Byron Mullens (toe injury) not playing for Great Britain in the Olympics

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Link: http://espn.go.com/olympics/basketball/story/_/id/8081030/charlotte-bobcats-center-byron-mullens-britain-olympic-team-toe-injury

LONDON -- Byron Mullens will miss the London Olympics because of an injury, depriving host Britain of one of its three NBA players.

The Charlotte Bobcats center, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, but has an English mother, is shelved for the tournament because of a long-standing toe problem.

Mullens received his British passport in March and hasn't yet played for Britain.

Britain coach Chris Finch says: "It is disappointing but we have a very strong squad in camp."

Detroit Pistons guard Ben Gordon and Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng are the other NBA players on the Britain squad, which was allowed to compete at the Olympics by the International Basketball Federation despite not qualifying.

Obviously Mullens was the only Bobcat that had any chance at playing in the London Olympic's, but I guess there goes the neighborhood.

[carolina-chuck]

a pretty good Britain team

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Eh, I wouldn't say good. Average at best, they didn't even qualify for the Olympics but the host nation is usually guaranteed a spot.

[Panthers128]

Byron Mullens is about as much of a gentleman as a homeless Frenchman named Jacques. What a joke. And Gordon did not grow up in England.

Does anyone on the British team have a British accent?

They're making a mockery of the Olympics. Not just the players, but the coaches and directors who approve these decisions. Also the only reason these players are playing for Great Britain (I guess basketball is so unpopular that they can't even put together a team with the 50 million English citizens by themselves) is because they have no chance at playing for the USA.

Think any of them know the lyrics to 'God Save the Queen'?

England's a disgrace though anyway. Soon the BRIC nations will surpass them and they'll fade away into Euro obscurity.

[RedMage138]

Byron Mullens is about as much of a gentleman as a homeless Frenchman named Jacques. What a joke. And Gordon did not grow up in England.

Does anyone on the British team have a British accent?

They're making a mockery of the Olympics. Not just the players, but the coaches and directors who approve these decisions. Also the only reason these players are playing for Great Britain (I guess basketball is so unpopular that they can't even put together a team with the 50 million English citizens by themselves) is because they have no chance at playing for the USA.

Think any of them know the lyrics to 'God Save the Queen'?

England's a disgrace though anyway. Soon the BRIC nations will surpass them and they'll fade away into Euro obscurity.

This isn't something new in international sports, also the tinderbox is way down below the Bobcats forum.