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Nowitzki chases Olympic dream for Germany
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-07-02 10:13 BERLIN - Dirk Nowitzki has been chasing an Olympic dream since he was a 10-year-old boy and has not lost sight of his ambition even though he is now one of the top players in the NBA.
"I love playing basketball and I love playing for my country," Nowitzki told Reuters ahead of a pre-Olympic qualifying tournament when asked why he gives up his off-season vacations and plays his heart out for Germany. "The Olympics are simply the greatest thing there is for any athlete," he added. "I already get goose bumps just thinking about what it'd be like walking into the opening ceremony with the Germany team. It'd be the icing on the cake for me." The Nowitzki-led team missed qualifying for the 2000 Games in Sydney and, even though they got a bronze medal at the 2002 world championships, narrowly failed to qualify again for the 2004 Games in Athens. Germany missed the chance to qualify earlier for the 2008 Olympics by finishing fifth in the 2007 European championships and will be chasing one of three Olympic berths still open at a 12-team qualifying tournament in Athens from July 14-20. Nowitzki, who became the first foreigner to win the NBA's Most Valuable Player award (2006-07) and has helped to make the Dallas Mavericks perennial NBA title contenders, has spent the last two weeks training hard with the German national team. He is optimistic Germany will finally qualify this time. "I'm 30 years old - I don't have a lot of chances left," he said after leading Germany with 21 points to a 92-70 win over Poland in a pre-tournament warm-up match in Berlin on Monday. Germany looked sharp with Nowitzki in fine form. They also appear to be stronger all around and less reliant, at least in recent friendlies, on their towering NBA player than in the past. "We've got a great camaraderie on the team and had some fantastic successes," said Nowitzki, more than happy to be out of the spotlight and part of a more balanced attack. "You can't beat five other player with one player," said the 2.13-metre tall Nowitzki who has earned 112 caps in 11 years for Germany. NATIONAL ANTHEM He first saw the Olympics on television, watching the 1988 Seoul Games. "I've been watching the Olympics on TV ever since I can remember," he said. "The opening ceremony, the Olympic flame, the whole thing just fascinates me. |
