Representing your country in the Olympics is the dream for many amateur athletes — the highest accomplishment you can reach.

For so many wrestlers, swimmers, runners and competitors in the countless number of Olympic sports, qualifying for the Olympic team is what they live for. They eat, sleep and go to the bathroom only as long as it doesn’t interrupt their training regimen.

So why is it that the USA basketball team is having such a hard time convincing their top athletes to commit to the 2004 team?

When Team USA first started forming the roster for the qualifying rounds in Puerto Rico this summer and hopefully a trip to Athens for the 2004 Olympics, it received immediate commitments from a group of players who do not want to see the United States perform the way they did at this past summer’s World Championships, where the United States failed to win the gold for the first time when using players from the NBA. Not only did they fail to win the gold — they finished sixth.

Sixth place for a team full of NBA players? What the hell happened there?

For the next installment of the “Dream Team” superstars Tracy McGrady, Jason Kidd, Tim Duncan and Ray Allen have already been officially announced as members, while Mike Bibby, Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant claim that they have been asked to join and intend to play.

That gives the United States seven players for coach Larry Brown’s 12-man roster.

There are several players who deserve to be on the team, but for one reason or another they can’t or won’t be.

Since the loss at the World Championships, everyone has been begging Shaquille O’Neal to volunteer his services, but the big man said he wouldn’t play unless Phil Jackson was the coach. Team USA went ahead and picked Brown to lead the troops, so it’s pretty doubtful that Shaq will play, especially when his big ass is falling apart. He recently went back on painkillers to deal with the pain in his feet.

Most likely Shaq-Diesel will stay parked in the garage this summer.

Another player who may or may not play is Allen Iverson. “The Answer” has said he wants to play, but that politics will keep him from sporting some red, white and blue Reeboks next summer. A.I.’s off-the-court troubles have disintegrated his reputation even though he is, pound for pound, one of the best players in the game today.

The man I want to see on the team, and who deserves to be there, is Chris Webber. The only problem is, he will probably be spending a good portion of his summer in a federal courtroom, so he won’t be able to play in the qualifier. In my opinion, there is a conspiracy by Team USA to keep C-Webb down. The last time he was named to a USA team was the summer of the NBA lockout. This guy deserves a chance to represent his country. After all, this is the guy that stood out on the practice squad that played against the original Dream Team from 1992, with Jordan, Magic and the rest of the crew.

Of course, he could be an alternate for the Olympic Games, once he is cleared of any wrongdoing because, as you and I know, rich people don’t go to jail.

Next on the list of questionables is the “Big Ticket,” Kevin Garnett. Apparently K.G. isn’t sure that he wants to commit two summers of his life to the next Dream Team. He must have to work a summer job to help pay for his new Hummer or something.

If he has shown any doubt, I say forget Garnett. If he doesn’t want to play, give his spot to someone who wants to be there. Hell, let my roommate play in Garnett’s spot. He is Swedish, so he is familiar with the international rules, eh.

One of the biggest problems with USA selecting the top NBA players for the Olympics is the fact that a lot of the best players aren’t American. Yao Ming, Dirk Nowitzki and Peja Stojakovich will probably all be in the Games, but under their native flag.

I have to wonder whether the much-improved quality of competition is another one of the reasons that some of the American guys don’t want to play. We all knew something big was on the horizon with the arrival of all-world center Luc Longley back in late ’80s.

I think this says something about the type of players coming up these days. All these kids are watching And One mix tapes and Rucker Park videos, completely ignoring the fundamentals. Look at Jamaal Tinsley; he wasn’t that good until he learned how to shoot a jumper and now look at him. He’s the starting point guard on one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

I refuse to say one of the best teams in the league, because everyone knows the top five teams in the West could dominate the East.

I do have one favor to ask Team USA: Whoever you choose to fill out the roster before the summer starts, I beg you, please do not select LeBron James. Let him prove to be a flop in the NBA before throwing him out against the best in the world.

Plus, I don’t want to see him wearing that gold medal around since it will match his Hummer.

Rick Kerr

is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Des Moines.