Becky Hammon is an American who plays for the WNBA's San Antonio Silver Stars. She's also going to play in the Olympics in Beijing -- but not for Team USA. Instead, Hammon will play for Russia's Olympic basketball team. Hammon has no Russian ancestry, but she has played professionally in Russia, and she became a Russian citizen to aid her basketball career. In the eyes of the International Olympic Committee, that's good enough for her to play for Russia.
That doesn't sit well with some in this country. During a CNN interview, Team USA women's basketball coach Anne Donovan referred to Hammon as a "traitor." Similar sentiments were expressed today on ESPN's Outside the Lines.
But that's silly. This isn't war, it's basketball. Hammon wanted to be an Olympian, she wasn't chosen for the American team, and so she looked elsewhere. People who don't like the rules that allow that can blame the IOC, but blaming Hammon for wanting to play on her sport's biggest stage is wrong.
Attractive Olympians
Becky Hammon: The WNBA star from South Dakota will play for the Russian women's basketball team in August.
Jennifer Pottheiser, NBAE / Getty Images
Yan Zi: Tennis player from China ranks 13th in the world on the WTA tour, and partnered with Zheng Jie to win the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2006.
Michael Steele/Getty Images
Sally McLellan: Australian Hurdler and Sprinter was a semifinalist in both the 100m and 100-meter hurdles at the 2007 Worlds.
Mark Dadswell/Getty Images
Kim Gevaert: Belgian record holder in the 60m, 100m, 200m and 400m races and won a relay bronze at the 2007 Worlds.
MICHEL KRAKOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images
Adam van Koeverden: Canadian canoe-kayak racer won gold in the 500m and bronze in the 100m the the Athens games in 2004.
Martin Rose/Bongarts/Getty Images
Maria Sharapova: This will be the first Olympics for the Russian tennis star, who has won three Grand Slam titles.
Brad Barket/Getty Images for IMG
Laure Manaudou: The French swimmer and Gold medal winner in the 400m freestyle holds the world records for the 400m freestyle and 200m freestyle.
Getty Images
Anna Bessonova: Ukrainian rhythmic gymnast won bronze at the 2004 games and earned gold at the World Championships in '07.
TATYANA MAKEYEVA/AFP/Getty Images
Demetrius Andrade: The reigning world AIBA boxing champion at 152 pounds, Andrade was a Golden Glove winner in '06 and '07.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Alicia Sacramone: A member of the United States gymnastics team since 2003, Sacramone has earned seven medals from three world championships.
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
6-15-2008 @ 10:34AM
nick said...
Couldn't agree with you more. If this were 1980 and she went to play with the Reds, I'd be singing a different tune. But, how can anyone call someone a traitor for accepting a chance to compete in the Olympics?
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6-15-2008 @ 1:32PM
Noah said...
Yeah, calling her a traitor's just silly - although nonetheless this seems weird. I guess the IOC could only allow native-born citizens of countries to compete in the Olympics; but I know the USA has had tons of athletes and coaches who weren't born here, but who competed for the US in the Olympics anyway. This is just hypocrisy.
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6-15-2008 @ 2:03PM
T said...
Non-native born athletes and coaches compete for the USA because they became naturalized United States citizens.
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6-15-2008 @ 4:58PM
George B Vieto said...
Becky Harmon is not a traitor compared to our polticians. Becky wants to play in the Olympics and Russia gave her a chance. Get over it.
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6-15-2008 @ 5:49PM
Boba Gonoush said...
Traitor? What a joke. Is this a comedy blog? If she had played for the US team and then at the last moment decided she wanted to play for another team, that would be another thing. A very, very small percentage of athletes get the priviledge of being an Olympic athlete. She is just living a dream. She did not give up war secrets.
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6-15-2008 @ 6:34PM
d Green said...
Yes she is a traitor, if she's not good enough to make the American Team that's on her. I bet if an African American player would do that they would call him or her more then a traitor. How can you go against your country like that. That means she's willing to sell her soul and country for money. So she's making money in America and the Russians. Well what else is new America selling our souls for money to another country. Hey we send all our jobs over to other countries we might as well sell a Gold medal too. I asamed of our country.
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8-11-2008 @ 2:04PM
D said...
first of all if you watched women's basketball you would know that she was good enough to make the team...but due to the politics of sports in the US...she was forced to make this tough decision...and who are we to judge....she was the runner up for MVP of the WNBA...and that title went to an Australian....so research before you sit her and say she wasn't good enought
8-23-2008 @ 3:46PM
All-American said...
Well first of all you idiots that call her a traitor are misinformed she has not renounced her citizenship, have you heard of dual citizenship! apparently not. another note she is not being paid to play in the Olympics, she is being paid to play for a Russian team during the WNBA's off-season. She is after all an Athlete! who wants to play on the Olympic stage, She was not given the chance to try out or play for the U.S. Olympic team until after she was offered the chance to play for the Russian team? Ironic isn't it. Sports is about competition, It has no borders, look at all the sports played in our country and you will see plenty of players from other countries on out teams. So get over it, and move into the 21st century.
6-15-2008 @ 6:52PM
ras said...
Get a grip. The US will have several Olympian's on it's team that were not born here. As a matter of fact, our California Governor was not born here. This rule works both way.
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6-15-2008 @ 7:46PM
jason said...
Selfish. Typical of our new American way. Just because a country isn't at war dosen't mean you don't root for them. This young lady is wrong for just wanting to be part of another team. She wasn't good enough for her own country and thats ok. Representing another country to just be in the spotlight is just plain selfish. I work all over the world and the places I have been I might just be able to be a citizen here or there and make that countrys Olympic team (sarcastic statement of course) but I would never do that living and paying taxes here. There is nothing wrong with supporting other countries but the Olympics are supposed to be about a country that you proudly represent. Not a million dollar race.
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6-15-2008 @ 7:54PM
Charles said...
She is a competitor that wishes to compete. We don’t think twice when an entrepreneur wants to do business in another country, basically competing with American workforce.
Good Luck Becky!
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6-15-2008 @ 9:53PM
Michael gifford said...
"Traitor"... is one of those uber patriotic jingoistic rallying cries that belongs back in the 50's. It's a global community in the new millenium and people need to get over this U.S.A isolationist crap. If we're all going to survive this planet, the world needs to drop a lot of the illusion of separateness that gives them the excuse to attack others. in this case...the U.S.A. team didn't want her. So for those uber patriots she's supposed to sit quietly by and wait another 4 years to "represent her country" when her country's team already bailed on her. We're not talking your average player here but the runner up for MVP, which means she has serious skills and contributes to others...If she was on the team and THEN decided to switch there might, I say might be some ground...but she's not giving away secrets to another team because she has none about the U.S. team....give it up rednecks and go back to your primitive cave territorialism...
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8-05-2008 @ 3:38PM
Edgar said...
Well said Mike! Too many dumb rednecks in our society. Where's natural selection when we need it???
Obviously U.S Olympic team thought she wasn't good enough for them. Why shouldn't she take an opportunity to be an Olympian where she's wanted!!? Patriotism my nuts! The same people who're screaming "traitor!" would let her or anybody else rot if she was down and out.
6-15-2008 @ 11:57PM
SANTA CLAUS said...
DO NOT FORGET, THE MONEY THAT THEY ARE PAYING HER$$$$$$$$.
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6-16-2008 @ 1:33AM
Carmel said...
Nice to see so many of you supportive one-world types rushing to her defense. Yes, I would certainly rush to become a Cuban, Iranian, or North Korean citizen to play basketball! I just know all those brave souls who gave their lives, limbs, and blood and tears for this country must have had that in mind when putting it all on the line for us. Yes, to swear allegience and support to other flags, especially mother Russia!
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8-05-2008 @ 3:38PM
Edgar said...
It's just sports you dumb f*ck! You act as if she joined their military to fight U.S.
6-16-2008 @ 2:42AM
Larry said...
America has plenty of real traitors like Bush, Cheney, Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, Alito, Rumsfeld, Rice, etc. Playing basketball for Russia hardly makes Hammon a traitor, if the US Girls BB team doesn't win the gold it won't be Hammon's fault.
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8-05-2008 @ 8:45AM
Ray said...
You are an idiot.
6-16-2008 @ 2:54AM
Larry said...
Boba, once someone plays in the Olympics under one country's banner, they cannot play under a second country's banner later.
Course according to the nationalistic nitwits here, the Puerto Rican Olympic team members are traitors too, since they are U.S. citizens who will play against the USA.
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6-16-2008 @ 6:04AM
Jim Miller said...
The whole idea of the olympics is to represent your country, not any country. I don't think that makes her a traitor but I have absolutely no respect for her.
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