Boomers setting a gold standard
TweetANDREW Bogut has said it and now dual-Olympians Joe Ingles and Brad Newley have reiterated it. The Boomers aren't just chasing a medal in Rio, they're panning for gold.
Newley made the call again on Friday at the Free Throw Foundation’s fundraising lunch when quizzed by host Brett Maher about the Boomers’ Rio aspirations.
“We’re going with the intention of winning Gold,” Newley said as fellow Boomer and dual-Olympian Ingles nodded his agreement.
Bogey last week told The Age’s Roy Ward that going to Rio and simply targeting the dais was aiming too low.
“Our goal is to go in and win a gold medal because you don't want to go into an Olympics saying: ‘Let's go finish fourth, let's go get a bronze’,” Bogut said on Thursday.
In fact, that HAS been the Aussie mindset at a number of Olympics.
The Boomers first played off for a Bronze at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, repeated that effort at Atlanta in 1996 and again at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Each time, and even subsequently, various Australian players have said they were targeting a medal.
CHARITY LUNCH: Joe Ingles, left, Brad Newley and Brett Maher at the FTF Luncheon.
At last, our players are sufficiently confident and emboldened to say they want to meet and beat the challenge that is the NBA-based USA team.
And/or Spain. And Lithuania. And Slovenia.
Realistic?
Who cares?
If they believe it they can achieve it. Why not aim for the penthouse instead of simply being content to be allowed inside the building?
It’s a lofty ambition but when you consider who will be available for selection – and add tyro Ben Simmons into the mix – why not?
The Boomers were fabulous against New Zealand in Wellington when they were a team on a mission.
If the new mission is a gold quest in Rio, let’s not rain on the Carnival.