[JRutledge]

Guys, you cares what level is better, and who plays more basketball. I believe that the orginal question was why American officials had the attitude about FIBA rule?

Let us face it, basketball is an American sport period. Before kids can walk kids are trying to bounce a basketball. We have hoops on almost every playground. Look in almost any shoe store you are going to find the biggest section of shoes for basketball. Almost all the sports wear in those stores are basketball gear. You do not see the same attitude towards soccer, or baseball, or football even. You can find basketball stuff all year round, unlike the other sports. And then that we get to see what is on TV, basketball is on the tube almost year round. If the NBA is not one TV, then there is NCAA, and then there is the WNBA during the summer.

Us Americans do not see FIBA basketball but for every 4 years, and considering the TV coverage not many of us really saw any of that coverage at all anyway.

So to expect a group of people, from a particular country to think of a set of rules or a game that is literally foreign to us, is a stretch at best.

And as officials, to expect us to care about a level that most of us do not have a desire to officiate, is kind of silly too. I do not want to ever be seen on a Women's NCAA game in life, am I wrong because I do not want to do that? Or am I wrong that I do not want to do a NBA game either?

Look, when we are children many of our dreams are established by what ever we see or know. Officiating dreams are no different. And if you have not figured it already, FIBA levels are no differerent here.

Sorry, when I watched the show Preps on Fox Sports, I did not hear a single kid talk about going to the Olympics or wanting to play basketball overseas. NCAA and NBA was it, but you already knew that.

Peace