Coach K + Marvin Gaye = "U-S-A! U-S-A!"

I liked this story that I saw the other day: U.S. basketball team coach Mike Krzyzewski treated his players to a viewing of Marvin Gaye's rendition of the national anthem from the 1983 NBA All-Star game.

It was a visualization exercise during practice in Las Vegas as part of their long road to Beijing, as Coach K explains in this quote on NBA.com:

"One of the great moments of playing for the United States is when you're across the court before a ballgame and you're in this Olympiad and the national anthem is being played and instead of having a fight song or whatever, that's our song. Today I wanted them to envision the gold medal game. It's August 24 and they're out on the court, and I get chills thinking about it right now, our anthem will be played."

As this story on the Boston Herald Web site notes:

Half of USA's 12-member team wasn't alive then, but the players enjoyed it. "That motivates us," forward Carmelo Anthony said. "Showing the national anthem with Marvin Gaye singing, having it in our head and hoping and wishing we can hear that national anthem on the medal stand."

And it's also a great way to get set for the long July 4th weekend. Listen, enjoy, and God bless America.