Used to Play for Bronze…Now They Play for Gold
’96 Lithuanian Basketball Team and ‘friends’. (photograph by Jack Straw—a joke for dead fans)
Chris told me this great Olympic story about the 1992 Lithuanian Men’s Basketball Team—how the first team was partly sponsored by the Grateful Dead. Naturally, they wore colorful tie-dye warm-up uniforms, sporting a version of the typical skull logo—typical if you’re a dead fan, that is.
Not only did they stay warm in them, though, the public sight of the Lithuanians accepting bronze medals was pretty heart-warming. It sounds like the Olympic podium has never been quite the same.
Against the odds, Lithuania went on to win the Bronze in Barcelona and stood proudly to receive their medals in tie-dye green, yellow and red with Lietuva (Lithuania) written across their chests. I wish I could have seen it.
The story actually begins with Lithuanian born Raimondas Šarunas Marciulionis :
Drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the sixth round (1987), Marciulionis was one of the first Europeans to get significant playing time in the NBA. He really got excited when his country gained its independence from the USSR in 1990, and set himself to organizing a national basketball team. The rest is history as the Lithuanian team went on to win three Olympic Bronze medals.
Saurnas Marciulionis is quite a special fellow I’d say. Back in 1992, the Goldenstate Warriors thought so and signed him to a 10.4 million dollar contract . The part I like is how Saurnas jumped right into the middle of that scary Bay Area earthquake. During the aftermath of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, he was spotted in his Goldenstate Warriors jacket pulling trapped passengers from a train wreck and administering first aid.
After his career as a pro was over in the mid-nineties, Marciulionis moved back to Lietuva, his homeland—our loss, their gain. He is reportedly one of Lithuania’s most successful businessmen.
How (you might ask) is Lithuania fairing in the Beijing Olympics? True to magical form, Lietuva stunned Olympic Gold Medal hopefuls, Argentina (79-75) on Sunday and then went on to pound Iran 99-67. Their next game pits them against Russia on Thursday. For a full basketball game schedule, click here.
Happy tales, and happy clicking for more information on sendoutcards,
Laura signing off