<grammarly-btn>The 1992 Summer Olympics basketball tournament was exciting in many ways. Of course, the first thing you remember from the 1992 Olympics is the best basketball team ever assembled with likes of Jordan, Bird, Barkley, Robertson, Pippen, and Johnson. People called that USA team a Dream Team for a reason but let's not dwell on that today. Let's focus on the Other Dream Team, the Lithuanian national basketball team, which fought for more than just medals.
Lithuania came to the 1992 Olympics to prove to the world that it was an independent and strong country. For the first time in 50 years, Lithuanians could compete under their own flag instead of winning medals for the Soviet Union. That was a huge accomplishment on its own, but the nation wanted medals, especially from the basketball team which was stacked with talents like Marciulionis, Sabonis, and Kurtinaitis.
After only a few years of independence, Lithuania was not a very developed country in 1992. A lot of people did not know how to use freedom, and the economy was at its lowest. It might sound crazy, but any little thing that put Lithuania's name on the map mattered to the people. They needed motivation and inspiration. And can anything be more inspiring for a little country than seeing their flag raised up high in the Olympics?
Sadly, the Lithuanian basketball team was completely broke, and the federation couldn't afford to give any money to the team. That is where the Grateful Dead stepped in. As hardcore basketball fans, the Grateful Dead donated to the Lithuanian national basketball team and made sure that the dream stays alive in the most fashionable way. That's how the rock'n'roll started both on and off the court. That's how the Other Dream Team was born. Of course, players who had more money like Sarunas Marciulionis have funded the team with their own money to be able to compete in the Olympics as well.
In the group stage, Lithuania has won 4 games and only lost to CIS (the Soviet national basketball team). However, after 50 years of the Soviet occupation, the only thing that Lithuanian people wanted was to see the Lithuanian basketball team beating CIS. That game had a lot of political flavors, especially in Lithuanians' hearts. Also, Sabonis, Chomicius, Marciulionis, and Kurtinaitis were the guys who won the gold medals for the Soviet Union in the 1988 Olympic games. These four guys had to play against their old teammates in the Soviet Union team, so it wasn't easy for them at all. All politics aside, basketball players who win trophies together tend to become good friends. Anyway, despite the loss to CIS, Lithuania managed to finish 2nd in their group and clinch a spot in the 1/4.
In 1/4 Lithuania faced a scary Brazilian side with legendary Oscar Schmidt. Schmidt scored as many points as he wished like usual, but Lithuanian players managed to stop other Brazilian guys from impacting the game. That was the main factor why Lithuania finally got the lead and won the game 114-96.
The Other Dream Team faced the original Dream Team in the semifinals. That did not go well for a small nation in Eastern Europe. Not even likes of Sabonis or Marciulionis (who played at the GSW at the time) could do anything against the best players in the world. The Dream Team won 127-76. However, Americans could witness that basketball was more than just a game to Lithuanians. It was a way to show the world that Lithuania was a proud nation with dreams and ideas.
Poetically, the Other Dream Team faced CIS in the bronze medal game. It is not wise to mix politics and sports, but at that point, no one cared - Lithuanians needed to win that game to get at least some payback for 50 years of occupation. Lithuanians wanted to see their flag raising and their best players winning bronze medals. As for the players, they had a lot of pressure to handle.
The streets in Lithuania went empty the minute the game started.
3 million people watched how Lithuanian heroes beat CIS and win bronze medals in the Olympics against all odds.
The Other Dream Team has restored the hope in Lithuania that the country will thrive in the future and that every Lithuanian can achieve whatever they wish for.
Of course, as long as that dream is not beating Michael Jordan. Let's be realistic; no one could beat Michael Jordan. But anything else was possible.
I recommend you all to watch a wonderful documentary "The Other Dream Team" to find out more about this story full of hope and love for the game of basketball. The Other Dream Team united the nation and achieved way more than anyone could ever expect - it made Lithuania believe in freedom and brighter future again. Can sports get any more beautiful?
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