right out of the socialist indoctrination camp looking for the 5 minutes of fame. I say ENOUGH. There there to represent that flag. We alow them the HONOR of representing it. If they dont respect it. SEND THEM HOME. Dont know about you but i could give a rats ass whether the US is the best pole vaulting country or volleyball country. Take that money and make us the best ARMY country.

[Ranger99]

JMHO-  the " games " are getting
pretty stupid and moving away from
the original intent of what they're
supposed to be
I saw where they want to add
CHEERLEADING?!?!?!
All the volleyball and basketball
and other crap that isn't like
what they did back in Greece
has gotten way out of hand
Needs to be track and field
and weightlifting only or
only things they would have
done back then
All this other crap was added
to give people a chance at
a medal for bragging rights

[powderman]

RANGER. Agreed Sir, waaaaayy too many categories. CHARLIE.