Should The U.S. (Black) Mens Basketball Team Have Boycotted The Olympics?

Today in Beijing, China, the U.S. Men's basketball team routed the China team in the opening game of their quest to regain the Olympic Gold Medal. Kobe Bryant and LeBron James are widely considered to be the leaders of the team comprised of 12 black men who happen to play basketball.

President George Bush proudly stood in the huddle as the team prepared for the beginning of the game and sat in the stands along with his wife watching the 12 black men proudly represent their country. China has come under tremendous criticism for its human rights issues, but I wonder if the 12 black players on the U.S. team can really be proud of the tremendous epidemic that is taking place in their own country as their own brethren, the black man, is quickly becoming an endangered species.

I wonder if LeBron, Kobe or Dwyane Wade asked President Bush if he was going to address the growing crime problem in urban areas, or the scarcity of black men receiving the basics of an education. What would've happened if they had approached managing Director Jerry Colangelo, and presented a series of grievances that needed to be addressed before they would be willing to perform for their country. With the clout that these players have, Colangelo would at least have been put on notice that these players do have a social conscious.

At the end of the day, I'm in no position to advise 12 mini corporations how to spend their time when performing their jobs. I just wish that they would display their consciousness more publicly when on such a national stage as the Olympics. Especially when they're operating from a rare position of power and authority.