Teresa Edwards and 1992 Dream Team Nominated For U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame

April 16, 2009 • Colorado Springs, Colo.

The United States Olympic Committee and Allstate Insurance Company today announced the nominees for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Class of 2009 at a press event at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago. The star-studded nominee list of 15 individuals, five teams and five Paralympians, includes Olympic legends Teresa Edwards and the 1992 Men's Olympic Basketball Team.

"The U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame celebrates our honorees' commitment to excellence and recognizes Americans who are role models and heroes," said Tom Wilson, Allstate chairman, president and CEO . "Each of us can find strength, passion and inspiration in these ordinary people who achieved extraordinary success in the Olympics. They help make us proud to be Americans."

From now through June 16, fans can cast their votes for the 2009 class of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame online at http://www.teamusa.org/halloffame. The inducted class will include five individuals, one team and one Paralympian, as well as three additional individuals: a coach, veteran and special contributor. The inductees will be revealed in early July and will be honored at a black-tie induction ceremony on August 12 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The August 12 induction ceremony will honor the 2009 U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame class and introduce a new international award - the Olive Branch Award - given to an individual or individuals who best represent the international ideals of the Olympic Games by working to build a peaceful and better world through sport. Also new to 2009, the induction ceremony will feature a special fundraising banquet to benefit Chicago 2016, Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Nominees for the induction class of 2009 were selected by a 10-person nominating committee consisting of athletes, members of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, historians and USOC representatives. For more information on the 2009 nominees, including bios and photos, and a comprehensive list of existing U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame members, please visit www.teamusa.org.

USA Basketball - U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame Nominations

Before you cast your vote here, make sure to check out the extended versions of nominating ballots for Teresa Edwards and the 1992 Dream Team listed below. Or Vote Now for USA Basketball's entries!

Teresa Edwards

• The most decorated Olympic basketball player on the planet, men or women, owning four gold medals and one bronze medal in five Olympics
• The USA's only five-time Olympic basketball player and one of only three five-time Olympic basketball athletes in the world to ever play the game (Oscar Schmidt, Brazil, no medals; Andrew Gaze, Australia, no medals)
• One of only two female U.S. Olympians to win a gold medal in four different Olympiads (Lisa Leslie won Olympic gold in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 and Carl Lewis also appeared and collected a gold medal in four Olympics)
• The youngest (1984) and oldest (2000) U.S. Olympic women's basketball player to ever win a gold medal.
• A member of the historic 1996 USA Olympic and 1995-96 USA Basketball Women's National teams that compiled a combined 60-0 record and were named the 1996 U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Basketball Team of the Year.
• Three-time USA World Championship Team member, won gold in 1986 and 1990 and bronze in 1994.
• Named USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year a record four times (1987, 1990, 1996 and 2000).
• Voted by 1996 U.S. Olympic Team captains to take the Olympic Oath on behalf of all Olympic competitors at the 1996 Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies.

Teresa Edwards, who competed in an unprecedented five Olympiads, was a four-time USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year and one of the most respected players in international women's basketball history, first put on a USA uniform at the age of 17 at the 1981 U.S. Olympic Festival and was a fixture on USA Basketball teams for nearly two decades. Of a possible 18 medals competing for USA Basketball, she won 14 gold, one silver and three bronze medals, and USA teams with Edwards on the roster have compiled an overall record of 205-14 for a 93.6 winning percentage. Having played in 216 games representing the United States, Edwards compiled some incredible statistics -- 2,008 points, 890 assists, 576 rebounds and 372 steals and a career field goal percentage of 50.3. Numbers others can only dream of and a record of longevity beyond comprehension.

1992 Dream Team
  From the start they were penciled in as the 1992 Olympic gold medalist team. The media, their opponents, and fans of basketball all agreed that this team would be unbeatable. And it was. Featuring basketball's best of the best, the U.S. men were never challenged in their eight-game run to the gold medal as a new era of international basketball made its debut. International rules, which had previously prevented only NBA players from being eligible for Olympic basketball, were changed by the FIBA membership on April 7, 1989, by virtue of a 56-13 vote in favor of "open competition." With the rule change, USA Basketball set forth on its mission of assembling the best possible team. Featuring eventual 1996 Olympic gold medalist Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Clyde Drexler, 1984 Olympic gold medalist Patrick Ewing, Earvin 'Magic' Johnson, 1984 Olympic gold medalist Michael Jordan, Christian Laettner, eventual 1996 Olympic gold medalist Karl Malone, 1984 Olympic gold medalist Chris Mullin, eventual 1996 Olympic gold medalist Scottie Pippen, eventual three-time Olympian David Robinson and eventual 1996 Olympic gold medalist John Stockton, the U.S. squad averaged an Olympic record 117.3 points a game. In fact, the USA won by an average of 43.8 points and the closest any opponent could come was 32 points (117-85 versus Croatia in the gold medal game).   "You will see a team of professionals in the Olympics again," said USA coach Chuck Daly. "But I don't think you'll see another team quite like this. This was a majestic team."

  1992 USA Men's Olympic Team Roster

NAME	POS	HGT	WGT	AGE	AFFILIATION (SCHOOL)	HOMETOWN
Charles Barkley	F	6-6	250	29	Phoenix Suns (Auburn)	Bala Cynwyd, PA
Larry Bird	F	6-9	220	35	Boston Celtics (Indiana State)	Brookline, MA
Clyde Drexler	G	6-7	222	30	Portland Trail Blazers (Houston)	Portland, OR
Patrick Ewing	C	7-0	240	30	New York Knicks (Georgetown)	Fort Lee, NJ
Earvin Johnson	G	6-9	220	32	Los Angeles Lakers (Michigan State)	Beverly Hills, CA
Michael Jordan	G	6-6	198	29	Chicago Bulls (North Carolina)	Chicago, IL
Christian Laettner	F	6-11	235	22	Duke University	Angola, NY
Karl Malone	F	6-9	256	29	Utah Jazz (Louisiana Tech)	Salt Lake City, UT
Chris Mullin	F	6-7	215	29	Golden State Warriors (St. John's)	Alamo, CA
Scottie Pippen	G/F	6-7	210	26	Chicago Bulls (Central Arkansas)	Northbrook, IL
David Robinson	C	7-1	235	27	San Antonio Spurs (U.S. Naval Acd.)	San Antonio, TX
John Stockton	G	6-1	175	30	Utah Jazz (Gonzaga)	Salt Lake City, UT
HEAD COACH: Chuck Daly, New Jersey Nets
ASSISTANT COACH: Lenny Wilkens, Cleveland Cavaliers
ASSISTANT COACH: P.J. Carlesimo, Seton Hall
ASSISTANT COACH: Mike Krzyzewski, Duke University (NC)
TEAM PHYSICIAN: David Fischer, Minneapolis, MN
TEAM PHYSICIAN: Steve Lombardo, Los Angeles Lakers
TEAM PHYSICIAN: Norman Scott, New York Knicks
ATHLETIC TRAINER: Ed Lacerte, Boston Celtics

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