Batum Poll: Why is he no national player?

by Norsktroll on Jul 23, 2008 4:55 PM PDT

Just found out today that our new favorite Frenchman Batum isn't on the men's national team of his own country (official site 2008, roster Eurobasket 2007, Wikipedia). Okay, they are not that great to begin with (see video of a young Vince Carter famously dunking over their 7'2 center Frederic Weis), came in only 8th place at the last EuroBasket and thus didn't even qualify for the Olympics this year. And without Nic they definitely don't look as good as the Equipe de France Feminine anyway ;-)

(via www.basketfrance.com)

So why bother? Because in a lot of European countries, exceptional players typically are on the national team roster already at his age (e.g. Rudy, Sergio, Ricky Rubio in Spain). Not Batumn. He isn't even on the junior team (under 20). Was he overlooked, is he a late bloomer, was there maybe a conflict? What gives?

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the French don't want to get TOO involved in the competition...

for fear that they’ll just have to quit later.

HA!

Totally joking. Seriously, they banned him from playing because his arms are so long, and officials viewed it as an unlevel playing field.

Just BEdge it.

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jul 23, 2008 5:08 PM PDT 0 recs

Who's the black chick with Brad Renfro (R.I.P.)?

She’s pretty rough, but I see potential.

Salaam

by Junior Del Norte on Jul 23, 2008 5:14 PM PDT 0 recs

Ok. Nevermind.

A quick google showed me that she is Emmeline NDongué and not as attractive as I thought she might be. Also, when I googled her name a few pictures of Sergio Rodriguez showed up.

Salaam

by Junior Del Norte on Jul 23, 2008 5:24 PM PDT up 0 recs

She's got some scary pics on the interweb

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by tominhawaii on Jul 24, 2008 5:03 AM PDT up 0 recs

She is a 6-2 center

hahahahahaha

Bayless4Ever

by Sabonis4Ever on Jul 24, 2008 8:30 AM PDT up 0 recs

I mean come on

Look at her WNBA page photo. It looks like a mugshot. Bad marketing if you ask me.

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by tominhawaii on Jul 24, 2008 8:39 AM PDT up 0 recs

I voted for Jello-Ball

That dude must have stolen the last roster spot. Also, Batman is kind of intimidating with his 7’4” wingspan, and you know those Frenchies are wimps.

Where have all the flowers gone?

by bilingual octopus on Jul 23, 2008 5:25 PM PDT 0 recs

Jelly Belly!

Jerryd Bayless has two emotions: Kill and Win.

"I think it’s going to be very beautiful game next year."
-Nicolas Batum

by rockingharder on Jul 23, 2008 5:36 PM PDT up 0 recs

Batum responded to this direct question with something to the effect of:

I want to stay here and prepare for the NBA.

I want to be tucked in by Greg Oden and have him tell us stories about the old days.

by MGNNoah on Jul 23, 2008 6:27 PM PDT 0 recs

Do you have a link?

I’d be interested in reading the whole thing.

by erastus25 on Jul 24, 2008 5:54 AM PDT up 0 recs

No, I don't, sorry.

I was listening to the media event the day he and Bayless and Diogu were introduced. He was asked this question, but I can’t even remember if it was the initial interview (most questions were for Bayless) or if it was one of the follow up interviews on The Game.

I want to be tucked in by Greg Oden and have him tell us stories about the old days.

by MGNNoah on Jul 24, 2008 7:44 AM PDT up 0 recs

Mmmm,

J’aime ces belles femmes francaises.

by robrun2 on Jul 23, 2008 6:52 PM PDT 0 recs

Yeah

The white chick is pretty cute, those are some big calves though.

A Time For Heroes,
It's not right for young lungs to be coughing up blood
And it's all
It's all in my hands
And its all up the walls
Well the stale chips were up and the hopes stakes were down
Until Kp came into Town!
'Sing it Petey!

by Dheepan on Jul 23, 2008 11:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

Kankles!

Yeah, I bet she stretches out all her socks.

"Switzerland is a place where they don't like to fight, so they get people to do their fighting for them while they ski and eat chocolate." - LD

by RoyDrexler on Jul 24, 2008 12:26 AM PDT up 0 recs

You guys are terrible.

maybe she is just retaining water…women do that ya know…

Sophia

Leaders build cultures that create self-esteem, generate and sustain trust, elevate the dignity of work , create community and foster open communication, and finally encourage growth and learning.

-Warren Bennis USC Professor

by BlazerFan1 on Jul 24, 2008 11:03 AM PDT up 0 recs

In fairness

That’s no woman, it’s a teen heartthrob circa 1994. I honestly thought that was a guy though. The other one is obviously a woman, so I guess they both have to be women if they’re on the same team. That’s all I have to go on.

Salaam

by Junior Del Norte on Jul 24, 2008 11:44 AM PDT up 0 recs

HAHA great pic

They both look, muscular.

Leaders build cultures that create self-esteem, generate and sustain trust, elevate the dignity of work , create community and foster open communication, and finally encourage growth and learning.

-Warren Bennis USC Professor

by BlazerFan1 on Jul 24, 2008 11:56 AM PDT up 0 recs

I honestly couldn't tell he was even wearing a shirt at first -_-

by Dheepan on Jul 24, 2008 12:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

I laughed because I thought he WAS NOT wearing a t...

Leaders build cultures that create self-esteem, generate and sustain trust, elevate the dignity of work , create community and foster open communication, and finally encourage growth and learning.

-Warren Bennis USC Professor

by BlazerFan1 on Jul 24, 2008 1:02 PM PDT up 0 recs

Makes me think women who play basketball

should do so in bikinis

"Meow" --- My cat Bonzi wondering how long we must wait until the season finally starts so we can see just how good the PTB really are.

by bow4meow on Jul 23, 2008 6:53 PM PDT 0 recs

Hmmm..

Maybe not all of them. Some of them are a bit too manly, IMO.

by SloppyJoe on Jul 24, 2008 10:51 AM PDT up 0 recs

Batman

Is going to take a 2 week vacation at home and ball a little with the locals,sort of like having 2 weeks before you have to report for boot camp. Do your duty and good luck.

by southern oregon on Jul 23, 2008 7:02 PM PDT 0 recs

Nicolas won World Championship in 2007

with French National under19 team, averaging 11.7 points, 4.3 assists … Do French Natl teams tend to focus on “older” players in Olympics?
http://www.nba.com/draft2008/profiles/NicolasBatum.html

Cave Canem!

by Caveowl on Jul 23, 2008 7:07 PM PDT 1 recs

Older Players In Europe

I have noticed that in Europe, when coaches have to chose between playing an older player and a younger player with similar skill levels, they will almost always pick the older player. It is the opposite of what usually happens in the NBA, where younger players get more playing time so they can develop and be better in the future.

by trk on Jul 23, 2008 11:02 PM PDT up 0 recs

I heart Nic

Leaders build cultures that create self-esteem, generate and sustain trust, elevate the dignity of work , create community and foster open communication, and finally encourage growth and learning.

-Warren Bennis USC Professor

by BlazerFan1 on Jul 23, 2008 7:55 PM PDT 0 recs

You mean

You coeur Nic …

[This space temporarily left blank.]

by CatMan2 on Jul 23, 2008 8:14 PM PDT up 0 recs

I suppose so

:-)

Leaders build cultures that create self-esteem, generate and sustain trust, elevate the dignity of work , create community and foster open communication, and finally encourage growth and learning.

-Warren Bennis USC Professor

by BlazerFan1 on Jul 23, 2008 8:19 PM PDT up 0 recs