Colangelo built world’s best basketball team

Jerry Colangelo is taking a few days off before returning to work.

He’s probably earned them.

"There was so much at stake," he said. "We had to close the deal."

Colangelo decompressed at his oceanside home in Carmel, Calif., Tuesday, listening to the crashing waves beneath him and answering e-mails.

He wasn’t sure how many. At least 100. They came from friends and business associates and people he didn’t think he’d hear from.

Like Shawn Marion, who wasn’t selected to play for the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team Colangelo put together.

"He congratulated me and told me how happy he was for me," Colangelo said. "That says a lot about Shawn."

As Colangelo spoke, the northern California sky was blue and the air crisp and clean. But his mind was still in Beijing, in a place he never imagined his dream would come true.

Those 40 years futilely chasing a championship with the Phoenix Suns? That void in his life?

It’s gone. Forever.

Colangelo didn’t bring a gold medal home. That honor was reserved for the team’s 12 players. But he traveled with something just as significant:

A sense of fulfillment.

This was Colangelo’s blueprint. He picked the players. He selected the coach. He spoke openly about the desire not only to win a gold medal but to earn the world’s respect while doing so.

Everything came true.

So when the moment came, when his team stood on the gold medal stand and the national anthem played and the U.S. flag was raised, Colangelo couldn’t help himself.

He cried.

"I’m not ashamed to say that," he said. "It was unbelievable. I was just proud of my heritage, of being an American. ... It just all climaxed for me right there."

Colangelo can go on and on about Beijing.

But some memories are more special than others:

• As the players celebrated their gold medal victory over Spain, Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski embraced. Colangelo had been criticized in some circles for selecting the Duke coach because of his unfamiliarity with NBA players. Colangelo never doubted his decision.

• During the team photo shoot, the players gave their gold medals to Colangelo, who draped them around his neck.

It was a gift of admiration and respect.

• On opening night for the U.S. team, Colangelo sat in the same row with President Bush and his wife, Laura, former President Bush and China’s foreign minister, Yang Jiechi.

One row behind Colangelo was former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Security was incredibly tight, and as Colangelo tried to make his way back to his seat after a halftime interview with NBC, he was stopped by a Chinese security guard.

"I have my credentials but he won’t let me go," Colangelo said.

The security guard didn’t budge. Finally, Colangelo spotted Jiechi coming out of the men’s restroom.

"Would you tell him I’m with you?" Colangelo said.

"Let him go," Jiechi told the guard.

Thankfully, the guard took orders well, and Kissinger didn’t have to mediate.

Colangelo already has suggested that he might be willing to do it again in London in 2012 — "continuity is important," he said — but he wants to take some time before making a decision.

In the meantime, he’ll answer his e-mails, catch up on his sleep and wait for a certain package to arrive.

"There’s a rumor out there the coaching staff will get replica gold medals," he said. "All I can say is that I’m aware of the rumor."

In other words, he’s already put in the order.

Oh, there’s one other thing Colangelo soon will be able to show off:

An Olympic ring.

His championship ring.

Scott Bordow is a sports columnist for the East Valley Tribune, the Daily News-Sun’s sister newspaper in Mesa. He may be reached at 480-898-6598 or via e-mail at sbordow@evtrib.com.