Scary thought

This gold-medal thing might not be a gimme for the U.S.

I didn't want to do it.

Really.

I didn't want to plunk down the $9.95 pay-per-view fee to watch the U.S. men's basketball team at the Olympic Qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico.

There's just something not right about having to pay to watch hoops in the summer.

But, hey, this was the U.S.-Argentina game.

Yes, Argentina. The same team that beat the Americans at last summer's world championships, snapping our 58-game win streak (with NBA players) in international competition.

This was going to be their long-awaited chance for revenge. Reinforced with several big-name NBA stars, Team USA was going to prove to the world that last year was an aberration. That they're still the alpha dogs of the hoops world.

There's nothing like a good grudge match to liven up a hot August afternoon.

And I knew you were too much of a cheapskate to do it.

So being the good team player I am, I made the call for all of us. I agreed to pay the fee, watch the game and provide a report on Team USA's impending slaughter over the poor Argentines. I figured you could thank me later.

Now I feel like maybe I should have sent the check to USA Basketball instead. I mean, they might need the money soon. Maybe to buy aspirin for all the headaches next year at the Olympics.

Despite having Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd, Allen Iverson and several other big-name NBA stars (though Tracy McGrady sat out with back spasms), Team USA had its hands full Tuesday in its 94-86 triumph.

The U.S. led by just four points at the half, actually trailed briefly in the third, and nearly blew it in the fourth. Had Jermaine O'Neal not raced over to block an Argentine's shot late in the game -- leading to a Vince Carter dunk at the other end for an 89-83 lead -- the outcome might have been different. As it was, the U.S. players walked out of the arena knowing they had met a stiff challenge.

"You gotta play every possession," said O'Neal, a member of last summer's team that lost to the Argentines. "Every possession counts. It's like the NBA playoffs."

The scary thing for the U.S. is that it really didn't play a bad game. Team USA shot 53 percent from the floor, outrebounded Argentina 35-21 and generally played hard throughout. It's just that the Argentines, showing their trademark grit and teamwork, matched them pretty much every step of the way.

Apparently, this Olympic gold-medal thing is not going to be a gimme.

Yes, Team USA now sports a perfect 5-0 record in Puerto Rico with relatively easy games still to play against Mexico (Wednesday) and Puerto Rico (Thursday) before the weekend's final four. And, yes, it's all but assured now that the U.S. will finish in the top three and earn a trip to Athens in '04.

But what does it say about U.S. gold-medal hopes when a team full of NBA all-stars out for blood can't dominate?

Keep in mind, this is just the Americas qualifier. When the U.S. gets to Athens for the real deal next summer, it will have to contend with teams from all over the globe. Yugoslavia, for example, defeated the Argentines for the gold medal last year.

The good news? By escaping disaster Tuesday, Team USA gave me some good fodder for a column. And that means I can now expense the $9.95 pay-per-view fee.

Hey, I might be a team player but I'm not stupid.

Marty Burns covers pro basketball for SI.com.