The article, "Lithuania Basketball Team Helped To Inspire Nation's Freedom and Independence" was written by Jordon Schultz in The Huffington Post on September 21, 2012. Many people think of basketball as a sport they love to play, watch, or collect valuable cards on. However, the 1992 Lithuanian Olympic basketball team saw a different vision. For fifty years, the country of Lithuania had been under the heavy rule of Soviet Russia. The Communist reign had such an enormous role, that it even went to as far as trying to change the language, religion, and even the flags of this small country. The basketball players wanted no part of this. They were sick of being burdened by the heavy rules forced upon them by the USSR. They decided to use basketball as a means of inspiration not only for themselves, but for the rest of the country. In 1992, they achieved their goal by winning the olympic bronze medal in Barcelona, which represented the end of the atrocious fifty years that the citizens of Lithuania had to endure. This was one of their greatest achievements, especially because the United States had one of the greatest basketball teams to ever participate in the basketball category in the Olympics, with Michael Jordon leading "The Dream Team." Although Marius Markevicius, a Lithuanian living in Los Angeles,was only sixteen years old in 1992, he understood the cultural conflict of what was happening at home. He reports the significance of the 1992 Lithuanian team in his new film, "The Dream Team," which debuted at the Sundance festival, will appear in theaters on September 28. During their road to achieving the bronze medal, the Lithuanian team had no support, other than the band The Grateful Dead. The band loved the cause the team was fighting for, and decided to donate tie-dye warmups, with a dunking skeleton on the front. It signified the pride, rebelliousness, and soul the team had. Lithuania, a small and independent Baltic country with over 3.5 million people, views basketball as the tool which was able to unite a nation in their time of need, and give inspiration to each person belonging to that culture, wether they lived in Lithuania or another country.
It is great to see that a nation can unite by such a simple matter. Since Lithuania had been under the rule of the USSR for such a long time, they did not have the freedom to show their talent in basketball. From what I know, Lithuania has a great national basketball team. It is not fair for them to show their talent under the name of another nation. They greatly deserved that bronze medal in 1992.
ReplyDeleteGreat choice of article, Vivian! Every country needs a tool to express themselves to the outside world, and fortunately for the Lithuanians, after their independence from the USSR, basketball became that tool to help the citizens forget about their devastating past. For such a small country to be able to find a sport in which they are good at and enjoy watching is very crucial when trying to establish themselves back as an independent country, free from oppression. Their run in the 1992 Olympics was remarkable, especially since they were able to represent their country in the top third tier, competing against the U.S. Men's Olympic "Dream Team" among other teams. Lithuania's Men's National Basketball Team is part of the top ten best national teams today, and there are currently a couple Lithuanians in the NBA playing professional basketball. Year after after the Lithuanians continue to excel in basketball at the national level, and other small countries should use them as an example to make a name for themselves in one cultural aspect or another.
ReplyDeleteThis article is a great and inspiring. I admire the men that were on the team and did not want to be under a forceful rule any longer. They are very courageous and brave, and I wish there were more people like them in this world. It is honorable, what those men did and it gives the people something to look up to and inspires them all. After getting independence, playing a sport that they love and are good at to forget about their horrible past is great, not dwelling on the past helps to move forward for the better.
ReplyDeleteThe article you have chosen, as Adam and Rosemary have stated, was awesome and inspiring. Personally this article hit home. I see a country extremely similar to our motherland Armenia in almost every aspect. Both countries consist of small populations with a persecuted people who eventually through hard work, achieved some well deserved freedom. This shows not only Armenians, but the rest of the world, that anyone can be free, and all it takes it hard work and dedication. I am proud to see small countries liberating themselves through these types of means.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an inspirational story, and i love how it pertains to basketball. It makes me happy to see that my favorite sport in the world can make such a difference in matters that are so significant. This Lithuanian basketball team is truly a "Dream Team". With hard work and great effort they brought attention to their cause and persevered through all the doubt. By winning the bronze medal they helped to unite their entire country.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly amazing what a team of basketball players can achieve. It gives me hope that some day we can also achieve incredible things as well. In my eyes, this team is not just a team of basketball players, but they are also a team of heroes. Great story Vivian.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly amazing how such a simple pass time as basketball can unite an entire country. This goes to show that it is indeed the simplest things that are most meaningful and truly make a difference. I could not help being inspired and struck with admiration as I read this article. Great choice Vivian!
ReplyDeleteVivian, your article left me inspired, as it did with the rest of the readers. It showed me how a small group of people can make a small change for the better; if they achieved to make a difference, then anyone else surely can too. It made me realize that maybe one day Armenia can do the same and continue to fight for a change, to gain the freedom and independence that we deserve.
ReplyDeleteThe 1992 Lithuanian basketball Olympic team seems to be quite inspirational. Being a part of the soviet union can become difficult because all people have the desire to live independently and remain free to make their own choices in life. As you stated Lithuania is an incredibly small country, but still achieved in shocking everyone by earning a bronze medal at the 1992 Olympics. Earning a bronze medal at the Olympics is not a simple task to accomplish especially without support.
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