Jack1000
02-28-2002, 04:03 PM
Hi,
With all the talk of the Figure skating problems at the Olympics this year, boxer Roy Jones getting robbed of the gold in 1988 in Korea. Nothing, I mean nothing compares to the "gift" (ok several gifts) that the Soviet Union received in the sickening gold medel game win over the United States at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich Germany.
Our team, under the coaching of Henry "Hank" Iba had a steller 62-0 record comming into the games and seven consecutive gold medels. In the Games, both the United States and the Russians had gone 8-0 leading to the gold medel game.
Few who saw it will forget it. The game was close, right down to the wire with both teams pressing hard. Then came the controversy...
Although the U.S team was behind slightly much of the game, American Doug Collins put the U.S ahead 50-49 by making two free throws after being fouled by the Russians. There were 3 seconds left and it looked like the United States would win the gold medel and with it, their 63 straight game!
The Soviets imbounded the ball right away failing to score a winning basket. It appeared time had run out and the Americans began celebrating! After much confusion, it was determined that,a Brazilian referee blew his whistle with one second left on the clock. He noticed a commotion at the scorers table. The Soviet coach had called a time out before Collins foul shots were made. This however was not noticed by any of the officals at that time. He consulted with the officals and ordered the clock reset AGAIN to 3 seconds and it was granted.
A half court miss by a Soviet player was off the mark again and the US WON THE GOLD! But wait! Several minutes went by and there was another commotion. The Soviet coach insisted...get this...that the game clock had been set incorrectly and demanded another 3 secons be put back on the clock! Again, the Soviets failed to make a winning basket and the Americans began celebrating again!
A British offical with the games, R. William Jones, came over and had a conference with the referees. Although head of the basketball International Olympic Committee, he had no power to overturn decisions made by the officals during the game. Nevertheless, Jones convinced the officals that ANOTHER 3 seconds be put on the clock and it was granted again! This time the Russians got hold of the ball passed to their star player, Alekander Belov and "won" by a score of 51-50.
Millions who saw that game were outgraged. It was clear that the last basket should not have counted. The Russians won a very very tainted gold medel. The U.S refused to accept the silver medel claiming robbery (To this day, the silver medel remains unclaimed) A protest was heard from the American team and it was denied by a 3-2 vote. Russia was allowed to keep the gold and the U.S got a major leage screwing, one that will never go away. It's time for this case to be opened again and correct a 30 year injustice by giving the 1972 Olympic Basketball Team and respect to the late great Coach Iba what they deserve. Olympic Gold!
I was wondering where anyone could get a tape of this game or more information about the protest. I don't know if cases like this are corruption or incompetance or both but it sure is painful to watch a moment of glory taken away like that! (Interesting to note that on the 3-2 appeal vote that was denied. The 3 members of the Olympic comittee that voted against us were all from communist countries)
With all the talk of the Figure skating problems at the Olympics this year, boxer Roy Jones getting robbed of the gold in 1988 in Korea. Nothing, I mean nothing compares to the "gift" (ok several gifts) that the Soviet Union received in the sickening gold medel game win over the United States at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich Germany.
Our team, under the coaching of Henry "Hank" Iba had a steller 62-0 record comming into the games and seven consecutive gold medels. In the Games, both the United States and the Russians had gone 8-0 leading to the gold medel game.
Few who saw it will forget it. The game was close, right down to the wire with both teams pressing hard. Then came the controversy...
Although the U.S team was behind slightly much of the game, American Doug Collins put the U.S ahead 50-49 by making two free throws after being fouled by the Russians. There were 3 seconds left and it looked like the United States would win the gold medel and with it, their 63 straight game!
The Soviets imbounded the ball right away failing to score a winning basket. It appeared time had run out and the Americans began celebrating! After much confusion, it was determined that,a Brazilian referee blew his whistle with one second left on the clock. He noticed a commotion at the scorers table. The Soviet coach had called a time out before Collins foul shots were made. This however was not noticed by any of the officals at that time. He consulted with the officals and ordered the clock reset AGAIN to 3 seconds and it was granted.
A half court miss by a Soviet player was off the mark again and the US WON THE GOLD! But wait! Several minutes went by and there was another commotion. The Soviet coach insisted...get this...that the game clock had been set incorrectly and demanded another 3 secons be put back on the clock! Again, the Soviets failed to make a winning basket and the Americans began celebrating again!
A British offical with the games, R. William Jones, came over and had a conference with the referees. Although head of the basketball International Olympic Committee, he had no power to overturn decisions made by the officals during the game. Nevertheless, Jones convinced the officals that ANOTHER 3 seconds be put on the clock and it was granted again! This time the Russians got hold of the ball passed to their star player, Alekander Belov and "won" by a score of 51-50.
Millions who saw that game were outgraged. It was clear that the last basket should not have counted. The Russians won a very very tainted gold medel. The U.S refused to accept the silver medel claiming robbery (To this day, the silver medel remains unclaimed) A protest was heard from the American team and it was denied by a 3-2 vote. Russia was allowed to keep the gold and the U.S got a major leage screwing, one that will never go away. It's time for this case to be opened again and correct a 30 year injustice by giving the 1972 Olympic Basketball Team and respect to the late great Coach Iba what they deserve. Olympic Gold!
I was wondering where anyone could get a tape of this game or more information about the protest. I don't know if cases like this are corruption or incompetance or both but it sure is painful to watch a moment of glory taken away like that! (Interesting to note that on the 3-2 appeal vote that was denied. The 3 members of the Olympic comittee that voted against us were all from communist countries)