British Basketball Wants Your Leftovers

Olympic host nations always want to maximize nationalist pride by sweeping up as many medals as possible, no matter the limits of their athletic reputations. Greek diving, Italian ice hockey, Chinese marathon running -- none roll off the tongue. You host the Games, you make the effort. As such, we have the notion of British basketball.

The Boston Globe's Marc J. Spears notes the institutional struggles Great Britain's national team have faced (no Olympic appearances since 1948, the last time England hosted the Games) and broadcasts the British plea for help.

[I]n hopes of finding more talent, British Basketball is on the lookout for NBA personnel and other talented players born after Jan. 1, 1983, who have at least one parent with a British passport, thus making them eligible for the senior and under-20 teams.

"There are kids in America right now with parents with British passports that can play for our national team or under-20 teams," said Ron Wuotila, British Basketball's performance manager and head of basketball operations. "They might not be able to play for USA, but they can play for us."

Britain is hardly to only country to beg America's non-elite to play for their nation; Chris Kaman trolled for Germany in '08 on the basis of his grandparents' heritage, for goodness sake. But that doesn't make the desperation any less tangible.

You know, maybe the Brits can use its former control of the American eastern seaboard to claim eligibility for players born in NYC, New England and the Carolinas. Josh Howard might be looking for a way to stick it to the Yanks. Josh, if you're reading, fill out that application.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.