100 Olympic Athletes To Watch

Only 23, [LeBron James] is now the voice of the U.S. team. "When you watch us play this summer, you're going to be hearing LeBron on the court, yelling and screaming, talking on defense," says [Dwyane Wade]. "There's going to be that leadership that we need." On a team...

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Published in:Time Canada 2008-08, Vol.172 (5), p.24
Main Authors: Anastasijevic, Dejan, Beech, Hannah, Blue, Laura, Brunton, Michael, Cendrowicz, Leo, Cheng, Gracye, Crumley, Bruce, Downie, Andrew, Goodgame, Clayton, Gregory, Sean, Hauslohner, Abigail, Israely, Jeff, Kirchner, Stephanie, Kucharski, Tadeusz, Masters, Coco, McGirk, Tim, Nadler, John, Nan, Wu, Padgett, Tim, Park, Alice, Pasek, Beata, Perry, Alex, Powell, Bill, Radwan, Amany, Ramzy, Austin, Tedjasukmana, Jason, Thottam, Jyoti, Williams, Daniel, Zarakhovich, Yuri
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Athletes
Careers
James, LeBron
Manypeople
Olympic games-2008
Phelps, Michael
Records & achievements
Torres, Dara
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Summary:Only 23, [LeBron James] is now the voice of the U.S. team. "When you watch us play this summer, you're going to be hearing LeBron on the court, yelling and screaming, talking on defense," says [Dwyane Wade]. "There's going to be that leadership that we need." On a team filled with All-Stars and Great Wall-size egos, James insists he can still treat Jason Kidd, a 14-year NBA vet, and Bryant, the league's reigning MVP, like green rookies if they screw up. He'll feel free to scream in their face. "I can't play unless I'm that type," he says. "There's no way I can hold back." The '92 Olympic hoops squad of Magic, Michael and Larry was "the Dream Team." The nickname du jour for '08: "the Redeem Team." James likes the ring of it. "I want U.S.A. basketball to be dominant again," he says emphatically. "Every time people see the red, white and blue, they fear us." But the world won't cower until LeBron comes through. That's a guarantee. Unlike many top sprinters, [Tyson Gay] is a shy, dry competitor who doesn't talk smack on the track. And he doesn't always eat right when he's off it. "He loves McDonald's," says [Jon Drummond]. That's not exactly the diet of champions. "He's been eating McDonald's his whole life, and look at what he's done," says Drummond. "Who am I to say it's bad for him?" Gay is a freak. If he can run this fast on Big Macs, how can a tight leg slow him down? -S.G.
ISSN:0315-8446