Jamon!
One thing the Spanish national team has access to that Team USA does not is Iberico ham, the world’s most delicious food. It is very hard to find in the United States, and it is extraordinarily expensive, although you can find just about anything in Las Vegas, where Team USA is announcing its 12-man roster tonight on NBA-TV.
Here’ the thing about the roster, though: The three extra guys (Rudy Gay, Eric Gordon, Anthony Davis) will be named to the team as alternates, and the only other question going into Saturday night’s announcement is whether Team USA will add a 16th player (under FIBA rules, such a player must already be enrolled in the worldwide drug testing program.)
If the Americans want to go young for that 16th spot, and we mean really young, there is a pool of players to choose from off the Under-17 National team, which will play Australia tomorrow in the gold medal game of the U-17 World Championship in Kaunas, Lithuania.
Those U.S. kids put a 29-point beating on Spain’s U-17 team in the semifinals, while Australia defeated Croatia in the other semi.
Oh, and by the way, the Spanish national team rookies that’ll be picking up the Jamon tab include Serge Ibaka, fresh off the NBA Finals.