Not only did they stay warm in them, though, the public sight of the Lithuanians accepting bronze medals was pretty heart-warming. It sounds like the Olympic podium has never been quite the same.

Against the odds, Lithuania went on to win the Bronze in Barcelona and stood proudly to receive their medals in tie-dye green, yellow and red with Lietuva (Lithuania) written across their chests. I wish I could have seen it.

The story actually begins with Lithuanian born Raimondas Šarunas Marciulionis :

Drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the sixth round (1987), Marciulionis was one of the first Europeans to get significant playing time in the NBA. He really got excited when his country gained its independence from the USSR in 1990, and set himself to organizing a national basketball team. The rest is history as the Lithuanian team went on to win three Olympic Bronze medals.

Saurnas Marciulionis is quite a special fellow I’d say. Back in 1992, the Goldenstate Warriors thought so and signed him to a 10.4 million dollar contract . The part I like is how Saurnas jumped right into the middle of that scary Bay Area earthquake. During the aftermath of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, he was spotted in his Goldenstate Warriors jacket pulling trapped passengers from a train wreck and administering first aid.

After his career as a pro was over in the mid-nineties, Marciulionis moved back to Lietuva, his homeland—our loss, their gain. He is reportedly one of Lithuania’s most successful businessmen.

How (you might ask) is Lithuania fairing in the Beijing Olympics? True to magical form, Lietuva stunned Olympic Gold Medal hopefuls, Argentina (79-75) on Sunday and then went on to pound Iran 99-67. Their next game pits them against Russia on Thursday. For a full basketball game schedule, click here.

Happy tales, and happy clicking for more information on sendoutcards,

Laura signing off

lithuanian tie dye jerseys resurface for 2008 from skullman.com …

lithuanian tie dye jerseys resurface for 2008 from skullman.com business wire (press release), ca – aug 25, 2008. yonkers, ny–(business wire)–the 2008 edition of the original lithuanian …   Read more…

Daily Question – 127 « The Quiz Foundation of India (Chennai)

It was a Lithuanian team sponsored by the Grateful Dead. Krish Raghav // October 19, 2008 at 10:43 pm. The lithuanian Basketball team of ‘92 and ‘96, with tie-dyed cos…   Read more…

Matthew Yglesias » What’s the Matter With Lithuania?

Funny story: the first Lithuanian national basketball team was sponsored by the Grateful Dead. They wore tie-dyes and everything. jamie Says: August 28th, 2008 at 12:38 pm….   Read more…

A Friend of the Devil is a Friend of Mine

Coulter rattles off Dead minutiae such as buying uniforms for the 1992 Lithuanian basketball team as well as joking she’s talked with members of the band, although “none of the band members…   Read more…

death by tie dye pt. 2

also got this shirt. the grateful dead sponsored the lithuanian basketball team for the 92 olympics. i love skeletons doing anything productive. Photobucket had this one already brah: Photobuc…   Read more…

Lithuanians &#43 Craig Sager = AWESOME « Hit By a Pitch

We love our basketball. And we have the tie dye (well, “we” in the sense of, as a people, some Lithuanians represent by wearing tie dye although I personally do not bec…   Read more…

one from the vault

the above inspirational photo comes from the glory days of 1996, around the last time tie-dye was cool, when the lithuanian national basketball team was supported by the gr…   Read more…