The Association

Kobe Will Guard You 80 Feet From the Action

by Brett Edwards

Here's a news flash for all of the teams attempting to take down the USA in the FIBA Championships: You have no freaking chance. Kobe Bryant will not let team USA even come close to losing. He is bringing an insane intensity level that the team has lacked in recent years, first by working out like a madman, and now by playing full court defense on every opposing team's best player.

Kobe completely shut down Leandro Barbosa during USA's 113-76 beatdown of Brazil. Barbosa was previously leading the tournament in scoring at 27 per game, but ended up with just 4 points on 1-7 shooting with Kobe all over him. Chris Sheridan explains how Kobe locked down Barbosa from the very beginning:

The tone of the Kobe Bryant-Leandro Barbosa matchup was set just a few moments into the first quarter, but you had to look 80 feet away from the action to see it unfold.

As a player from Brazil shot two free throws at one end of the court, Barbosa stood beneath the basket all the way at the opposite baseline, trying to get a clear view.

Every second or so, however, Barbosa had to move a step or two to clear his line of vision from the obstruction that kept moving in his way.

That obstruction was Bryant, who was gluing himself to Barbosa at that very moment and stayed attached to him like white on rice all night ...

"He don't guard like that in the NBA, but he did tonight and I was impressed," Barbosa told ESPN.com.

Kobe did point out that he's dropped 20 pounds since the end of last season, so maybe we will see him guard like that in the NBA. But that's a couple of months away. For right now, teams playing in this qualifying tournament against the USA should be prepared to sit back and enjoy their beating, because with Kobe bringing this type of intensity, they have absolutely no shot.

International Hoops Gear

By Craig Kwasniewski

Since I'm not into chemically enhanced sports (MLB, Tour de France, WNBA (horse tranquilizers)) my interest is in the FIBA World Championships which begin on August 19th. So it's time to step-up and represent your favorite baller or country. Here's some hoops gear that I found online:

Germany Mousepad “starting five”: Bring the WTF? factor to your office with this one. Dirk Nowitzki and four other Germans that NOBODY knows. It's just too bad they don't have a Dirk and David Hasselhoff mousepad. ("I'm just looking for a hero!!!") Anyway, you'll just have to make due with this one. (€ 5,00)

Italy T-Shirt by Champion: Fresh off of winning the World Cup, you can feel the amore for team Italy by sporting this t-shirt. (€ 25,00)

Pau Gasol's Spain National Basketball Jersey: Wear this and you too can run and hide from Dirk Nowitzki, just like Gass-hole did in the 2006 playoffs. The colors are pretty cool, but does the Spanish National Team really that strapped for cash that they need sponsorship? ($107.99)

The Andrew Gaze Story - signed edition: This is all I could really find for Australia, but I'm sure the story of playing for Seton Hall at 40 years old has to have some entertainment value. (Like all those times Andrew was buying alcohol for everyone in his dorm.) I guarantee the autographed edition will wow your friends when they stop by to play Madden '07. ($39.95 Australian, which is like $25 US)

Canada Practicewear T-Shirt: Okay so they're not playing at the World's this summer, but they have the best looking gear bar none. No obnoxious sponsors, just simple lettering and cool colors. BTW - If you're wondering how the hell a team led by Steve Nash could not qualify for the FIBA World Championship, just take a look at Canadian center Todd MacCulloch at Chris Webber's Celebrity Poker game... yikes! ($25.00 Canadian)

Manu Ginobili's Argentina National Basketball Jersey: Sport this and you too can flop all over the playground to your heart's content. Still, the home jersey is pretty cool. My advice, purchase some duct tape and cover up Gynobili's name and BAM, instant street cred! ($69.99 for the jersey, $1.17 for Duct Tape at Home Depot)

Marlboro Red from Eastern Europe: Feel Serbian and start chain smoking during time-outs, halftimes, water breaks, freethrows, jumpballs... basically you should have the a lit Marlboro in your mouth whenever play stops. Side bonus is seeing that glimmer in Vlade Divac's eyes as he recalls those days of flopping, smoking and uncomfortable boyscout leader-like celebrations with his teammates. ($16.94 for 1 carton)

(The Association does not condone the purchase of cigarettes illegally nor do we condone the career of one Vlade Divac because he is a piece of crap!)

Team France Travel Bag: The website descriptions reads: Sac de sport noir et gris France Basketball en polyester conçu avec roulettes et une hanse adaptée aux grandes tailles. I'm pretty sure this translates to, "run and hide the French way with the official French National Basketball travel bag." (€ 40,00)