"In 1989, the FIBA decided that it would allow NBA players to participate in the Olympics for the first time.  Prior to the 1992 Summer Olympics, only European and South American professionals were allowed to play in the Olympics"---Wikipedia.org

I remember watching the Dream Team of 1992 and looking at Icons of the sport including Jordan, Magic, Bird and Stockton (Laettner was the only amateur) going 8-0 dominating all the teams on their way to a Gold medal.  I never missed a game being played on TV and it made me more of a fan of the sport of Basketball. 

The response of fans to the Dream Team helped not only increase the popularity of the sport but pushed the other countries to really start to implement programs to compete with the American Teams and over time succeeded.

Makes you think what if....

So, what if Professional Athletes in the sport of Boxing were able to go represent their respective countries at the Olympics?  What if finally with no contracts, no blood test cut off dates or court problems Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr can actually compete against each other with the "True" World Champion title placed on him. 

I can't help but think of this "what if" as a possibility because of the World Series of Boxing going on to its fourth week.  I think of how cool would it be if athletes decided to fight for their countries and not always for their wallets.  For the chance to fight for pride and honor instead of a P4P list. 

If Berto could fight for Haiti and Tim Bradley for the USA. Martinez for Argentina (or Spain), with Marcos Maidana as his teammate, could fight against Cotto for Puerto Rico.  David Haye could carry the Union Jack with Froch as his cheers his teammate against Wladimir or Vitali.  Abner Mares can represent Mexico with Alfredo Angulo against Joshua Clottey and Joseph Agbeko. 

Even Roy Jones Jr. can right a wrong...well, maybe not now, but he can judge.

I'm not saying the WSB will eventually turn Olympic Style Boxing into this but if it did would it be a problem or a solution?  If Olympic Hockey can do it and Olympic Basketball continues to do it....i mean hey...

...it's just a thought.