Becky Hammon and the Olympics

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Becky Hammon and the Olympics

Becky Hammon, an all-American girl who plays for the WNBA has been called a traitor by her coach, Anne Donovan. Hammon has decided to play for the Russian women's basketball team in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

CJ: Roberto Carlos..

Tue, Jun 17, 2008 12:46:36 IST

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Beijing Olympics 2008 :

BECKY HAMMON, a native of South Dakota and an all American girl, who plays for the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) has been called a traitor. Reason: She will be playing for the Russian women’s basketball team during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The accuser is Anne Donovan, the coach of America women’s basketball team.

I would like to defend the decision of Hammon to play in the Olympics for Russia. The Olympics is about participating in sports without politics and ideologies ruining the game. It is unfortunate that a group of people have to ruin what should be the historical sporting event for the year 2008. It is also fashionable in this ever globalising world that players can cross frontiers and play for other teams without sacrificing their loyalty to their country.

I would also like to take advantage and criticise some of the members of sports associations in America, who actually sign talent from other countries and resolve their paperwork while the local talent in America remains on the sidelines. The United States of America accepts sports personalities from other countries, yet Donovan appears to practice what is sheer hypocrisy. The United States women basketball team should take a look at their way of recruiting their athletes for the Olympics. After all, it is not fair that the best in the majority of cases are not accepted or are sidelined.

It is not Hammon’s fault that she wants to play basketball for the Olympics. It is her right and if a team has signed her to a contract to play then it would be good for her and for America as a whole. Maybe Donovan and others like her may get away with their comments because of the envy they carry within them but in the end, Hammon will carry the day.

I would like to predict that in five decades, when the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics will be in the history book, Hammon will be remembered in a stamp in the United States postal service for her services to basketball, regardless of whether she played for United States of America or for the Russian Federation.

It is with this article and comments that I would like to tell Donovan’s United States women basketball society that the Cold War is over. Olympics is a sporting event and Hammon is a jewel that America does not appreciate. I also wish Hammon the best in her endeavours.

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Posted comments (6)

	Good for Becky! I'm glad she has decided to do this. Olympics has always been about politics, but that is changing. What is also changing, is how each and every human being on this planet must practice self reflection prior to making any judgemental prejudice remarks toward anyone else, anywhere, This is a statement for global equal human rights for humanity, and not treason for the perpetuation of an American global competition. Good for you Becky! I hope millions of young girls are looking up to your leadership!
	\| 09 August 2008 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse

	Gimme a break. People have been crossong borders to participate in the Olympics and other interntational competitions for decades. Brett Hull is Canadian born but was cut by the Canadian national team as a young player. Since his mom is American born he qualified to play for team USA. Even when he became a star and could have played for Team Canada he refused. He always appreciated the opportunity Team USA offered so he could develop as a player, hence he was a member of USA's 1996 World Cup Championship team. Canadian fans booed him and they were wrong. People should respect his loyalty. Mike Piazza was not invited to play for Team USA in the World Cup of Baseball so he accepted an invitation to play for Team Italy, along with many other American born players of Italian heritage. Piazza had already visited Italy in the off-season to promote baseball and this was another opportunity to do just that. Nobody called the future Hall of Famer a traitor, because he is not. Take a look at the roster for Ireland's national lacrosse team (yes lacrosse....a great North American sport). All guys of Irish decent born in the NE of USA. Great players, great Americans, that did not make Team USA. If team USA invited Becky Hammon to play and she refused, especially for some type of financial offer then fine, question her charater. The facts being what they are I wish her best of luck winning a silver medal ;
	\| 22 July 2008 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse

	you people are missing the whole point of the olympics...its not just to represent the sport that you love to play, but to represent your country!..that said, if youre changing your citizenship just to play in the olympics, then wheres the essence of representing your country???
	\| 08 July 2008 Reply to Comment \| New Comment \| Report Abuse