Is she a traitor?
By clrumfelt
@clrumfelt (5597)
Tennessee Ridge, Tennessee
June 14, 2008 3:01pm CST
Becky Hammon, a star basketball player for both American and Russian teams, is going to be a point
guard for her Russian team in the summer Olympics. Her former coach called her a traitor, but the
American team didn't invite her to be a part of their lineup until after she had been invited, and
accepted her position on the Russian team. I don't think she is a traitor. She was recruited
by the Russian team first, and her former coach should get over it. What do you think?
Heres the link: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/stevekelley/2004455887_kelley04.html
3 responses
@mscott (1923)
• United States
16 Jun 08
She wanted to play in the Olympics and Russia gave her a spot. She is good plus they get to stick it to the US team and their fans. To play for them she had to be given citizenship, and who knows what else. If you really want to play and they are the only game in town, then I guess you play.
1 person likes this
@clrumfelt (5597)
• Tennessee Ridge, Tennessee
16 Jun 08
If she had turned the Russians down on their offer of an Olympics spot, she may never have made it to the Olympics at all, and that was her lifelong dream. She had no guarantees the USA would ask her to play. I think she was right to go for the opportunity to play for Russia.
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
15 Jun 08
She has a Russian passport. That's where you get a problem with dual citizenship, lol. Where is your heart? Which country will you represent in the Olympics? Most athletes use a dual citizen status as an opportunity to get there. If the Americans wouldn't have wanted her at all, there would have never been any bad blood and namecalling. Instead the Americans should kick themselves that they dragged their feet to name her to the team.
If one of my kids would ever be such a great athlete, they may face the same dilemma. Go for the US or for Germany. Bloodwise they are both. They know both languages. I'm sure since they grew up in the US they would probably prefer the American team, but if the chance to get on there is slim and Germany would offer a spot, no, I would not blame them to jump at the opportunity.
Many team sports have the same problem with players coming in from other countries for regular plays and then for worldcups and such normal teammates have to play against each other because they are representing other countries.
Ultimately, I have to say, no this girl is not a traitor. She is grabbing a for her probably once in a lifetime opportunity to participate in the Olympic games. It's sports, nothing else. The best athlete wins. This is not a war where the best country wins. Some people are really taking this too far.
One can only hope she'll enjoy being there and won't get more flack for her decision.
1 person likes this
@clrumfelt (5597)
• Tennessee Ridge, Tennessee
15 Jun 08
It's not all that uncommon for players to play for different countries' teams. The coach who called her unpatriotic is just eating sour grapes in my opinion.
@arcidy (5005)
• United States
14 Jun 08
No she isnt a traitor if she was born in russia then she should play for there team. NBA players do it all the time look at yao ming he never played for the american team he played for his own country. Thats what a lot of spots atheletes do So I dont think she is a traitor and her coach should apologise for calling her one.
1 person likes this
@clrumfelt (5597)
• Tennessee Ridge, Tennessee
15 Jun 08
She wasn't born in Russia, but has been playing on Russian teams for many years. The article points out that many athletes play for other countries in the Olympics, and also that the American team had not even invited the girl to play until after the Russian team had recruited her to play for their team in the Olympics.
