FanNation - The Republic of Sport

it isn't being a traitor if you play for any country except for: Cuba, Russia, an country that ends with the letters an, Iraq, and Mexico

You are a traitor I mean*******

If you aren't a fan of the WNBA I would hesitate to call people idiots about this. The fact is Becky probably isn't one of the top 12 players. Even though she was a runner up MVP that is mostly a popularity contest. Her defense is atrocious due to her lack of speed and size. Let me ask you this : would you pick someone who lifetime is shooting 36 % from 3 point land and little over 40 % overall from the floor who is a big time liablilty on defense ? She can be good in the half cout breaking defenses down but she has too many minuses in other parts of her game. Her explanations half also been two-faced and dishonest. On the one hand she states she is obviously one of the best players in the US, and on the other she says she turned down the tryout because it didn't look like she had a chance to make the team. Well which is is Becky ? The fact that this scenario fits her plan to play in Russia ( and make a huge amount of money ) and also playing the poor victim who has never gotten anything in life infuriates me.

Anne Donovan didn't call Becky a traitor. She said she questions her patriotism. To be honest I would too if fulfilling someones personal dream would mean her playing against her own country. Part of the reason patriotism comes up is that Becky has always portrayed herself as the All- American girl and a very patriotic person, which she still does by the way ( even with a straight face !! ). Please remember too that before last fall Becky had never been in Russia and has not ancestral ties there. It's not as if she has been playing there for years, and when she signed to play for CSKA last fall she initially signed a one year deal only, which indicated she wasn't making definite plans to stay there. Her citizenship issue is a joke too, because she never had to wait and take a formal test/ exam like others in most countries, they just said " you're a citizen now ". How someone can get dual citizenship to play for the Olympics solely to fulfill one of their wishes is beyond me . She must be really full of herself. She is definitely full of something !

Here is a theory behind the whole story: Just conjecture but it fits most of the facts. BTW if you're looking for the real reason why Becky is playing don't hold you're breath, it changes every week ( ex: It's her dream; it's a business decision, it's not a business decision..... )

Perhaps for the conspiracy-minded wrote on Apr 15, 2008 11:51 PM:
" Here's what might have gone down regarding Becky Hammon eventually landing on the Russian Olympic team.

1. Hammon was already in the process of getting her Russian citizenship when this came up. In her "European" basketball league, each team can only have two American players. With Hammon getting Russian citizenship (on Feb. 28, 2008), that opened up a slot for an extra American.

2. According to the International Basketball Federation, Hammon was told by Team USA that she would be considered for the team, but she felt her chances were slim. I believe she then told the Team USA folks not to include her on the list of 29 players invited to train for the final 12-player roster. She was part of that group in 2006 and didn't make the cut. The 12 players who DID are all part of the 2008 camp. It's not difficult to see that Hammon would not have made Team USA, but by telling them not to include her on their list, she was free to say that she wasn't invited, so Russia is a viable option. If she HAD been invited to the 29-player "camp," she would have been publicly cut, which would have been a BIG problem. I doubt Russia would take on the baggage of being known as a team that takes other nation's "rejects." This also works for Hammon because she can play the scorned woman.

3. It was announced on March 3, 2008, that Olga Arteshina - Hammon's CSKA teammate - is pregnant and will be taking a leave from athletics. It's ALSO reported on this date that Hammon was notified by national team coach Igor Grudin that she would be called to the national team preparation camp. Grudin happens also to be the sports director of Hammon's CSKA team. Basically, CSKA is running the show as far as the Russian National Team goes, so when one girl got pregnant, they decided to replace her with another CSKA player. One month later, it's announced that Hammon has signed a three-year contract extension with CSKA. Perhaps Hammon demanded this extension in exchange for her willingness to open herself up to becoming a pariah in the eyes of her WNBA colleagues. Depending on how the Olympics go, there's a very real possibility that the league might end up having to nudge her out, and it would give her some security knowing that she still had a job in Russia for a few more years. I believe she recently extended with San Antonio as well, but who knows what the buy-outs and details are in that contract?

That's about it. I did my best to connect the dots I've "uncovered," although I'll admit that there might not be any connecting to be done at all. I just don't find Hammon very believable when she tries to explain her decision, and her defense of her position is even weaker. These things seem plausible to me, and maybe it makes this a bit more interesting. In the grand scheme of things, I believe it's a bit much to call her a "traitor," but it's a little naive to say this is "just a basketball game." That being said, here's hoping for a great Olympic games! "

The fact here I am trying to point out is beyond sports. In America we have become so confused about what patriotism really is. There's a difference between patriotism and nationalism. Too many people are taking a nationalistic view in their attacks against Hammon, led by this U.S. coach.
Thanks for reading, leaving your comments and views which are all welcome. This is called healthy democractic debate. Hopefully America returns to this in 2009.