The USA no longer dominates globally in basketball as it once did, as evident by their bronze medal they landed in the 2004 Olympics in Athens.  It has been 16 years since the original Dream Team was created to kick foreign butt and as special as that team was, there hasn't been anything close since.  America's 2008 version headed for Beijing has promise though.

The team, to be coach by Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, was announced on Monday and includes the following players: Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince, Michael Redd, Dwyane Wade, and Deron Williams.

The team was selected without a tryout. It will have a minicamp this week in Las Vegas and meet there July 20-25 to train and play an exhibition against Canada before heading overseas. The Americans open Olympic play against China on Aug. 10.

"It's really the world's game. We think we're the best at playing that game," Krzyzewski said, warning that "unless we show the respect to the rest of the world that it is the world's game" there will be no gold medal. 

It is no longer a show up and win a gold. If Team USA is going to come out on top, they are going to have to play hard and as a team.

"I take great pride in being given the opportunity to represent my country, and I strongly believe that with the team that has been assembled, the United States will be represented well," Prince said.