Becky Hammon Isn't A Traitor

[BacktoBasics]

It's been going on for decades if not longer. Now it's a big deal because it's a U.S. citizen who has a little bit of celebrity. It's stupid. Jamaicans and other Central American sprinters have been playing for Canada for years. It's not very uncommon for an athlete to change citizenship so he or she can compete in the Olympics. There was an Olympic ice dancer last Olympics that was Canadian and switched citizenships to compete for the U.S. It happens regularly. And, it's not a big deal. While the spirit of the Olympics is embedded in national pride, there are many people, especially athletes, that believe the true essence of the Olympics includes the opportunity to compete at the highest level of athletic compe ion, and it's not only about nationalism and/or patriotism. It's a shame some people persecute Hammon when it's been going on for decades, if not centuries and it's perfectly acceptable to most people, including Olympic enthusiasts.

None of it is acceptable to me or probably most people, maybe people who have been exploiting the games and all its workings for decades are good with it but for most to the average joe I doubt they find it acceptable. I'm not picking and choosing who to persecute here. The fact that its been going on for decades has no bearing on my feelings about her. For many people this is their first time hearing of such a thing and likely had no idea that its a regular pattern. Just because it happens in other countries or has happened for scores of years doesn't make it any more acceptable.

I think the Olympics is the epitome of nationalism and/or patriotism. Thats the very thing thats supposed to drive these athletes. So her and what she stands for.

[JamStone]

Actually, the Olympics originated in Ancient Greece and were only among free Greek men. It didn't involve any other country but Greece. It wasn't about patriotism or nationalism. That's a contemporary view. It originated as and always has been the pursuit of the highest athletic compe ion, not national pride.

Even the modern Olympic games is about a celebration of athletic compe ion more so than national pride. It has evolved into something that involves patriotism, but at its foundation, it is an athletic compe ion.

[Obstructed_View]

Won't be long before countries are offering contracts to athletes to compete for them. The things that ruined pro sports for many of us are well on their way to ruining Olympic compe ion as well. I can't wait until the first athlete compares playing for your home country to slavery. That will be the sign that the transformation is complete.

[Flight3107]

She's butthurt for not being selected but that doesn't or shouldn't give her the mentality to play for a compe or. I'm offended by her complete lack of honor all because her precious feelings are hurt. So what you didn't get picked this is your country where you were born and raised and you all over it just so you can get in the game some how some way. Its pathetic and embarrassing that people like this play for our city and further proof that tradition and integrity can be tossed completely out the door for 15 minutes of glory.

Its not as if she decided to have a career overseas or live somewhere else, that would be fine. She decided to play against her country in compe ion....World round compe ion thats based not where you live but where you're from and who you are and traditionally you are to represent your heritage not your ego. her and what she's about.

+1

[BacktoBasics]

Actually, the Olympics originated in Ancient Greece and were only among free Greek men. It didn't involve any other country but Greece. It wasn't about patriotism or nationalism. That's a contemporary view. It originated as and always has been the pursuit of the highest athletic compe ion, not national pride.

Even the modern Olympic games is about a celebration of athletic compe ion more so than national pride. It has evolved into something that involves patriotism, but at its foundation, it is an athletic compe ion.

When you say contemporary you mean the last 200 or so years. Don't forget the Boy Scouts originated on the premise of an easy way to get boys together to be easily molested and well we all know that didn't pan out.

It is more about patriotism than the sole pursuit of the highest quality of athlete because the medal system is based around your country not your personal name. Wether or not thats contempory thinking or not doesn't matter because we don't live in the past we live in the now and right now she's a ing embarrassment to San Antonio, her American team, her peer, and all of America.

If she wanted to teleport her unpatriotic ass back 300 years ago to compete by past standards the by all means. I'm good with that.

[JamStone]

Even in the last 120 years of the modern Olympics, it has been about athletic compe ion. Why do you think there are Olympic rules forbidding such things from happening? The Olympic committee isn't trying to prevent it from happening. You're butthurt over her being butthurt.

[BacktoBasics]

Even in the last 120 years of the modern Olympics, it has been about athletic compe ion. Why do you think there are Olympic rules forbidding such things from happening? The Olympic committee isn't trying to prevent it from happening. You're butthurt over her being butthurt.

possibly but that doesn't change the fact that she simply looked for 15 minutes of fame at the expense of competing against her home country, thats not honorable and downright offensive. I think its ty and unpatriotic to do that in a sport thats centered and marketed around your Country of origin and the fact that each person is there to defend and represent their birthplaces in compe ion. Obviously they aren't doing enough to keep this kind of thing from happening. Had she completely defected over I could understand but she's full blown American and only has citizenship over there based on the fact that she plays pro ball there. She obviously has no integrity.

If I saw her on the street I'd spit on her face then toss raw eggs at her head. I'd chant traitor traitor traitor then rape her, her mom, her sister and burn her village down. Then I'd toss her head on a wood stake in front of the front office of the Stars so the other nags will learn from her mistake. her and her 15 minutes. She wants to be part of another country then go live there and denouce your American citizenship. You can't have you cake and eat it too. her and her story.

[monosylab1k]

wow the Olympics are honorable? News flash, there's one thing that drives the modern Olympics -



Same as everything else. Only they've got this one covered by the excuse of patriotism.

[spurschick]

Lots of Olympic spirit around here. :sarcasm

[spurastic]

If I saw her on the street I'd spit on her face then toss raw eggs at her head. I'd chant traitor traitor traitor then rape her, her mom, her sister and burn her village down. Then I'd toss her head on a wood stake in front of the front office of the Stars so the other nags will learn from her mistake. her and her 15 minutes. She wants to be part of another country then go live there and denouce your American citizenship. You can't have you cake and eat it too. her and her story.

You're one sick mf! I can't believe you wrote such sick . Get a life! Or are your really that sick. Then get help!

[SenorSpur]

She's no traitor. She's doing what she has to do to fulfill her dream of competing on the world level. She's making her share of sacrifices to realize this dream. It's not like she's defecting or anything.

[oligarchy]

[Biggems]

so i guess tim duncan, patrick ewing, and hakeem olajuwon are all traitors......cause all of them played for team USA instead of their native countries......btw, their countries didnt have teams at the time, but that is no excuse, based on some of the arguments here.....national pride should win out in all cases right? What about in Tennis when Seles and Navritalova played for team USA (both are from Europe).....but that was acceptible too, right? Why, cause it was in favor of the US? Come to think about it, Tony Parker is from Belgium, yet is playing for France, oh the travesty and the lack of national pride in these people.....what is wrong with all these unpatriotic athletes.....

the traitor card is pure hogwash. I am neither for or against her decision. I respect that she is doing what she feels in her heart to be the right thing and that she is not backing down from any criticism. I also understand both sides of the argument, but I think those who call her a traitor are extremely close minded.

Go play for Russia Becky................and I will root for you to win Silver. I love me some Becky Hammon, but I am Red White and Blue all the way.

USA USA USA

[Anti.Hero]

all these people mad she is playing for Russia are all losers.

[Biggems]

possibly but that doesn't change the fact that she simply looked for 15 minutes of fame at the expense of competing against her home country, thats not honorable and downright offensive. I think its ty and unpatriotic to do that in a sport thats centered and marketed around your Country of origin and the fact that each person is there to defend and represent their birthplaces in compe ion. Obviously they aren't doing enough to keep this kind of thing from happening. Had she completely defected over I could understand but she's full blown American and only has citizenship over there based on the fact that she plays pro ball there. She obviously has no integrity.

If I saw her on the street I'd spit on her face then toss raw eggs at her head. I'd chant traitor traitor traitor then rape her, her mom, her sister and burn her village down. Then I'd toss her head on a wood stake in front of the front office of the Stars so the other nags will learn from her mistake. her and her 15 minutes. She wants to be part of another country then go live there and denouce your American citizenship. You can't have you cake and eat it too. her and her story.

you make me wish u werent an American.......i cant believe our brave soldiers fight to defend your freedom of speech.

[jack sommerset]

Who gives a . Olympics are f-ing stupid since they let the pro's in. People do that crap all the time now.

[Obstructed_View]

so i guess tim duncan, patrick ewing, and hakeem olajuwon are all traitors......

Fail.

As I recall all of them played college basketball in the US. Patrick Ewing was 13 when he moved to the US, and was 30 when he played for the US team, meaning he'd spent more than half his life in the US. Hakeem arrived at 18 and was on the USA team when he was 33. None of them have ever stopped living in the US with the exception of Hakeem who played for Toronto.

BTW, Timmy's been a US citizen since the day he was born. Residents of the USVI have had citizenship for about 80 years.

[duncan228]

so i guess tim duncan, patrick ewing, and hakeem olajuwon are all traitors......cause all of them played for team USA instead of their native countries......btw, their countries didnt have teams at the time

There was a VI team when Duncan played, when the US played them in the qualifying he sat out the game out of respect for them.

[Biggems]

There was a VI team when Duncan played, when the US played them in the qualifying he sat out the game out of respect for them.

nope....he had already played for Team USA before the VI team had been formed.....that is why he couldn't play for team VI. If there had been a team VI, he would have definitely played for them instead of team USA.

[Obstructed_View]

There was a VI team when Duncan played, when the US played them in the qualifying he sat out the game out of respect for them.

If memory serves, I think since Timmy had been on a US team before the VI team was assembled, he wouldn't have been allowed to play for the USA team ever again if he'd played for USVI in 2003. Seems like there was some rule like that so he had to play for USA, but he sat out just to show respect for the fact that he was put in that position by the rules. It's possible I dreamed that; I wasn't able to find confirmation of it, but that's the way I remember it.

[Biggems]

Who gives a . Olympics are f-ing stupid since they let the pro's in. People do that crap all the time now.

I sort of agree......

the Olympics is supposed to be the best in amateur compe ion....unfortunately, people cheat to win (mostly cause winning means a quality life) as opposed to losing (which can bring shame upon the athlete and their family, ridicule, backlash from the government, or even death).....

Other countries have been using professional athletes for years....and so the USA started doing the same thing, not only in Basketball but other events as well...

The scoring officials have been horrible in many Olympics. Take the Roy Jones fight in Seoul. He destroyed that Korean boxer, but the officials said he lost the fight based on points....It was a complete sham. Then there was the 1972 gold medal basketball game where the US was robbed.

in 1984, didnt the russians boycott the Summer games, or was that 1980? Not just boycotts, but also all the terrorist activity that has gone on at the games......

The Olympics is supposed to be a gathering of the best amateur athletes in the world, coming together to display their talents, goodwill, and national pride........but it has become a political, corporate, watered down, and scandalous fiasco.

[Just Joe]

She did it for the money. Period. She has a seven figure contract to play in Russia. She is popular in Russia. I'm sure it was an easy decision, and one most people would have made regardless of what they say.

[monosylab1k]

The great thing about the United States is that Becky Hammon has the freedom to go play for Russia in the Olympics. Anyone calling her a traitor is a damn dirty Communist.

[duncan228]

nope....he had already played for Team USA before the VI team had been formed.....that is why he couldn't play for team VI. If there had been a team VI, he would have definitely played for them instead of team USA.

If memory serves, I think since Timmy had been on a US team before the VI team was assembled, he wouldn't have been allowed to play for the USA team ever again if he'd played for USVI in 2003. Seems like there was some rule like that so he had to play for USA, but he sat out just to show respect for the fact that he was put in that position by the rules. It's possible I dreamed that; I wasn't able to find confirmation of it, but that's the way I remember it.

I stand corrected.

I remembered him sitting out of the qualifying game against the VI, I was impressed by his decision, but I forgot he had already been on a US team.

My memory of Duncan's international career is colored by his experience. His quotes from then stick with me.

I am about 95 percent sure my FIBA career is over. I'll try not to share my experiences with anyone.

And the ever famous:

FIBA sucks.

[anakha]

The great thing about the United States is that Becky Hammon has the freedom to go play for Russia in the Olympics. Anyone calling her a traitor is a damn dirty Communist.

What he said.