Fotios is right, there is a reason they are called the Redeem Team. Lets go for facts first. Yes, USA basketball had seen its better days before Athens and that bronze medal never seemed right, especially after incredible wins in prior years with the likes of Jordan, Pippen, Miller and some other very notable players. Since then (2004) they have gone an amazing 21-1 and have shown the world once again how dominant American basketball is. The point that I feel Fotios was trying to make was that Spain's boasting of "world champion" is unfounded due to the fact that they didnt play the United States.

Now allow me expand on this... When you have such a dominant team, like the USA, who had been a gold medal winners for years and a team like Spain who has consistent silvers, Spain cannot rightly claim such a great status in a game they only won once. Use your futbol explanation and lets say the USA suddenly wins the World Cup... No one, not even the USA would say that they are the dominant futbol league in world. And by Fotios' rational the USA would have to defeat the likes of Brazil to be really considered a dominant world power in futbol. I think this is a completely fair assessment.

Another thing to understand is the prior, losing, dream team couldnt work together, and had some big heads that couldnt quite get the job done. In this case, the Redeem Team, has been working together for the team and has (obviously) shown the power they possess on the world stage once again. It's nothing new in the Olympics. There is always (or has always seemed to be) a dominant performer in some part of the Olympics. Whether it be gymnastics, swimming, or running... there is always the "Team To Beat". The USA just happens to be "The Team To Beat" when it comes to basketball. Spain never really had a claim to it.