The US Dream Team dominated the competition with power, style and grace putting a show that has since been the benchmark for all team sports to be played. The USA continued their dominance in two encore performances in Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000. In Athens in 2004 the US was expected to repeat their previous dominance in international competition when they were stunned by Puerto Rico in their first game of the Olympic competition. This also made Puerto Rico the first team other than the Soviet Union to beat the United States in Olympic competition.
The United States successes and failures have not been without their controversies. In 1972 in Munich the United States were beaten for the first time in Olympic competition by the USSR in controversial fashion when the referee decided to replay the last three seconds numerous types until the USSR scored the winning basket. The Dream Team also caused controversy when HIV positive basketball star Magic Johnson decided to play at the games. While many players supported the idea, some players and fans were outspoken against it. As a team with such high profile their successes, failures and controversies receive much media attention and scrutiny.
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