According to an article in today's New York Post by Marc Berman injured Knick Antonio Mcdyess' recovery progress  from a serious knee injury had been closely monitored by Stu Jackson, the U.S. Olympic men's basketball chief, with Jackson considering inviting him to participate on the team that will compete in late August's qualifying tournament in Puerto Rico.

But Berman writes that with Tuesday night's disclosure by McDyess that he's given up on trying to come back late this season, those chances are "unrealistic," according to someone close to Jackson, who wants the Olympic team intact by June.

McDyess might now be on in Puerto Rico this summer, but it does not rule him out of the team which appears in the Athens Olympics in 2004.

"Antonio made a very big contribution when we added him to the 2000 team," said Craig Miller, U.S. men's Olympic team spokesman. "He's a great person and there's always room for versatile big men."