We’re only 72 days from the start of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London, England where our men’s basketball team will be expected to once again bring home the gold medal. Twenty years ago at the games in Barcelona, Spain the United States unleashed probably the greatest basketball team ever assembled on the world.
The ”Dream Team” containing David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Larry Bird, Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Chris Mullin, Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson, and Christian Laettner went undefeated and won their eight games by 68, 33, 43, 44, 41, 38, 51, and 32 in the gold medal game against Croatia.
Sunkist and 7UP are joining forces with USA Basketball to be the official soft drink partner and a few members of the 1992 team will be featured on collector’s edition cans that are now available nationwide.
NBA legends Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson and Scottie Pippen will be featured on Sunkist, 7UP, A&W root beer, Canada Dry and Sun Drop soft drink cans, respectively, during a summer-long promotion cheering on the USA Men’s National Team.
“Basketball fans will love these limited-edition cans as they toast this year’s team and celebrate the original 1992 Dream Team,” said Dave Falk, director of marketing for Sunkist soda.
“This is a special year for USA Basketball and this partnership with these iconic brands will help pay homage to our rich history,” said USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo. “We look forward to having some of the most storied players in our program’s history recognized on these brands’ cans as we prepare to compete this summer.”
The roster for this year’s Olympics has not yet been finalized. Team USA recently filed an extension that has been accepted by the U.S. Olympic Committee, moving the date from June 18 to July 7.
Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Kevin Durant, Tyson Chandler, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Love are pretty much locks to make the trip to London.
The presumed #1 pick in this year’s NBA draft Anthony Davis and newly crowned NBA Sixth Man of the Year James Harden were recently added to the pool of available players and could receive spots as well.
Those who won’t be representing the stars & stripes due to various injuries include Dwight Howard, Derrick Rose, Chauncey Billups, and LaMarcus Aldridge.
