Zolak: Jaylen Brown Should Turn Down Team USA if They Come Calling

On Monday's edition of Zolak and Betrand, the show further discussed Jaylen Brown being snubbed from Men's Olympic basketball team. Zo makes the point that if the team needs another player before the Olympics begin, Jaylen Brown should turn the team down if they ask him to join.

Zolak: This hit me this weekend too, and I saw a picture that was put out there on social media of the practice. The three Celtics are standing together smiling. Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday on the left, and in the middle is Derrick White, and something just doesn't look right about it. Like, where the hell is Jaylen Brown? We lived it here. We watched this team. We talked about this team every damn day, especially through the last month and a half on their journey, whatever the path was to get there. The MVP in two of the biggest rounds of the playoffs, Eastern Conference finals and finals. He's not even one of the top three to go there. If I was asked if I'm Jaylen Brown," Hey, you know what? Durant's calf is not good." I ain't coming. I'm good. You got your guys. Pick someone else.

Bertrand: You would do that?

Zolak: Yeah, I would if I was (Jaylen) Brown at this point, because I think now you become the story.

Bertrand: He's already the story.

Zolak: I know he's the story.

Bertrand: If you get an opportunity to go and you're mad about not being on the team. I think it's petty to turn it down. You should take it and make the most of it. You should make them realize that the next time around in four years, there's no doubt I'm on your roster.

Zolak: How many times do you have to do that?

Bertrand: Do what?

Zolak: Attempt to prove people wrong.

Bertrand: Well keep proving them wrong.

Zolak: Probably get tired of it.

The 2024 Summer Olympics officially get underway at the end of July in Paris, France! This will be the 30th playing of the Summer Olympics, but technically the 33rd games. Three past Olympic games have been canceled through the years. This will also be the 2nd Olympics in 3 years due to the 2020 games being delayed to 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be the first Summer Olympics held in France since 1924 and the first overall since 1992.  With the games so close, here is a list of events to keep an eye out for that are worth watching, especially for American sports fans! 

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Both the men and women tournaments in the Olympics are worth watching but the women’s tournament is better. Why? Because the best players on the planet in the women’s game play in the tournament. On the other hand, the men’s tournament limits rosters to primarily players under-23 so it always lacks the star power we are used to seeing in the World Cup and other big national tournaments. For American fans this will be a big tournament when it comes to seeing how the struggling women’s national team can stack up with the world’s best under their new coach Emma Hayes.

When it comes to the Olympics the men’s basketball tournament is better than the women’s. The United States should win the gold in both, but the men typically get more pushback from other top nations.

If you’re a follower of tennis you’ll appreciate watching the tennis at the Olympics. And for the casual fans who have basically seen just three men win most of the grand slam titles over the last 20 years, things can be different at the Olympics. First, the big three of the men’s side are no longer as dominant (and one of them is retired), and secondly, the Olympic event is only three set matches instead of five, which can lead to more upsets. Both the men and women tournaments are worth watching in the Olympics. 

The golf in 2024 will be played at Le Golf National, which is a tremendous golf course. There’ll be big storylines for Americans on both sides as Scottie Scheffler and Nelly Korda look to continue their dominant 2024’s. Scheffler will be making his Olympic debut and Korda will be looking to defend the gold she won at the 2020 Olympics in Japan.

Most track events are worth the watch but I primarily mean the sprints here. You want a quick sporting event? Watch the 100m and 200m sprints. The event barely takes any time out of your day and it provides excitement. On the American side of things you’ll have women like Sha’carri Richardson and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone providing excitement in chases for gold medals!  

Much like some of the track and field events, swimming events can be exciting and fast to watch. It’s also worth watching one of the greatest swimmers of all time, Katie Ledecky, continue to make history.

Have you ever sat down and watched someone do something that you could literally never do? That’s what watching gymnastics at the Olympics (or in general) is. These are some of the best athletes in the world continually pulling off stunts that 99% of the world never could. And also one of the greatest athletes ever in Simone Biles will be participating once again in 2024.