It's no secret the military sports scene in Europe suffers from the strain and drain of deployments. Seasons have been cut and the talent pool has shrunk.
But anyone who thinks all the best talent is downrange these days can take heart from the achievements of the USAFE women's hoops team, which defended its title at the Combined Command Air international basketball tournament which wound up in Tongerlo, Belgium, June 18.
"Winning one championship is tough, and to repeat is even harder," USAFE women's coach Bobby Seaberry wrote in an e-mail reporting the Americans' 70-40 victory over Belgium in the title game, "and repeating was even tougher because of the lack of personnel at training camp due to duty requirements."
The victory, behind 20 points from tourney MVP Salonika Owens, 17 from Jamila Hodges and 10 from Ieschia Ross, was USAFE's 10th straight at this annual event against the all-stars from other NATO air forces.
Owens told Seaberry she noticed the difference ops tempo made this year.
"Last year, we had more time to prepare and practice...," she's quoted as saying. "We had more team cohesion last year."
USAFE's men fared less well, losing the championship game 88-83 to a Luftwaffe team that was coming off an 83-82 victory over the U.S. Armed Forces team in the World Military Championships the previous week in Lithuania.
Which raises a question.
Might the U.S. Armed Forces team, which placed third in the Military World Championships, and the USAFE team have fared better had they not been missing deployed athletes?
If so, do you think it's a good idea to continue intra-service, inter-service and international competitions, even though teams with U.S. players probably go into them with one hand tied behind their backs?
If you're a downrange athlete, do you support the business-as-usual sports for your colleagues back in garrison? Are you having any success in keeping your game honed while down range?
Let us know.
It's about the competition
The beauty of amateur sports is that athletes are driven by the competition. To compete, you sometimes do so despite the odds, the challenges, etc. Congrats to the "Airwomen", however, I see no reason to sympathize with the USAFE Women hoopsters. Despite having to overcome "op tempo" issues, the team won a 10-straight Combined Command Air international basketball tournament title. Ten straight while missing some talent. And, while the Armed Forces team finished *gasp* third in the Military World Championships, big deal. Is third bad? Is it bad that other countries are improving their skills in sports traditionally dominated by the US? If you think so, what do you think about the US Soccer team, which placed second in the Confed cup, losing to Brazil 3-2. Whodathunk the US would be so competitive in international soccer. Sure makes the game more interesting.
It's the same way with military sport.
I think US military athletes understand that 24-7-365 what they do is important, and that sports is just an outlet. Interservice, international military sporting events give military athletes -- teams and individuals -- an opportunity to shoot for higher achievements. The premise that US athletes are competing with 'one hand behind their back' reeks of "If we can't win, we won't play." I think our athletes are better than that. Win, lose or draw, you put your best on the field; you play with integrity; and you shake hands after the dust settles.