Rebecca Lynn "Becky" Hammon is a WNBA player who plays for the San Antonio Silver Stars. Becky played high school basketball at Stevens High School in her hometown of Rapid City, South Dakota.
Hammon had a distinguished career at Colorado State. Her prolific scoring made her an All-American as well as Colorado Sportswoman of the Year.
As a pro, Hammon had the best season of her career in 2007, posting career high averages of 18.8 ppg (fourth best) and 5.0 apg (first in WNBA). She is also an MVP candidate after leading the Silver Stars to a 20-14 record and the second seed in the Western Conference.
So why has this seemingly All-American girl decided not to play for the United States in the 2008 Olympics? Perhaps even more disturbing, why has she chosen to play for Russia?
Well, in her defense, she is a Russian citizen and she was afraid she would not make the US Women's National Basketball Team.
But perhaps more telling is that Russia's coach, Igor Grudin, is also the sports director of the CSKA team that Hammon plays for in Moscow during the WNBA off-season.
So the almighty US dollar is good enough for her when she cashes her WNBA checks, but her devotion will be to Russia in the Olympic games? Shame on her I say. You shouldn't bite the hand that feeds you. And whatever happened to loving your country?
When she sings the National Anthem at games, is she quietly humming The Hymn of the Russian Federation?
Last I looked, while there was no more Cold War, Russia was still a Communist country that supports Iran's nuclear weapons program. Maybe Becky would like to go live there year-round and collect her rubles playing there instead of making the real money she does here in the States? Yeah, when pigs fly. Or When the crayfish on the hill whistles.
US National Coach Anne Donovan calls her a traitor. Many recognize it as a business decision. Any way you choose to look at it, it is what it is and I hope she can live with her decision. For come to think of it, as the Boss once sang, it's a sad person who's living in their own skin but can't stand the company.
22 comments Last one added 12 months ago — Leave a Comment
S M Napier about 1 year ago
Your wrong, get the facts right before you write. Anne Donovan/Team USA had no intension to give her a spot on the team. Only after Russia invited her to their team. Did someone on Team USA, try to get her. So Bob, what exactly did she do wrong. Nothing, just someone wanting to play out her Olympic dream and I hope she brings home a gold medal. Then you can be pissed off at Team USA for letting our talent go else where to play in the Olmpics.
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Bob Warja about 1 year ago
First of all, I have my facts straight. I even wrote that she was afraid she wasn't going to be on the US team. However, you have no proof that she wasn't going to have a spot on the team, that is conjecture at this point. Anyway, she doesnt' have to go play for another country. I just believe if you live in a country and take our money, you ought to represent that country in the Olympics. It is akin to going to war for anotehr country when you live in America. It's just wrong, my friend. And you are nive if you don't see this as a lucrative business decision by her - it had nothing to do with not having a spot with the US team. She's a traitor and a capitalist - which is hyprocrisy in a sense.
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S M Napier about 1 year ago
Let me add, before she decided to play for Team Russia. Since she was not on the first list of candidates. She and her Agent sent letters to the selection commitee to see if she still had a chance to make the team and received no replies.
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S M Napier about 1 year ago
Give me a break. So Bob, if you wanted to play in the Olympics where in her situation. You could,
A.) Go home and watch the Olympics or B.) live your Olympic dream even if it meant playing for another Country and go to Beijing.
That's really what this is about and not all the other political crap.
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Bob Warja about 1 year ago
Yes, honestly, if I ouldn't play for the US, the greatest country int he world, then of course I would go home. I wouldn't play for another country.
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Stephen Leonard about 1 year ago
The underlying mission of the Olympic Games is sportsmanship separated from nationalism and politics. It's not accurate to play the American patriotism card here. Of course fans look at the name on the front of the uniform and the flag being raised at the medal ceremony; don't confuse that point of view with that of the average athlete. Here is a fact for you. Ms. Hammon is a Russian citizen now, the United States does not recognize dual citizenship, she is an emmigre rather than a traitor. Are you saying anyone who does not live, or want to live, in the U.S. is a traitor to values held by most Americans? The real issue is what she does after the Olympics. If she never lives or plays in Russia again, then we call her a hypocrite.
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Bob Warja about 1 year ago
I'm pretty sure you are wrong, I'm fairly certain that the US recognizes dual citizenship. But even if you are correct, my point is that she does want to benefit from the Us in terms of playing pro ball here and making money but doesn't feel she wants to live here or represent us at the Olympics? In other words, the country is good enough for her to make money off of, but that's it?
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S M Napier about 1 year ago
According to ESPN's Outside The Lines aired this Morning. Becky Hammon has done nothing wrong, is not a traitor and taking advantage of having dual citizenship. Plus they mentioned our Politicans will help athletes and coaches emigrate being citizens. So they can compete for the USA and thought makes it a two way street. The only way they felt, it would be any issue was if she was a first invite to the team, she was not and never would have made the team.
It's pretty sad, when you look at her stats that team USA didn't let her play for use and Russia jumped on it. Only after the fact, did someone obviously with alot of power tried to correct it and way to late.
Well Bob, I would do just what Becky has done and think Donovan is a idiot for leaving her off Team. Your stats in the article prove she should be their playing for the USA and I hope her Olympic dream is a golden one.
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Bob Warja about 1 year ago
We can agree to disagree then. She obviously wants to play ehr pro ball in the US, doesn't she? If she loves Russia so much why doens't she make her money there?
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Harry Brogan about 1 year ago
It IS proper to play the patriotism card here. If you LOVE the U.S. and it's your dream to play in the olympics then WHY would you go to another country???? She is from Rapid City, South Dakota for crying out loud. Do you actually believe that there will be a huge number of supporters if she wins a gold???? I doubt that Rapid City would be all that enthusiastic to put....."RUSSIAN GOLD MEDAL WINNER" on their Welcome sign.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
I see why she is going to another team. What I don;t understand is why she became a Russian citizen
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Bob Warja about 1 year ago
All I could find in my research is that by becoming a Russian citizen, she opens herself up to some lucrative promotional deals (read: $$). I guess that's what bugs me the most, olympics are supposed to be about innocense, youth and the dream. Not for profit.
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John Fennelly about 1 year ago
This is a whole new millenium Bob
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Bob Warja about 1 year ago
"If you have been a dual citizen from birth or childhood, or else became a citizen of another country after already having US citizenship, and the other country in question does not have any laws or regulations requiring you to formally renounce your US citizenship before US consular officials, then current US law unambiguously assures your right to keep both citizenships for life. "
This is a quote from the US government online. So, unless Russia restricts it, she can be recognized by the US as a dual citizen. Speaking of getting the facts right before you write, eh...
But I understand my loyalty to my country is probably considered 'old school' or whatever, but I stand by my beliefs. And she isn't taxed by the US on any money she makes in Russia BTW.
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Daniel Muth about 1 year ago
Honestly, I kind of agree with you here Bob. The whole "Olympic Dream" arguement is about representing your country on the World Stage. I once dreamed of being an Olympic Wrestler, but NEVER did that dream once include wrestling for the Russians. Given the opportunity, I would turn it down, as I think it essentially against the spirit of the games.
And those of you that are trying to argue that the Olymics are not nationalistic or political need to pull their heads out of their A, wake up, and take an honest look at the world we live in. The Olympics are the ESSENCE of world politics. Or don't we remember the boycotts, the French ice skating judge, the West German female swimmers injected with enough bull testosterone to grow hair on their backs, the Roy Jones Jr. debacle in Korea, the black power signs on the podium in Mexico city, the exclusion of an Aparteid South Africa, the Munic massacre of 1972, the recognition a barefoot marathoner from Ethiopia brought to his impoverished country, the fastidious tracking of which country has the most medals, golds, silvers, bronze. I could go on and on. Don't bring me this, "Oh she just wants to play some basketball" crap. The very point of the Olympics is that it goes well beyond simple sport and addresses aspect of service and national pride that are generally untapped in professional competition.
It is true that the Olympics are a friendly competition in a hostile world, but to insist that the outside world should have no bearing on the Olympics is naive. China wouldn't be pumping BILLIONS of dollars into infrastructure if they weren't trying to make a point. Nor would we. In the end, Hammon can do what she wants. It's a free country. She would be better to remember the priviledge of that.
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S M Napier about 1 year ago
Well lets put the Becky thing like this. She has the dual citizenship, doesn't get first invite to Russian Team, so excepts invite to Team USA and makes team. After the commitment to use, a high ranking Russian Olympic official try's to prevent it and she turns them down. I bet no one would have a problem with it and can see the hated reponses to there Coaches and Fans calling her a traitor. Give me a break. Be pissed at Coach Donovan and anyone responsible for leaving her off the team to being with. Look at her stats, heck just read what Bob posted and you realize. We let one get away and you can't blame Becky Hammon.
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Daniel Muth about 1 year ago
Traitor is a technical term. I never called her that, and honestly, Bob was using the term for emphasis. She is simply an ingrate. Prefering opportunism over country, loyalty, decency and a number of other adjectives that are apparently "out of vogue." As is apparently patriotism, according to Brad. Obviously, the words of a man that has absolutely no idea what condition the majority of the world lives under and how good we have it here. Open your eyes. When profiteering at any cost is considered the "American Dream" then it is truly dead.
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S M Napier about 1 year ago
Now Daniel, ungrateful doesn't apply here and only would if she already didn't play in Russia or was a citizen their. (Which I might add, she had to do to play their.) She plays here the WNBA season, then plays in another league in Russia, and has dual citizenship in both Countries. The fact she plays in two different leagues, is impressive, let alone in two different countries and the average athlete could not do that. So opportunism over country, loyalty, decency does apply either. She has two Countries not just one. Well maybe opportunity, applies better and from what I read Team USA was her first Choice.
That's what everyone forgets, it didn't happen and at 31 wanted to have played in the Olympics. Before her career was over, the opportunity to play for Team Russia happened and she took it.
Now when the Olympics, let pro athletes compete and not just keeping it amatuers. They allowed the profiteering to happen and have done nothing to stop it. We have also profited from this and don't kid yourself, if you think we haven't. Most Countries either have sponsor plus themselves that give gifts or money to their athletes for whatever medals they bring home. Unfortunately, it's not the same Olympics I grew-up watching and liking. Now if I like a particular sport, I'll watch it but otherwise could careless about the Olympics. But I will follow what Becky does and will be happy for her whatever the outcome is.
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Sprawler about 1 year ago
I applaud Becky for her decision to play for Russia and go to the Olympics. Why the double standard for our athletes and not regular citizens? For years businessmen have gone to dual citizenship (for example: the deceased long-time chairman at Augusta, before Hootie, became a citizen of the Bahamas) to take advantage of tax laws and line their pockets. Corporations set up mailboxes "offshore" to avoid paying taxes in the US - fleecing the government and you and I. For greed! That's their motive. What great patriots! And all Becky wants to do is play basketball on the world stage. Whats wrong with that?
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Bob Warja about 1 year ago
You are assuming her intentions are so pure. Look, she wants to maximize her earning potential, that's what this is about. Poor girl, all she wants to do is play basketball on the world stage? She could have played for the US, they did invite her. Maybe late, but still she did receive an invitation to join the team, that's what everyone is ignoring here. Besides, comparing her to the American businessmen who do stuff for greed is hardly flattering.
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kane simmons about 1 year ago
Capitalism, sounds pretty American to me. She should try to make as much money as she can before her career is over, due to injury or if the WNBA should happen to fold. As the ESPN report said, she was not on the short list to try out for the team, even though she was runner up for the MVP.
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rita neureuther 12 months ago
found all the comments interesting.i wonder how the comments shake down between age groups. i guess i believe in the spirit of the law instead of the letter. have any of these young players heard of jim thorpe?
rita
san antonio
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