COLOGNE, Germany - The U.S. men's Olympic team did more than merely lose. It was embarrassed and exposed like never before in international competition.
Losing an exhibition game for the first time when using NBA players, the Americans were outclassed by lightly regarded Italy, never making it close in the fourth quarter of a 95-78 upset Tuesday.
"This is a wakeup call for us," 76ers star Allen Iverson said. "I think we need something like this to understand it's not going to be easy."
The Americans were sloppy with the ball and could not handle Italy's zone defenses and 3-point shooting. Italy made 15 from behind the arc and showed superior ball movement and poise in handing the Americans their most lopsided defeat since pros began competing in 1992.
"They're going to be in for a lot of lessons for the next few weeks," U.S. coach Larry Brown said. "It's a young team, and it's a different game internationally."
Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony led the Americans with 19 points, and two-time NBA MVP Tim Duncan added 15 and a team-high 10 rebounds.
Italy, whose roster is filled by players from that country's league, was led by Giacomo Galanda's 28 points and Gianluca Basile's 25.
While the Italians were fifth at the Sydney Olympics, the United States is unbeaten at the Summer Games and in Olympic qualifying since NBA players were allowed in 1992, taking four straight gold medals. It will seek a fifth straight at the Aug. 13-29 Athens Games.
But the United States is sending its youngest team to the Olympics - the average age is 231/2 - since the door opened for NBAers.
"We need more time together," new Lakers forward Lamar Odom said. "These teams play together for years, and we have to put it together in a couple of weeks."
At the 2002 World Championships, a U.S. team with NBA players was beaten for the first time 87-80 by Argentina. The United States went on to lose twice more in that tournament and finished sixth.
In an effort to avoid a similar display, the current squad is touring Europe before heading to Greece. Today it faces Dirk Nowitzki-led Germany, which beat Italy 85-77 Sunday.
Word of the stunning result spread quickly.
"That was a surprise," said Rockets center Yao Ming, who watched the game on TV after China lost to Argentina in Belgrade, Serbia-Montenegro. "I think they will get better in a few weeks, few days. So, no problem."
At Belgrade Arena, the crowd at the Diamond Ball Tournament for Olympic teams let out a loud cheer when the score was announced over the public address system. Serbia-Montenegro won the tournament, defeating 2003 European champion Lithuania 93-80.
BID BRIBERY?: Four middlemen claim in meetings secretly taped by a BBC TV program they could secure IOC members' votes in bidding for the 2012 Olympics. The show, which offers no conclusive evidence of bribery, will air in Britain tonight. Reporters saw an advanced screening Tuesday.
Only one IOC member, Ivan Slavkov of Bulgaria, is specifically implicated. He is shown discussing how to influence votes, but his comments are ambiguous, and he and one of the middlemen, Goran Takac, denied any wrongdoing at a news conference in Sofia. Takac said they played along to expose potential corruption.
Told last week about the program, the IOC asked its ethics commission to investigate "alleged inappropriate conduct within the Olympic movement linked with the bid process."
The BBC's Buying the Games report is based on a yearlong undercover investigation. Reporters posed as consultants from a fictitious company acting for clients who wanted the 2012 Olympics in London.
The BBC said its reporters were promised 54 votes for London by the four lobbyists - Takac, who is based in Serbia-Montenegro, Gabor Komyathy of Hungary, Mahmood El Farnawani of Egypt and Abdul Muttaleb Ahmad of Kuwait. Ahmad, director general of the Olympic Council of Asia, offered to set up meetings with 23 Asian IOC members but said he would not be involved in any cash payments to members.
