Z playing for Lithuania?

[Jon]

Well one important question ... has Lutva (Lithuania) qualified?

It's one thing to play in the olympics and another to have to play through all the qualifying rounds AND the olympics.

In fact, if Brazil qualifies ... Andy could still decide to go.

 

[Joe Henderson]

i think you'll find that it's Lietuva, not Lutva.
also, the olympics start in 10 weeks, so it would be kinda late for qualifiers, wouldn't it?

and in any case, it's good news about the insurance. He should go, he should play, he should win and he should tell the rest of the team what it's like to be a champion.

for a European athlete, to compete and indeed to have a chance to win a medal at the Olympics is bigger than anything else. Z has certainly paid his dues and held out for long enough.

 

[Rick Astley]

I want Z to play. To see him sing "Trys Miljonai".

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mlx1WCNWnfw&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mlx1WCNWnfw&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Sarunas Jasikevicius did it! Go Z!

 

[Maximus]

I want Z to play. To see him sing "Trys Miljonai".

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mlx1WCNWnfw&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mlx1WCNWnfw&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Sarunas Jasikevicius did it! Go Z!

Saras looks so sober. :chuckles:

 

[Quavvy]

I hope he does play. He's earned it. He's played relatively injury free ball for years.

 

[Maximus]

Well one important question ... has Lutva (Lithuania) qualified?

It's one thing to play in the olympics and another to have to play through all the qualifying rounds AND the olympics.

In fact, if Brazil qualifies ... Andy could still decide to go.

Qualified for Beijing (9)
1. USA (Qualified as: FIBA Americas Champion)
2. SPAIN (Qualified as: 2006 FIBA World Champion)
3. ARGENTINA (Qualified as: FIBA Americas 2nd Place)
4. LITHUANIA (Qualified as: Eurobasket 3rd Place)
5. RUSSIA (Qualified as: Eurobasket Champion)
6. AUSTRALIA (Qualified as: FIBA Oceania Champion)
7. CHINA (Qualified as: Host Nation)
8. ANGOLA (Qualified as: Afrobasket Champion)
9. IRAN (Qualified as: FIBA Asia Champion)

In the pre-Olympic qualifying tournament (12 teams for 3 spots)
1. GREECE (Qualified as: Eurobasket 4th Place)
2. SLOVENIA (Qualified as: Eurobasket 7th Place)
3. GERMANY (Qualified as: Eurobasket 5th Place)
4. CROATIA (Qualified as: Eurobasket 6th Place)
5. BRAZIL (Qualified as: FIBA Americas 4th Place)
6. PUERTO RICO (Qualified as: FIBA Americas 3rd Place)
7. CANADA (Qualified as: FIBA Americas 5th Place)
8. NEW ZEALAND (Qualified as: FIBA Oceania 2nd Place)
9. LEBANON (Qualified as: FIBA Asia 2nd Place)
10. KOREA (Qualified as: FIBA Asia 3rd Place)
11. CAMEROON (Qualified as: Afrobasket 2nd Place)
12. CAPE VERDE (Qualified as: Afrobasket 3rd Place)

 

[Brizzle]

Zydrunas Ilgauskas will not be permitted to play for Lithuania in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, the Cavaliers announced Thursday.

Although the veteran center had made it clear he wanted to compete in the Olympics for the first -- and likely only -- time in his career, the Cavs think it is just too much of a risk.

"Zydrunas is an important member of our team and has generally been a higher-risk player due to his injury history," Cavs general manager Danny Ferry said Thursday night.

"We declined consent for Zydrunas to play in the Olympics when he approached us several weeks ago, and in light of the inability to insure Zydrunas adequately, we continue to deny consent and will not permit Zydrunas to play in the 2008 Olympics as a member of the Lithuanian National Team."


Ilgauskas could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

Although foot injuries derailed the early part of his career, forcing him to miss two entire seasons and limiting him to five, 24 and 62 games in three others, Ilgauskas, 33, missed just 14 games from 2002-03 to 2006-07. He did sit out two weeks in early March to rest a bad back this season, but he averaged 13.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 73 games.

Earlier this year, the Lithuanian Basketball Federation began a petition to persuade the Cavaliers to allow the 7-3 Ilgauskas to play in China. Lithuania won a bronze medal in 1992, 1996 and 2000 and finished fourth in 2004. It will play in Group A with defending gold-medalist Argentina.

http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/06/cavaliers_deny_z_permission_to.html

 

[Joe Henderson]

That's stupid, greedy and insulting. Money over heart. I hate it.

 

[Rycka]

Nothing over yeat, Lithuanian basketball federation has everything donne about the insurance, next week nba gonna make final desicion about it, its not like cavaliers have final word should he go or not.

We always did great at the olimpics and with Zydrunas i think we could finally win the gold. USA stopped us twice there but things change

 

[Karma]

Once more the NBA and or NBA teams thinking they are bigger then the game. LeBron James has just as much chance of getting a high ankle sprain as Z is of getting any injury. The Olympics are a great showcase and despite what some narrow minded people believe, it is very important for alot of players, particulary the ones that dont wear blinkers all their life.

Shameful call by Ferry.

 

[Chardon]

I hope he goes. But sees limited playing time.

 

[Jon]

Once more the NBA and or NBA teams thinking they are bigger then the game.

Shameful call by Ferry.

Disagree. Everyone knew Lithuania had to provide an acceptable level of insurance for Z in order for him to participate. Ferry HAS TO deny him the chance to play if they can't secure it or else he's simply not doing his job.

Obviously the insurance companies aren't convinced his chances of getting hurt are the same as everyone else's or they'd offer Lithuania an affordable policy.

 

[Cleveland56]

The Cavaliers have given Z over 120 million dollars in his career and made him a VERY rich man. He should do what they tell him.

 

[TheAdmin]

Once more the NBA and or NBA teams thinking they are bigger then the game. LeBron James has just as much chance of getting a high ankle sprain as Z is of getting any injury. The Olympics are a great showcase and despite what some narrow minded people believe, it is very important for alot of players, particulary the ones that dont wear blinkers all their life.

Shameful call by Ferry.

Shameful but the right call. You don't throw the keys to your 33 year old, 125 million dollar investment to someone you don't know and tell them to take it for a spin. Hoping they know how to drive and that their insurance is paid up.

 

[chiefwahoo]

Once more the NBA and or NBA teams thinking they are bigger then the game. LeBron James has just as much chance of getting a high ankle sprain as Z is of getting any injury. The Olympics are a great showcase and despite what some narrow minded people believe, it is very important for alot of players, particulary the ones that dont wear blinkers all their life.

Shameful call by Ferry.

Gotta disagree Karma. Z is not fully covered by insurance and the Cavs need to do what is in their best interest. What would happen if Z got injured and couldn't play the next two years? Everyone would say Ferry was an idiot for letting him play.

I would love to see Z be able to represent his country one last time, but his first obligation is to the Cavs. And they can't afford that type of risk with him. It's a shitty situation but the right call by Ferry.