Becky Hammon is fulfilling her life-long dream of playing basketball in the Olympics. The only problem is that she will be playing for Russia instead of Team USA.
She is a rising star in the WNBA at the top of her game, but apparently that's not good enough to earn a spot on the USA squad as it readies itself for Beijing in August.
Some have gone as far as calling her a "traitor," because she claims that she has nothing but love for America and yet she'll suit up for Russia.
There's one problem with calling her a traitor; Hammon can't be a traitor to America if America left her off the Team USA roster to begin with.
Seeing as how she plays for a team in Moscow in the WNBA's off season, and has been given Russian citizenship, Hammon accepted Russia's offer to represent their national team in Beijing.
It wasn't until after she accepted Russia's offer when Team USA extended an invitation toward her. As they say, "too little, too late."
Hammon did nothing illegal here, people. If you want to be angry at someone, be mad at Team USA for letting Hammon slip through its fingers. But there are some other factors in this story, too.
She was born and raised in South Dakota and is often classified as the "All-American girl" with her blond hair in a pony-tail—the classic 'girl-next-door' look. As a child, Hammon was terrified of the movie "Red Dawn," which showed the Russians coming to the Dakotas and invading America.
Back in the '80s, the Cold War was nearing an end, but Americans still feared Russia. Becky was taught that Russians are bad, so why would she ever want to play for them? It's simple...the Cold War is OVER.
The Olympics are no longer what they were when "The Miracle on Ice" happened. It's about athletes representing countries and trying to bring pride back to their country.
Hammon's family is not an ounce of Russian. Hammon speaks no Russian, but the country has embraced her as she accepted Russia for allowing her to play not only in the Olympics, but in the WNBA's offseason.
I support Hammon all the way, and that doesn't mean that I disregard America either. It was her choice; play for Russia, or not play at all.
Maybe Team USA will learn from this and not allow Hammon to go overseas in 2012. Or maybe they'll at least watch their American talent more closely next time.
I'll of course be chanting "USA, USA" in August, but I'll also be pulling for Becky Hammon as she lives out a dream and tries to show Team USA that they shouldn't have passed her over.
6 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment
S M Napier about 1 year ago
Great article, Adam. I agree with you, she's done nothing wrong and Anne Donovan is wrong to call her a traitor. She simply wanted to play in the Olympics, Team USA passed on her and team Russia gave her a spot. I'm not into watching the Olympics, but hope Becky lives out her Olympic dream with a Gold Medal.
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Harry Brogan about 1 year ago
I will NOT call here a "traitor". That's something that is best left to others. However, I doubt that her home town of Rapid City is going to place her name on the Welcome sign outside of town. They are pretty well set in their ways up there and, being from the midwest myself, I wouldn't want to see that.
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Justin Bryant about 1 year ago
The Olympics isn't supposed to be about just playing in the Olympics. It's about representing your country. Hearing your national anthem on that podium. Holding your flag and bringing pride to your country. Not playing against your country. Not trying to beat your country. In my opinion, If you don't make the US team, you don't play. Try again next time. But that's just me. I think she has lost sight of what the Olympics is all about.
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morgan rakes about 1 year ago
uh ya well they offered her 250,000 dollars i think that was a little bit of an incentive too. i would call it greed. the olympics is about personal acheivement not monetary gain, and apparently she doesnt understand that. she is a traitor
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T.J. 12 months ago
Well, I can't say she's a traitor, but that'll be one ackward game.
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Ethan Arturian 10 months ago
The honor of earning an Olympic medal is that one does it representing the country that one believes in. Watch some of "The Road to Redemption" documentary and this concept becomes clearly evident. If after growing up in the heartland of the United States, Becky Hammond feels that her allegiance and loyalty are best served by representing the people and nation of Russia, then that is her decision. However, her just saying she wants to play basketball is a joke. There are very few things that transcend all of the issues that the world has, but the Olympics are one of them. There is a reason that Kobe Bryant said a gold medal would mean more than any NBA title ever could. You represent YOUR country and the issue that most people have is that Hammond doesn't really consider Russia her country. Imagine how cheapened US citizens would feel if the 1980 Olympic Mens hockey team had a bunch of Soviet castoffs that weren't quite good enough to make the cut for the USSR team. If Becky Hammond wants to play for Russia, then the system has allowed that and she is within her rights. Just don't try to tell me that if she wins the gold medal it will mean a fraction to her of what it will mean for those who have done it truly representing their nations. And that is what I have a problem with.
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