BEIJING -- Ever since they started letting NBA stars play Olympic basketball, it has been confusing being an American basketball fan. Today in China, the U.S. basketball team will play China in what may end up being the most watched sporting event in the history of the world. There is thought that 1.5 billion people around the world will watch.

America is expected to win the game. But this time around, Team USA is about more than winning and losing. This time around, Team USA is supposed to bring back a little pride and joy for American basketball. And that will be tougher than winning gold.

It was glorious the first time around, in 1992, when the first U.S. team of NBA stars was called the Dream Team, and won games by 40. Dream Team played brilliant team basketball. The impressive part is that opposing payers were proud to get drummed by that beautiful team -- Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and all. There was something regal about that team, something that could never be repeated. Things were the same in 1996 in Atlanta. Dream Team II won gold, and dominated. But already something was missing, something hard to describe. The joy seemed to be wearing off. The blowouts were beginning to get boring and a certain kind of arrogance crept into the picture.

Then came 2000, and some bad signs. Oh, the U.S. team won gold, but barely. And everyone rooted against them. They almost lost to Lithuania, and the fans loved it. In the final, they beat France in a game that was uncomfortably close. Something bad was coming, no doubt. First, an American team of NBA players finished sixth at the World Championships in 2002.

Then came the calamity of 2004 in Athens. First, numerous top NBA players refused to play. Second, several U.S. players arrogantly guaranteed gold. Third, other countries now had their own NBA stars.

Right off the bat, the United States was stunned by Puerto Rico. It was humiliating: Puerto Rico, a team without a single established NBA player, beat the United States stars by 19 points. It was America's worst loss in Olympic competition. Before the end of the tournament, the U.S. team lost to Lithuania and Argentina and settled for bronze. For the first time, an American team of professionals did not win the gold. This time around it seemed like the whole world was happy about it. What began with that first Dream Team deteriorated into arrogant millionaires playing selfish basketball.

"I was ashamed," says Jerry Colangelo, the managing director of USA Basketball. "I was absolutely ashamed. I'm a big believer in body language. And I could not believe how bad the body language was. I saw players who were not proud to be representing our country. And to be honest with you, it made me sick."

That is how a lot of people at home viewed the team. But it's one thing to say that at home. It's another to say it when you are responsible for bringing honor back to American basketball. That's the job Colangelo was given just months after the 2004 debacle. He demanded complete freedom to fix the broken team.

First, he named a Hall of Fame college coach, Mike Krzyzewski, as the Olympic men's basketball coach. It was a gutsy move -- the general perception was that college coaches did not have the presence or respect level to motivate and keep together superstars. This became the theme. Represent your country. Team USA was no longer going to beg star players to come along. Colangelo said it was a special privilege, and players had to convince HIM that they belonged on the team.

Now, the players on what has become known as Redeem Team have played and practiced together for three years. The cover of the Olympic Team Media Guide is an American flag and a single photograph of the faceless players holding their hands together, up in the air, during a huddle.

"I'm confident that when we're playing, you will see real togetherness," Colangelo said.