Marcus Camby had a choice. Spend the next year playing for USA Basketball in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics or spend time with his wife and two young daughters. Camby chose his family, in a decision his agent called "gut wrenching".

I'm not surprised at Camby's choice. It's the "gut wrenching" part of it that I find puzzling. What is it Camby was giving up, and what is it worth?

The usual line Olympic line goes something like, "Proud to represent my country, proud to be chosen, proud to play with these wonderful players." Nonsense.

In 1988 the Olympics separated from the ancient Greek ideals that were supposed to be their bedrock, allowing professional athletes to take part. 19 years of sponsorship deals and "dream teams" later the games are a melding of "The Wide World of Sports", reality TV, corporate image making, Nikism (think Nihilism with uglier shoes), and network self-promotion. The athletics? They are in there. Somewhere.

Is Camby missing out on representing his country? Let me put it another way. Does Camby, or any other Olympic athlete represent you or your country? How about Carmelo Anthony? Bode Miller? The US swimmers who clowned around using the flag for a prop during the awards ceremonies in 2000? Michael Jordan, who threatened not to show up on the medal stand in Barcelona because it would mean being photographed in a moment of triumph wearing a uniform with the Reebok logo?  You thought MJ represented you, he thought he represented the swoosh.  How ironic.

Then there is the Catch-22 that is playing for Team USA in basketball. Win and your victory impresses nobody. "It's the NBA All-Stars. How could they not win?" Lose and you're a disgrace to yourself, your country, and American style basketball. Sign up for the Olympics and a chance to get called a fundamentally unsound, rich, arrogant representation of all that's wrong with basketball in this country. Pass.

Still thinking Olympic glory sounds appealing? How about risking your pro career to injury while playing in a glorified exhibition game? Taking the finite number of leaps, cuts, and dribbles you have available and spending some of them against Puerto Rico or Greece? Playing part of the following NBA season dead tired after spending your off season recovery time in a circus.

For your troubles you also get exposed to the risk of terrorist attack. In a world where symbols of the US are at risk, you've just signed on to be a high value target.

The "Miracle On Ice" is a relic of bygone times. Jesse Owens ran to prove that he was free to be an athlete. Today he would be owned by a shoe company and cautioned to make nice with Hitler on the podium so there would be a nice shot of Owens, Hitler, and the logo. Jim Thorpe represented his country. Michael Jordan represented his company.

Here's to Marcus Camby. In a world where so many athletes make bad choices, Camby made a good one.