It's the NBA's down time, and some guys go to Cabo, others to Maui, wherever there are nightclubs or golf or whatever.

Mark Madsen went to Baghdad.

"We have some real heroes over there," he said Wednesday afternoon, four days after his 16-hour return trip. "I came home with this tremendous appreciation and feeling of awe for the U.S. Armed Forces. Now I understand why they call it the 'service.' They're providing a profound service for all of us."

As part of a joint USO-NBA effort, Madsen and dozens of other athletes, actors and entertainers left Washington on June 16 and returned Saturday. In between, the likes of Madsen, Wayne Newton, Kid Rock, Duce Staley, Bob Lanier, John and Rebecca Stamos and the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders mingled, sang, danced and put on basketball clinics, Madsen sticking mostly to the basketball.

If you missed it, don't feel bad. The NBA did not publicize it, and Madsen had to be pressed for details.