Las Vegas Weekly

August 24, 2008 · 8:11 AM

Team USA literally “touches the sky” with their 118-107 defeat of Spain to capture the gold

By Robin Leach

Photo: NBA

They lived here. They played here. They practiced here - and surely Vegas can claim even the tiniest credit for helping contribute to the gold medal victory of the Team USA basketball earlier this morning at the Beijing Olympics. Here are the first official NBA photos from China of Kobe Bryant celebrating his 30th birthday and the other star players with their gold medals for the victory in the finals with an 11 point win over Spain.

Kobe wound up as the most beloved of stars of the entire Olympics, dazzling the fans with a series of amazing 3- pointers -- one shot from the fourth row. Kobe who will be back in Vegas for the mid-October showdown of his L.A. Lakers vs. the Sacramento Kings at the Thomas & Mack Center was hailed by the Chinese as the best basketball player in the world.

It had taken almost four years to score the "haul of gold” after the disappointment of a finals loss four years ago. And it came dangerously close somewhat this time around too. In the final quarter Spain came just within a two- point margin -- but Dwayne Wade, who scored 21 points in 14 minutes of the first half, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Deron Williams all pulled with Kobe for the big win.

Team USA was in Vegas twice for extended stays before they wound up winners of the Chinese challenges. Their last visit here was for five days of intensive practice and workouts and our Luxe Life photographer,

Be it something in the water or something in the air of Vegas we can be proud we helped prepare and send them on the road to ultimate gold. Even if it was late-night partying in all of our Strip nightclubs from Tryst at the Wynn, where they headquartered or relaxing at LAX in the Luxor the world has to acknowledge that their journey began right here.

Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski and general manager Jerry Colangelo led all the familiar faces in Vegas to victory: Carmelo Anthony, Tayshaun Prince, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Michael Redd, Deron Williams, Lebron James, Jason Kidd, and Carlos Boozer. Luxe Life adds its congratulations to everybody at the NBA, which contributed to America placing top of the board with the most overall medal wins.

Luxe Life Vegas contributing photographer Tom Donoghue was on assignment for the NBA for the past year with Team USA winning the FIBA championship here last summer as the initial preparation for the Olympics -- and then again in July for the final week of practice. Tom wanted to share those highlights with us for you to mark this morning's big win.

He told me: "It was quite an adventure working for the NBA the past 12 months and I was able to put together an extraordinary collection of photos as they reached to touch the sky. I am getting sentimental in my old age so their win reminds me of a little story of reaching and touching the sky. During one of those special father-daughter moments in the cycle of life I recall saying to my then 3-year-old daughter Christina, "Lets stand up on our toes and reach...and touch the sky.”

And I remember her saying, "But Daddy, I am too short"... So I put her on my shoulders... And she reached up high and said..."Daddy, Daddy, I think I touched the sky.” And with the voice of an angel, she added... "Daddy...I love you.

“That moment in time is forever my shining gold medal moment! It matches all the glory of the Team USA gold in Beijing."

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