Craig, who has been with the Pacers since their ABA birth in 1967, is one of two trainers – along with New Jersey’s Tim Walsh – assigned to the U.S. Men’s Olympic Basketball Team. The U.S. team wraps up its exhibition schedule in Turkey this week and heads to Athens, Greece for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies Friday.

After spending the past few summers working at the Pan Am Games in wrestling, gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics, Craig is back in basketball and couldn’t be happier about it.

“I was hoping to be chosen,” said Craig. “It’s an honor. I guess it was my turn and I appreciate it.”

Craig has quickly turned his attention to keeping Team USA healthy for what he figures to be an arduous quest for a gold medal. The U.S. was shocked by Italy in its first exhibition game and needed a last-second basket from Allan Iverson to edge Germany. The ensuing celebration was gold-medal caliber, but Craig became concerned as the team piled on Iverson at center court.

“I was kind of worried that they might hurt somebody,” he said. “As long as they don’t hurt anybody, I’m OK with it. They were excited about the win and deservedly so. After that defeat, I think they realized that none of these teams are just going to roll over for them.”

Craig said the shocking loss to Italy may have played a part in galvanizing the American team around Coach Larry Brown, a former Pacers coach who Craig knows well.

“Larry has that comfort level with me and me with him,” Craig said. “He knows what I am and what I do. I’m honored to be his trainer again.”

If his players can somehow gain that same type of comfort level with Brown, it would be a positive step for the Americans.

“I think they realize the intensity and what they need to do differently,” said Craig. “They’re trying to do what Larry wants them to do and in the back of minds, they want to play their game. (Against Italy), they were thinking about it too much to play at that level of competition.”

No longer do International teams stand in awe of the Americans. This U.S. team, full of youth and with a dearth of shooters and true post players beyond Tim Duncan, is very human. And the world knows it.

Since its loss to Italy, the Americans have put together successive exhibition victories against Germany and Serbia-Montenegro.

But Craig, who is taking part in his first Olympics, believes the emotion and intensity of the Olympics beginning with Friday’s Opening Ceremonies will be both a boon and a test for the U.S. team.

“I’m sort of aware of those ceremonies,” he said. “I went to the Pan-Am Games and if you don’t get fired up after opening ceremonies, there’s something wrong. It’s an inspiration to represent your company. It’s an opportunity to represent the U.S. and all the people back home. I’m looking forward to those Opening Ceremonies.”

And beyond that, Craig dares to look ahead at a Gold Medal ceremony that is no longer automatic for the Americans in International competition, something that was proven just two years ago in Indianapolis at the World Basketball Championships when the U.S. finished sixth.

“The gold medal – that belongs to the players, but it would be nice to be a part of winning that gold medal,” he said. “I’d love to see a gold medal draped on each of these men.”