the Italian team about the boycott, saying he would follow the squad's decision – the Italians eventually played, though under the Olympic flag. Despite suffering a sprained ankle during the 1980 Summer Olympics, he won a silver medal after the Italians upset the Soviet Union before losing the Olympic final to Yugoslavia. Sylvester was the only American to win a medal at those games. In the following years, he would spend six seasons with Scavolini Pesaro, leading them to the 1985 Coppa Italia, two Italian League Runner-Up finishes (1981–82 & 1984–85), the 1983 Saporta Cup title, the 1986 Saporta Cup Finals and the 1984 Saporta Cup Semis. Sylvester is a current resident of Loveland, Ohio. The Sylvester family has a sports tradition. Mike's brothers Steve and Vince were American football players, with the former reaching the NFL playing for the Oakland Raiders, and the latter being a college star at the University of Cincinnati. Mike's son Matt was also a basketball player, playing in college for Ohio State before going to Europe like his father. References External links Dayton Flyers Profile Archbishop Moeller High School Profile 1951 births Living people Basketball players at the 1980 Summer Olympics Basketball players from Cincinnati Basket Rimini Crabs players Dayton Flyers men's basketball players Carolina Cougars draft picks Detroit Pistons draft picks High school basketball coaches in the United States Italian men's basketball players Italian people of American descent Olimpia Milano players Olympic basketball players of Italy Olympic medalists in basketball Olympic silver medalists for Italy People from Loveland, Ohio Victoria Libertas Pallacanestro players Virtus Bologna players Medalists at the 1980 Summer Olympics American men's basketball players American people of Italian descent