High Treason
Becky Hammon, playing for Russia in the 2008 Olympic quarterfinals, gets her shot denied by a Spanish player, but should she have denied herself Russia’s offer? (Antonio Scorza/AFP/Getty Images).
Becky Hammon, have you no shame?
I came across the story of this WNBA star turned Russian Olympic athlete several weeks ago, but with recent developments regarding Russia and its military, I feel the issue of Hammon’s loyalties needs further analysis.
Ms. Hammon competes for the San Antonio Silver Stars, during the WNBA season. However, in the off-season Ms. Hammon travels to Russia where she earns a pay check of six times of what she earns stateside playing in the Russian leagues. I have no bone to pick with Ms. Hammon for earning an income by way of her basketball talents overseas, much like several NBA players have opted to do this season.
I see it no different than McDonald’s or Coca-Cola peddling their wares in Russia and China. The problem I have with Ms. Hammon is her decision to represent Russia after her talents were deemed inadequate by the USA basketball officials.
It is understood that Ms. Hammon is not the only athlete competing for a country for which the athlete has little or no connection to. Chris Kaman of the Los Angeles Clippers is playing for the Germans, for example. There are several others, as well. However, Ms. Hammon’s actions deserve closer scrutiny due to the recent developments concerning the Russian army’s invasion of Georgia.
The Russian army invaded the sovereign Eastern European nation as a means to flaunt its newfound strength due to large oil profits being made by the ever more centralized (communist) economy. It is bad enough one communist regime, China, was graced with the ability to host the 2008 Olympics.
Now, in another direct slap in the face to democracy around the globe, a citizen of the nation that shines as a beacon of freedom and liberty to that world is playing for a country that strives to take away the freedoms of their own peoples and the peoples of neighboring nations.
The selfishness of Ms. Hammon is both appalling and worrisome. As I stated earlier in my explanation of my boycott of the 2008 Summer Olympics, have we become so self-absorbed that a game holds greater importance than the pursuit of greater human freedoms and liberties? Maybe I could accept the fact that Ms. Hammons had an initial brain freeze when agreeing to play on the Russian Olympic squad, but after hearing of the acts of aggression by the Russian government, there is no excuse for her continued participation on the team.
I hate to break it to you, Becky; you could not cut it on the US team. Stay at home, cheer on wonderboy Phelps and your fellow American athletes while preparing for the upcoming WNBA season. In four years, you can try again. Please do not disgrace yourself or your country by showing your acceptance of brutal regimes whose interests lie in the demise of your native country.
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