Pics 'n Rolls: Coach K's Blood Pressure Elevates Slightly Above A Resting State As Team USA Struggles To 64-Point Victory Over Virgin Islands

Open Look Hoops Editor: "We Deeply Apologize To Jason Kapono And His Fans"

As USA Basketball released the roster for its Men's Select Team, chosen to help Team USA prepare for the upcoming FIBA Championship, Open Look Hoops was utterly shocked and horrified to find that Jason Kapono had been named as one of the ten player selected to the squad.

On July 29th, Open Look Hoops featured a story mocking the (what we considered to be) unlikely possibility of Kapono being named to the team. In fact, Open Look Hoops scoured the league in an effort to target a mediocre player who might be humorously deluded enough to believe in his potential chances of making what we thought was an elite team of future NBA stars.

We stand corrected.

Clearly the characteristics we find to be laughable, such as an inability to defend or create one's own shot, are actually the foundation upon which USA Basketball is hoping to rebuild its tarnished reputation. In the future, we will make certain to factor in USA Basketball's myopic leadership whenever planning to satirize the decision-making of the organization.

We sincerely apologize to Mr. Kapono and his many fans for underestimating his talent and value to our country's basketball future. Henceforth, we shall never again take the Kapono name in vain.

Jason Kapono Still Waiting For Team USA Practice Invite

Jason Kapono's patience is beginning to wear a bit thin as he continues to await what he considers an almost certain invitation to participate on the Team USA practice squad.

The team, comprised of the best young up-and-coming talent in the NBA, will practice with and scrimmage against Team USA in an effort to help prepare them for next month's Olympic qualifying tournament in Las Vegas.

"I think it's only a matter of time before they come calling," Kapono boasted when asked of his chances of making the elite squad. "You can never have too many shooters out there to stretch the defense."

Managing director of the national team, Jerry Colangelo, has apparently identified a core group of 8-10 young NBA players that he plans on bringing in to not only help the current Team USA ready itself for international competition, but also as a potential glimpse into what the future of USA basketball might look like. Players already invited to the practice squad include Brandon Roy, Al Jefferson, Monta Ellis, Andre Iguodala, and David Lee.

Despite the seemingly dwindling amount of roster spots, Kapono remains confident that his somewhat specified skill-set will only help his chances of receiving an invitation.

"Look, let's be honest here. They don't need another guy who can slash, defend, and rebound. That's a dime a dozen in the league. If they're smart, they'll see that what I bring to the table is exactly what they are going to face from the international teams. I don't create my own shot; I don't play defense; I spot up and let if fly. I am 90% of what they will be seeing in Olympic play. We need to play smarter, not better...that is unless we want another bronze. Jason Kapono is their ticket to gold."