VOA标准英语2012--US Men's Basketball Team Olympic Gold Favorite

 

US Men's Basketball Team Olympic Gold Favorite

The U.S. men's team is filled with National Basketball Association¹ stars, making it a heavy favorite to win a gold medal at the London Games.

But it did not look that way in the first quarter against a talented Brazil team that features four current NBA players on its roster², as the visitors took a 10-point lead.

The sold-out crowd at the downtown Washington arena³ included President Obama - a huge basketball fan - and his wife Michelle.

The Americans turned up their defense⁴ after the slow start, outscoring Brazil 20-5 in the second quarter and going on to win comfortably, 80-69. Newly-crowned NBA champion LeBron James of the Miami Heat led all scorers with 30 points. 

U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski - also known as Coach K - was satisfied with his players' performance against the team that gave the U.S. its toughest game at the World Basketball Championships two years ago, and he knows what it will take in London.

"If we win the gold medal it will be because of how well we play defensively,“ he said.

A day earlier at Team USA's practice at George Washington University, Coach Krzyzewski, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James said they have no problem being considered favorites in London.

"I am acustomed to that for the last 25 years at Duke [University]," said Krzyzewski. "And I have been accustomed to it for the seven years I have been the USA coach, so we just go on with what we are supposed to do and try to win every game and every posession.“

"You know, we have a responsibility to be professionals and to work every day with a right focus," Bryant explained. "And a right frame⁵ of mind, to try to bring back a gold medal, but I don't look at it as pressure or burden.“

"Is it any different? It's no different. They always look at us as the favorite, going to any game, so it's no different,“ James stated.

"I think Brazil has a great chance to be in contention⁶ for a gold medal. We are going to play a couple of other teams in exibitions that also will be there - Argentina and Spain, and one team we will not face unless we cross over to them - France, with Tony Parker leading them, and all the NBA players they have, will be really good,“ Krzyzewski added.

Men's basketball at the London Olympics starts on July 29. The gold medal game is on August 12, the same day as the closing ceremony.

1 association   

n.联盟，协会，社团；交往，联合；联想

参考例句：

• Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
• I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

2 roster   

n.值勤表，花名册

参考例句：

• The teacher checked the roster to see whom he would teach this year.老师查看花名册，想了解今年要教的学生。
• The next day he put himself first on the new roster for domestic chores.第二天，他把自己排在了新的家务值日表的第一位。

3 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 frame   

n.框架，结构，体格；vt.构成，设计，制定，使适合，陷害； 框架，（是指在数据链路层中，将网络层数据包加上开始与结尾信息包组成一个框架）

参考例句：

• The house has a wooden frame which is faced with brick.这个房子是木质结构的砖瓦房。
• We must frame up that picture.我们必须给那幅画装上框。

6 contention   

n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张

参考例句：

• The pay increase is the key point of contention. 加薪是争论的焦点。
• The real bone of contention,as you know,is money.你知道，争论的真正焦点是钱的问题。