Lithuanian spirit celebrated
Arturas Karnisovas can still taste the sparkling wine and feel its sting.
He can hear his teammates’ voices joyously signing the national anthem of their then- newly freed nation in that sweaty, steamy, wonderful locker room in Barcelona.
Thiswas about more than a game or a win, more than amedal. This was about his homeland and a half- century- long struggle for freedom expressed in the sport it cherishes most.
“Itwas the best experience ofmy life, getting a bronze and all of Lithuania celebrating on the streets,” said Karnisovas, Rockets director of scouting. “We had our president in the locker room, taking his shirt off, putting the tie- dye shirt on and showering with champagne. And then, coming back to Lithuania, we came back heroes.
“It is difficult to explain. You have to experience it.”
‘ Beacon to the world’
Asense of that experience reachedHouston this weekend in the film “The Other Dream Team,” a documentary about the 1992 Lithuanian national team’s participation in the Barcelona Olympics, the first after Lithuania broke free of the SovietUnion and its athletes could represent their own country.
“Theywere our beacon to theworld,” University ofHouston assistant professor Jokubas Ziburkus said Saturdaywhilewearing the team’s iconic tiedye, Grateful Dead T- shirt. “Basically, basketball in Lithuania is synonymous with independence, synonymous with freedom.”
By the time that team took the medal stand to the right of the triumphant Dream Team, its importancewas clear.
The Dream Team is considered the greatest team ever assembled, but no team could mean more to its nation than “The Other Dream Team.”
“Itwas additional inspiration, additional emotional high that you were playing for your country, for a newflag, for a newformed nation,” said Karnisovas, then a beaming, baby- faced 21- yearold. “It gave uswings.”
The film offers insight into the 50 years of occupation and oppression in Lithuania and howthe sport came to represent triumph over tyranny and eventually freedom.
“You learn in school howtough itwas,” Rockets rookie Donatas Motiejunas said. “It is the history ofmy country. Those Olympics are really important for me andmy country. Those victories brought spirit for all our country. These guys, they showwhowe are. They show, we are here andwe are free.”
By 1988 in Seoul, when the SovietUnion beat the U. S. team for the gold medal, four starters, including Arvydas Sabonis and SarunasMarciulionis, were from Lithuania but represented the nation that brought them pain.
Karnisovas, then 17, had played in the Soviet system and for its under- 16 teams before playing at SetonHall. In 1990, before the breakup of the SovietUnion, Lithuania had declared its independence and started its fight for freedom. Karnisovas was on the phone with his motherwhen the Soviet tanks rolled through his hometown of Vilnius and so manywere lost.
Tons of steel
“For me, itwas more difficult not being there becausemy parentswere there,” Karnisovas said. “My momwas counting tanks through the window. I’ve talked tomy best friendswhowere … where peoplewere dying and tankswere rolling. I knew peoplewho lost family members orwere there on the streets and sawit and experienced it. ”
Within a year, Lithuania had broken free, Karnisovas had come home to earn a spot on the national team and Marciulionis, then aWarriors player, was raising funds to support the team. After reading about Marciulionis’ efforts, the Grateful Dead sponsored and outfitted the team in tie- dye T- shirts.
‘ Happy… and free’
Lithuania lost to the Dream Team in the semifinals, a meeting Karnisovas fittingly considers “a dream come true” despite the results. But the game thatmattered most came next. Lithuania defeated Russia’s “Unified” team 8278 for the bronze medal.
TheU. S. Dream Team had demolished every opponent and accomplished every goal, but it could not surpass the joy of the team that finished third.
The Dream Teamwas about excellence, unequaled before or since. “The Other Dream Team” was aboutmuch more.
“Itwas a greatmoment, a greatmoment,” Karnisovas said. “We showed up for thatmedal ceremony all in tie- dye, all smiling, all happy and laughing and free.”