[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I do now know on which network you guys saw the game, but my sons and I were watching it on the CBC and I was ticked off by the announcers' comments concerning the USA timeout with just under thirty seconds left in the game.

The announcers that that Larry Brown was trying to embarass the Spaniards. As officials, the two things we do not want to see is a team that is down by ten or more points and less that one minute fouling every chance it gets, just to prolong the game; we also do not want to see the team that is leading in this situation call a timeout.

BUT, Spain was fouling, the officials were calling the fouls, and the USA called the timeout to settle its own players and to discuss ball handling strategy. As an official I can accept the USA timeout under the circumstances of this game.

The one announcer went so far as to say that the timeout is the reason we are considered the ugly Americans.

MTD, Sr.