k wrote:
] ] ...[Iraqi midfielder Salih] Sadir had a message for U.S.
] ] president George W. Bush, who is using the Iraqi Olympic
] team
] ] in his latest re-election campaign advertisements.
] ]

] The team coach weighed in as well, saying, "What is freedom
] when I go to the [national] stadium and there are shootings on
] the road?" -k]

Valid.

On the other hand, at least olympic athletes aren't tortured anymore.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,126923,00.html

Torture equipment used by Saddam Hussein's (search) slain son, Odai, to punish underperforming Iraqi athletes was displayed Saturday at a Baghdad sports stadium in advance of the opening of the Olympics next month in Athens. (Pictures)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/07/25/wirq25.xml

In the bad old days, footballers were particularly prone to Uday's violent whims. Their punishment for failure to win tournaments ranged from having their feet caned to being forced to kick concrete balls.

RE: SI.com - Writers - Wahl: Iraqi soccer players upset about Bush campaign ads using team - Thursday August 19, 2004 1:24PM