Weighing in a little late on this one. Was up in Cambria and visiting Hearst Castle for the first time this past weekend. Great time! Anyway, I think its pretty ridiculous that a player can just get a passport and then play for that team. I'm not real familiar with all the details, but it does take away from the competition between countries aspect. I mean can a country field a team that is made up entirely of non-citizens with passports? Whats the limit?
So, will you be posting some vlogs from the Hearst Castle? That's a fun trip.
Yes, I agree, I'd like to see some sort of limit or guidelines on the cross-border athlete thing. Meanwhile, that's the IOC's thing to fix, if Becky followed the rules as they are (however flawed) I can't blame her.
i dont have a problem with her playin in russia but the problem was her playing for the russian team!!! she should just come out and say im doing it cuz they r paying me millions of dollars. she should be honest and maybe people will understand
Well, to take a story I read in the local paper, while back home in Sweden in May.. There was this young girl, who does Female Wrestling (No, not THAT kind of wrestling!!) and she wanted to compete for Sweden in the Scandinavian Open.. but the Swedes said no, we already have a full team! Her father is Danish, and she has dual citizenship so she applied for the Danish National Team who took her on without a doubt!
Needless to say she WON GOLD, and now she will never compete for the Swedes again! Their loss.. and she proved her point! So it's good for Becky Hammond, she did the right choice I think, if it meant she could compete in a sport she loves, at the level she was able to do so.. :) :) She may regret her Russian passport at a later stage, though..
This girl still lives in Sweden, and competes for her local Wrestling club nationally.. just not on Interational level anymore.. For that she goes to Denmark!! :)
She will not lose her US citizenship. Lots of players in women's basketball have dual citzenship in order to make more money for their overseas teams. Becky got her Russian passport before she decided to play for them in the olympics, which allowed her Russian club team to have another American on the team because they are only allowed 2 per team. So since she was there on Russian passport she was considered Russian.
Thank you! It is easier to have an informed opinion, when one is.. informed! I wasn't sure the US allowed dual citizenship at all, let alone with Russia.. :)
I'd be perfectly happy if the Olympics weren't a competition between nations, but rather, simply a competition between the best athletes. Whatever the Olympic spirit is, it seems to me that nationalism just gets in the way.
such a pity that Russia and Becky lost to USA in the semifinal. I guess USA team coaches are now proud of their decision to decline Becky. I hope she can get at least bronze medal. Go Becky!
"It's not whether you win or lose... it's getting to the Olympics any way you can..." I wonder if the Russians will deport Becky now that she's failed to lead them to victory?
Well, I guess I can claim enough Russian ancestry to make that jump, but I'd rather join the Scotch drinking team. Hey, wait sec, I can just stay in the good old US of A and get on the Bourbon squad! I know I'm a champ at drinking Bourbon!
Becky Hammon is the All Noosphere Girl -the sphere of human consciousness and mental activity especially in regard to its influence on the biosphere and in relation to evolution.(Teilhard de Chardin) Russia % USA r part of it!
I guess the question for her was "do I want to represent my country in the olympics" or "just go to the olympics" - although I'm sure preference would have been to play for the USA.
I guess the other thing to consider is, exactly what was her connection to Russia? In the UK we get football players who due to family ties could quite easily represent England, Scotland or Wales which geographically is a bit easier to understand. Last I checked Russian and USA are not that close...
I hear she has some Russian heritage, so there is a connection, and she would have preferred to be on Team USA, but the Olympics, however she could, was the ultimate goal.
like in usa team you have people from india russa and other countrues and it is not usa you have the Bahraini gold meddle winner for 1500 m he is orginaly morcian and given the passpot well at the beging i was agnest the idea but then i changed my mind if these palyer have the ablity but no support from thier own countries so what is the problem as well that these counteries are looking for some one who help them to improve thier sports
That's my point, really, there's tons of cross-border athletes, why just pick on her? If there's a problem, it's in the rules, not because one American girl went to play for Russia. Thanks for commenting.
They did offer her a tryout 3 days before she was going to sign her contract with Russia. She decided not to attend because recent attempts to contact USA Basketball about their interest in her failed and she knew that it was pretty much a pitty invite because so many people complained about her not being invited. They really had no interest in having her on the team.
Thanks for clarifying that. So, yeah, she did "turn down the tryout for USA" - but the tryout was offered only after they basically told her to screw herself. Thanks for the info!
They didn't tell her to screw hersef ! I wish Becky fans would stop adding all of this extra language into everything to make her look like the victim. It is being portrayed by Becky like this to justify her not going to the USA tryout. If she had gone and been cut ( good possibility ) she might not have been picked by the Russians, since they would have been cool on the idea of an American " reject " on their team.
I still think she should have gone to the tryout. She could have called their bluff, if they were bluffing about giving her a chance. If it was legit she could have gotten on the team. Before people crucify the selection committee and coach, it would be good to remember they have a ton of experience with international basketball and know what kind of players fit best into the system. After watching the games and the press for 40 minutes tempo USA played, Becky would have been wrong for that .
As far as the larger question goes I think this trend is disturbing. Becky represents the most egregious example of this. What many people don't realize is she turned down a tryout invitation from Team USA in the fall of 2007.I used to be a fan of hers and would be ambivalent if she had tried out for Team USA first, but to reject a tryout offer and then play for the Russians is ridiculous.
Really? Turned down the tryout? Each of the stories I've seen said she had been turned down by them. A few of the "facts" of the story as I got have now been thrown into doubt. I think I smell a bit of spin... This may be more interesting than I thought it was! Thanks for the additional data.
Becky has no Russian heritage. People are making a big deal about this because its Russia and because Russia beat the US in the last world championship knocking them out of the gold medal game. Adding becky to their team increases the chance of Russia beating the US again. Know one would care of she was playing for a team that didnt have a shot in hell at winning but since Russia does its more of a big deal. She seems very happy with her new team and vise versa so go Becky and go Russia.
I understand that the 596-member US Olympic team in Beijing includes nearly three dozen foreign-born athletes, including British rower Jen Goldsack and long-distance runner Bernard Lagat, who won Olympic medals for Kenya in both Athens and Sydney. 5 of the members of the US table tennis team are Chinese.
share and share alike! I guess go where you can play and follow your dream, whereever it takes you. I am no less American bing an ex-pat. :)
Exactly; there are "cross-border" athletes playing for nearly every nation - And yet Becky is the one who gets all the crap for it. Something ain't right.
I think all nations should follow a single standard, be it a set residency/employment/student requirement or renouncement of citizenship to your 'former country' or whatever. But hey, this way if the US team loses to the Russians we can at least say they needed an American to help them do it. ;D
Yeah, I suspect by now they need to simplify them. I haven't kept up with the in and outs of the Olympics in recent years (I barely watch these days). At one point I was really into it and helped lobby for pistol biathlon and 'primitive' archery to be added.
I say if you want to play in the olympics and some other country lets you do that when your own won't, go for it. It's the damned olympics, just sports, meaningless entertainment. It's got nothing to do with nationalism, no national pride, no national security, no nuttn. It's a sport and if she wants to play then I think maybe it doesn't matter worth a tick on a dead camel's ass who she plays with.
agree that it's a sport and has nothing to do with national security. But to be honest, it still has something to do with national pride when the flag is rising and so does the national anthem. And this national pride sort of increase the interest of Olympic games.
Good point puppy, raising a flag does tend to bring feelings of national pride to the surface, but anytime the flag is raised in tribute we generally feel that way. My point is that the olympic games is not the place to be raising a flag in tribute. It is one person or team participating in one sport, not a nation. I pay homage to my flag and my nation, but not necessarily to the ceremony or game that initiates its raising.
I say good for her! She got her dream to play basketball in the Olympics. It's a game! Not war! This is the one time where countries can put aside their differences and just play... this is so silly that people think that she's 'turned her back on her country.'
Nationalism has been a pain in the neck for all humankind. I agree with you that it's no big deal and am glad she made her dreams come true by joining the Russian team. What's important is being a team player--and that one does their best. I am pretty sure the Russian government might be using her in a way that gives the U.S. a black eye; nevertheless, she's getting what she wants and that is kewl. she is setting a good example to all of us fine, fine Capitalists.
I think you're the traitor comrade Kenski! Anyone that lives in a State that has such notoriously traitorous people representing them such as Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, and that terminator guy must be commies.
Wasn't Charlie Manson a resident of your State too? Still is I think.
Since Becky's not a Californian, then she MUST be a-ok. No problems there.
Yes, I'm the traitor - This video is all part of my insidious plot to convince all our basketball players to go over to glorious mother Russia! And now that you've found me out, I must terminate you!
why would you call someone a traitor if you were the one that slapped her down in the first place? that's like saying: "You can't join our club." then, "You're a traitor for joining another".
i mean, there's no sense to it. they have no right to say such things. no one does.
Agreed - As somebody else pointed out, it's like the boss who won't give you a raise or a promotion being upset when you get a better job with their competitor.
Can she speak Russian? Getting the passport is one thing. Learning the language is another, I can attest to that!!!
Anyways, the only rule I think is necessary is that once an athlete represents one country in the Olympics, he/she should not be able to represent a different country in a subsequent Olympics.
After Iraq and Georgia, I have far more admiration for the Russians than I do for my own country... kinda sad, but Bush has really dragged this country into the mud!!!
HELL YA FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS GIRL WHO GIVES A FUCK IF SHE'S PLAYING FOR SOMEONE ELSE WANTS YOU AND SOMEONE WASN'T INTERSTED GO WHERE THE INTEREST IS.
I freakin hate this "YOU ARE A TRAITOR" because of some stupid sports thing. It's a FUCKING SPORT. Deal with it ya know?
This is the problem with America. People think that we are so great and wanting to be somewhere that's better for you specifically gives you the "Traitor" emblem.
People don't realize patriotism is for the people not the Country
My understanding is that the Olympics are designed to facilitate friendships between countries through the athletes. So to me, Becky is doing exactly the right thing - I'll bet that by the time she comes home, she will have made lifelong friends with her teammates - some of them anyway. Rock on Becky! Make your dreams come true anyway you can. The Olympics are all about living your dreams and she found a way to do so. Great topic!
its the only way a lot of countries can compete. the funniest one is two brazilian americans with the last name gia and geor are the gerogian mens volleyball club...geor and gia. i dont know if its there real names or tey changed them but its funny
Yeah I don't see how this makes for controversy. HOWEVER, if the Olympics is about "Countries" competing, then yeah like you said, then what meaning has the Olympics at all?
Don't you hate it when you write a comment before the video ends and then the vlogger makes the point of your comment at the end? LOL
Hard to say good or bad. Being as she went over for the chance at a medal, its hard to judge that reasoning based on Olympic hopes. But some patriotic line, seems to be overstepped regardless of reasoning.. Great vlog and question!
It's not a decision that most of us would have made - but then, I've never been in a position to have to make such a choice, so it's hard to say. But, either way, it's her decision and her life. Thanks.
Kenrg...the US being so developed and modernized creates high quality everything from athletes to managers to doctors. Other nations clamor for high caliber talent and will go anywhere to get it, including the US. Did you notice Spain's table tennis team? I'm playing for the South Koreans these days...
I missed the Spanish table tennis team. Yes, we have an abundance of athletes, I suppose, but even we did some poaching of former Eastern bloc athletes and coaches after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
I have to differ with you on one point of information: the cold war is no longer over. Russia has declared a new cold war by invading Georgia. (Now I see that PappyStu already made this point.) A nice ironic twist is that Gorbachev, who helped end the old cold war, is egging on those who are starting the new one.
Of course this has happened since Becky Hammon made her decision, so I won't fault her. If her life were a film, the audience would probably be rooting for the Russian team.
DClaudeKatz, or maybe it was US who declared new Cold War? Remember Ronald Reagan at his speech, after Soviet Union's collapse said something like: "Russians shouldn't worry anymore, NATO will not be expanding"
But NATO IS expanding and Russians feel threatened by its expansion. If you were Russian what would you do?
Good point, but I think we should distinguish between provoking a new cold war and declaring one. There has been an escalation of tensions going on between Russia and the west for quite a while now, and I'm not sure who started it or if it's even possible to say. But Russia crossed a line (both literally and figuratively) by invading Georgia. Before that there was tension and mistrust. Today there's a second cold war.
Yeah... but... it was Georgia who attacked South Osettia, bombed Tskhinvali, and killed 15 Russian soldiers stationed there....
If anybody would kill American soldiers just like that, US would declare war to that country... right? What makes Russia different? They should have retreated?
There's considerable dispute as to what exactly happened and why. From what I hear, the evidence doesn't particularly favor Russia's version of the story.
well... there is considerable dispute as to whether Holocaust happened or not. But the public speeches of Georgian leaders speak for themselves :) search youtube "Georgia winning" - you'll find "report" of Sky News that Georgians are actually have superior military and winning :) and draw your conclusions who and why was cooking such reports.
And don't forget, NATO expansion way predates Georgia conflict. What did Russia do wrong to trigger Nato expansion?
Point taken, regarding Georgia, but it's not quite the same as Cold War era. I still feel for Becky being the one getting all the heat when there's so many cross-border athletes competing in this year's Olympics.
I'd say Becky Hammon had the misfortune to cross from the US to Russia at the wrong time. She had no way to know what was going to happen, but I can see why the US-Russia transition is of particular interest to people right now, and if she were making the decision today, it would be more difficult for her.
Perhaps instead of "representing" the country, the athletes should be labeled as "sponsored by" the country. If we are a "melting pot" and most Americans have roots in other parts of the world, should anyone, other than native Americans, really qualify to be on team USA?
Well, I think there's a compromise somewhere between "been in country for 100 generations" and "got my papers last week." Perhaps even a five year citizenship requirement?
Do you remember the uproar about Zola Budd, the south african girl? My sister, a british citizen, born and raised in Belgium, was rejected from the belgian athletics team for having a british passport. It broke her heart and her dreams. Zola, also never managed to survive the controversy
Right - There were a lot of cross-border athletes this Olympics - more than I remember from previous years. It's getting a bit out of hand. But, again, I don't fault the athletes, it's the IOC that needs to do something.
In my opinion, it kills part of the Olympic spirit when the players just go to other countries so they can play. She has no Russian heritage. There are other people whose parents are from that country & have gone to compete for them. Maybe she didn't make the team because she's a difficult person? Have you also noticed that a lot of the athletes have gone to school here & trained here. I still think it's in bad character to go to another country for the Olympics.
I think she does have some Russian heritage, but beyond that - I sort of agree. In general, I think these "fast track passports" are a very thin farce. But, as long as those are the rules, I can't fault her - I fault the system that allows this.
There is a lot of untrue statements being made by Becky in this instance. Unfortunately people have to watch the WNBA to understand that Becky likes to manipulate circumstances so they work out the best for her while saying she happens to be fortunate that things break well for her. She has also said she never had anything to do with being traded to San Antonio even though, surprise ! she wants to play there more than anywhere else. She seems to be getting all the glory down there anyways !!
лошара )))
frytrixlist 3 years ago
why russian are bad AMERICA IS FUCKING GENOCIDE FUCKING FAKE
sanila777 3 years ago
I just saw the last part of your video, good point of view.
Richard0892 3 years ago
SO so nobody gives a fuck a door closes another one opens. Fucken Americans
Richard0892 3 years ago
I dislike many fellow Americans. Isn't that sad? I wish people would take the initiative to increase their IQ and not wallow in dumbness.
captainfury2007 3 years ago
But wallowing is such a great comfort!
kenrg 3 years ago
I agree w/ Becky 98%!!!
TayloRoX2222 3 years ago
98%? Very good!
kenrg 3 years ago
It will suffice to throw mud, Becky not worthy of it. America itself is guilty. Live her alone!!!!!
bagira911 3 years ago
Weighing in a little late on this one. Was up in Cambria and visiting Hearst Castle for the first time this past weekend. Great time! Anyway, I think its pretty ridiculous that a player can just get a passport and then play for that team. I'm not real familiar with all the details, but it does take away from the competition between countries aspect. I mean can a country field a team that is made up entirely of non-citizens with passports? Whats the limit?
brignoni68 3 years ago
So, will you be posting some vlogs from the Hearst Castle? That's a fun trip.
Yes, I agree, I'd like to see some sort of limit or guidelines on the cross-border athlete thing. Meanwhile, that's the IOC's thing to fix, if Becky followed the rules as they are (however flawed) I can't blame her.
kenrg 3 years ago
aaaaa the russians are not that bad there ak-47s are really nice lol no wating period.
cooldog61593 3 years ago
i dont have a problem with her playin in russia but the problem was her playing for the russian team!!! she should just come out and say im doing it cuz they r paying me millions of dollars. she should be honest and maybe people will understand
rhs6520 3 years ago
Right - 'Cause all the players on team USA do it without thinking of the endorsement deals (etc) at all ;^)
kenrg 3 years ago
they r playing for their own country,not for russia,there is a big difference.
rhs6520 3 years ago
Well, to take a story I read in the local paper, while back home in Sweden in May.. There was this young girl, who does Female Wrestling (No, not THAT kind of wrestling!!) and she wanted to compete for Sweden in the Scandinavian Open.. but the Swedes said no, we already have a full team! Her father is Danish, and she has dual citizenship so she applied for the Danish National Team who took her on without a doubt!
KurtGnu 3 years ago
Needless to say she WON GOLD, and now she will never compete for the Swedes again! Their loss.. and she proved her point! So it's good for Becky Hammond, she did the right choice I think, if it meant she could compete in a sport she loves, at the level she was able to do so.. :) :) She may regret her Russian passport at a later stage, though..
KurtGnu 3 years ago
This girl still lives in Sweden, and competes for her local Wrestling club nationally.. just not on Interational level anymore.. For that she goes to Denmark!! :)
KurtGnu 3 years ago
Good for her (the girl in your story)! If she had duel citizenship then there's nothing at all questionable about her behavior. Excellent.
kenrg 3 years ago
If this Becky Hammond now have a Russian passport, does it mean she has lost her US citizenship? Like I said, she may regret that one day..
KurtGnu 3 years ago
She will not lose her US citizenship. Lots of players in women's basketball have dual citzenship in order to make more money for their overseas teams. Becky got her Russian passport before she decided to play for them in the olympics, which allowed her Russian club team to have another American on the team because they are only allowed 2 per team. So since she was there on Russian passport she was considered Russian.
sbcatcher45845 3 years ago
Thank you! It is easier to have an informed opinion, when one is.. informed! I wasn't sure the US allowed dual citizenship at all, let alone with Russia.. :)
KurtGnu 3 years ago
fuck yeah her! meaning: awesome for her!
citizenstand 3 years ago
Fuck yeah!
kenrg 3 years ago
I'd be perfectly happy if the Olympics weren't a competition between nations, but rather, simply a competition between the best athletes. Whatever the Olympic spirit is, it seems to me that nationalism just gets in the way.
STC4blues 3 years ago
Wouldn't that be great! Thanks for the comment - I haven't seen you for a while - Have you made any videos lately?
kenrg 3 years ago
Alas, no. Most of my online time is devoted to blogging at The Valve. But I continue to lurk here at YouTube.
STC4blues 3 years ago
such a pity that Russia and Becky lost to USA in the semifinal. I guess USA team coaches are now proud of their decision to decline Becky. I hope she can get at least bronze medal. Go Becky!
voxan 3 years ago
"It's not whether you win or lose... it's getting to the Olympics any way you can..." I wonder if the Russians will deport Becky now that she's failed to lead them to victory?
kenrg 3 years ago
don't we have the most foreign-born athletes on team USA
nw0 3 years ago
That really wouldn't surprise me at all if it's true. And it probably is.
kenrg 3 years ago
I guess this means I can't join the Russian vodka drinking team. Maybe I'll try Mexican tequila, or even better, Jamaican rum!
PresOfWeb 3 years ago
Well, I guess I can claim enough Russian ancestry to make that jump, but I'd rather join the Scotch drinking team. Hey, wait sec, I can just stay in the good old US of A and get on the Bourbon squad! I know I'm a champ at drinking Bourbon!
kenrg 3 years ago
Exactly - Go where you're wanted and appreciated. Why not?
kenrg 3 years ago
Becky Hammon is the All Noosphere Girl -the sphere of human consciousness and mental activity especially in regard to its influence on the biosphere and in relation to evolution.(Teilhard de Chardin) Russia % USA r part of it!
ephemeral8 3 years ago
The All Noosphere Girl, eh? Okay, I'll buy that.
kenrg 3 years ago
I guess the question for her was "do I want to represent my country in the olympics" or "just go to the olympics" - although I'm sure preference would have been to play for the USA.
I guess the other thing to consider is, exactly what was her connection to Russia? In the UK we get football players who due to family ties could quite easily represent England, Scotland or Wales which geographically is a bit easier to understand. Last I checked Russian and USA are not that close...
21stCenturyCat 3 years ago
I hear she has some Russian heritage, so there is a connection, and she would have preferred to be on Team USA, but the Olympics, however she could, was the ultimate goal.
kenrg 3 years ago
everybody does the same thing
like in usa team you have people from india russa and other countrues and it is not usa you have the Bahraini gold meddle winner for 1500 m he is orginaly morcian and given the passpot well at the beging i was agnest the idea but then i changed my mind if these palyer have the ablity but no support from thier own countries so what is the problem as well that these counteries are looking for some one who help them to improve thier sports
missdrspark 3 years ago
That's my point, really, there's tons of cross-border athletes, why just pick on her? If there's a problem, it's in the rules, not because one American girl went to play for Russia. Thanks for commenting.
kenrg 3 years ago
They did offer her a tryout 3 days before she was going to sign her contract with Russia. She decided not to attend because recent attempts to contact USA Basketball about their interest in her failed and she knew that it was pretty much a pitty invite because so many people complained about her not being invited. They really had no interest in having her on the team.
sbcatcher45845 3 years ago
Thanks for clarifying that. So, yeah, she did "turn down the tryout for USA" - but the tryout was offered only after they basically told her to screw herself. Thanks for the info!
kenrg 3 years ago
They didn't tell her to screw hersef ! I wish Becky fans would stop adding all of this extra language into everything to make her look like the victim. It is being portrayed by Becky like this to justify her not going to the USA tryout. If she had gone and been cut ( good possibility ) she might not have been picked by the Russians, since they would have been cool on the idea of an American " reject " on their team.
Metfan223 3 years ago
I still think she should have gone to the tryout. She could have called their bluff, if they were bluffing about giving her a chance. If it was legit she could have gotten on the team. Before people crucify the selection committee and coach, it would be good to remember they have a ton of experience with international basketball and know what kind of players fit best into the system. After watching the games and the press for 40 minutes tempo USA played, Becky would have been wrong for that .
Metfan223 3 years ago
I sense another Joan of Arc - coming!! You get the gasoline - i'll get the stakes!!
thenudo 3 years ago
I love a good torch party, don't you?
kenrg 3 years ago
As far as the larger question goes I think this trend is disturbing. Becky represents the most egregious example of this. What many people don't realize is she turned down a tryout invitation from Team USA in the fall of 2007.I used to be a fan of hers and would be ambivalent if she had tried out for Team USA first, but to reject a tryout offer and then play for the Russians is ridiculous.
Metfan223 3 years ago
Really? Turned down the tryout? Each of the stories I've seen said she had been turned down by them. A few of the "facts" of the story as I got have now been thrown into doubt. I think I smell a bit of spin... This may be more interesting than I thought it was! Thanks for the additional data.
kenrg 3 years ago
Interesting! I wasn't aware of this story.
RustleAbout 3 years ago
It's one of those weird things you pick up when you watch too much of the Olympics... ;^)
kenrg 3 years ago
Becky has no Russian heritage. People are making a big deal about this because its Russia and because Russia beat the US in the last world championship knocking them out of the gold medal game. Adding becky to their team increases the chance of Russia beating the US again. Know one would care of she was playing for a team that didnt have a shot in hell at winning but since Russia does its more of a big deal. She seems very happy with her new team and vise versa so go Becky and go Russia.
sbcatcher45845 3 years ago
She has no Russian heritage? I've heard conflicting info on this. Either way, that's kind of beside the point. Thanks, and Go Becky!
kenrg 3 years ago
Have you read the latest reports from the Russian women's team and Becky ?? Seems she is having second thoughts about going back there next season.
Metfan223 3 years ago
Good for her! I agree with you 100%.
Momotaro15 3 years ago
Thanks!
kenrg 3 years ago
I understand that the 596-member US Olympic team in Beijing includes nearly three dozen foreign-born athletes, including British rower Jen Goldsack and long-distance runner Bernard Lagat, who won Olympic medals for Kenya in both Athens and Sydney. 5 of the members of the US table tennis team are Chinese.
share and share alike! I guess go where you can play and follow your dream, whereever it takes you. I am no less American bing an ex-pat. :)
LeSaMilano 3 years ago
Exactly; there are "cross-border" athletes playing for nearly every nation - And yet Becky is the one who gets all the crap for it. Something ain't right.
kenrg 3 years ago
whats the v for?
ralfonzo83 3 years ago
I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. So only read this if you're ready to face the truth: Vloggerheads!
kenrg 3 years ago
I think all nations should follow a single standard, be it a set residency/employment/student requirement or renouncement of citizenship to your 'former country' or whatever. But hey, this way if the US team loses to the Russians we can at least say they needed an American to help them do it. ;D
TimberGeek 3 years ago
I'm sure the IOC has some rules on this, but maybe they should be examined and refined just a bit...
kenrg 3 years ago
Yeah, I suspect by now they need to simplify them. I haven't kept up with the in and outs of the Olympics in recent years (I barely watch these days). At one point I was really into it and helped lobby for pistol biathlon and 'primitive' archery to be added.
TimberGeek 3 years ago
I say if you want to play in the olympics and some other country lets you do that when your own won't, go for it. It's the damned olympics, just sports, meaningless entertainment. It's got nothing to do with nationalism, no national pride, no national security, no nuttn. It's a sport and if she wants to play then I think maybe it doesn't matter worth a tick on a dead camel's ass who she plays with.
CanadianNinjaMonkey 3 years ago
Well, the dead camel might care, but you're right, the rest of us shouldn't.
kenrg 3 years ago
agree that it's a sport and has nothing to do with national security. But to be honest, it still has something to do with national pride when the flag is rising and so does the national anthem. And this national pride sort of increase the interest of Olympic games.
puppyk2007 3 years ago
Good point puppy, raising a flag does tend to bring feelings of national pride to the surface, but anytime the flag is raised in tribute we generally feel that way. My point is that the olympic games is not the place to be raising a flag in tribute. It is one person or team participating in one sport, not a nation. I pay homage to my flag and my nation, but not necessarily to the ceremony or game that initiates its raising.
CanadianNinjaMonkey 3 years ago
I say good for her! She got her dream to play basketball in the Olympics. It's a game! Not war! This is the one time where countries can put aside their differences and just play... this is so silly that people think that she's 'turned her back on her country.'
Here here, Ken!
<3Kels
fergyk0416 3 years ago
Ridiculous, isn't it? Thanks.
kenrg 3 years ago
Nationalism has been a pain in the neck for all humankind. I agree with you that it's no big deal and am glad she made her dreams come true by joining the Russian team. What's important is being a team player--and that one does their best. I am pretty sure the Russian government might be using her in a way that gives the U.S. a black eye; nevertheless, she's getting what she wants and that is kewl. she is setting a good example to all of us fine, fine Capitalists.
Rikotistic 3 years ago
Exactly: A good capitalist follows the best offer and is a free agent; and what's more American that good capitalism? Hmmmm?
kenrg 3 years ago
I think you're the traitor comrade Kenski! Anyone that lives in a State that has such notoriously traitorous people representing them such as Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, and that terminator guy must be commies.
Wasn't Charlie Manson a resident of your State too? Still is I think.
Since Becky's not a Californian, then she MUST be a-ok. No problems there.
KobyBrandt 3 years ago
Yes, I'm the traitor - This video is all part of my insidious plot to convince all our basketball players to go over to glorious mother Russia! And now that you've found me out, I must terminate you!
kenrg 3 years ago
But ah'l be bock. Asta la vista, baby!
KobyBrandt 3 years ago
why would you call someone a traitor if you were the one that slapped her down in the first place? that's like saying: "You can't join our club." then, "You're a traitor for joining another".
i mean, there's no sense to it. they have no right to say such things. no one does.
Natakash1 3 years ago
Agreed - As somebody else pointed out, it's like the boss who won't give you a raise or a promotion being upset when you get a better job with their competitor.
kenrg 3 years ago
Can she speak Russian? Getting the passport is one thing. Learning the language is another, I can attest to that!!!
Anyways, the only rule I think is necessary is that once an athlete represents one country in the Olympics, he/she should not be able to represent a different country in a subsequent Olympics.
After Iraq and Georgia, I have far more admiration for the Russians than I do for my own country... kinda sad, but Bush has really dragged this country into the mud!!!
blackturtleus 3 years ago
I don't know how her language skills are - They did say that she has 'Russian heritage' but I don't know how many generations back.
kenrg 3 years ago
SHE'S A COMMA-NIST!!!
costernocht 3 years ago
No, she's a basketball player. They don't use commas.
kenrg 3 years ago
HELL YA FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS GIRL WHO GIVES A FUCK IF SHE'S PLAYING FOR SOMEONE ELSE WANTS YOU AND SOMEONE WASN'T INTERSTED GO WHERE THE INTEREST IS.
I freakin hate this "YOU ARE A TRAITOR" because of some stupid sports thing. It's a FUCKING SPORT. Deal with it ya know?
This is the problem with America. People think that we are so great and wanting to be somewhere that's better for you specifically gives you the "Traitor" emblem.
People don't realize patriotism is for the people not the Country
makaisenki 3 years ago
You said it! Follow your dreams!
kenrg 3 years ago
My understanding is that the Olympics are designed to facilitate friendships between countries through the athletes. So to me, Becky is doing exactly the right thing - I'll bet that by the time she comes home, she will have made lifelong friends with her teammates - some of them anyway. Rock on Becky! Make your dreams come true anyway you can. The Olympics are all about living your dreams and she found a way to do so. Great topic!
thizizliz 3 years ago
Okay - A very positive way to look at it! Thanks!
kenrg 3 years ago
its the only way a lot of countries can compete. the funniest one is two brazilian americans with the last name gia and geor are the gerogian mens volleyball club...geor and gia. i dont know if its there real names or tey changed them but its funny
battim 3 years ago
Well, if they give them funny names, then I guess it's okay.
kenrg 3 years ago
Logic prevails!
bodidarma505 3 years ago
Aaahhh... logic is over-rated ;^)
kenrg 3 years ago
Yeah I don't see how this makes for controversy. HOWEVER, if the Olympics is about "Countries" competing, then yeah like you said, then what meaning has the Olympics at all?
Don't you hate it when you write a comment before the video ends and then the vlogger makes the point of your comment at the end? LOL
Sugartalker 3 years ago
:^) Great minds, right?
My idea is a five year citizenship requirement before you can join any nation's Olympic team. Think we can get the IOC to go along with that?
kenrg 3 years ago
That's a great idea. Treat it like immigration through marriage.
Sugartalker 3 years ago
Hard to say good or bad. Being as she went over for the chance at a medal, its hard to judge that reasoning based on Olympic hopes. But some patriotic line, seems to be overstepped regardless of reasoning.. Great vlog and question!
cooksterz 3 years ago
It's not a decision that most of us would have made - but then, I've never been in a position to have to make such a choice, so it's hard to say. But, either way, it's her decision and her life. Thanks.
kenrg 3 years ago
Well said.
Pizzaorpie 3 years ago
Thanks.
kenrg 3 years ago
Kenrg...the US being so developed and modernized creates high quality everything from athletes to managers to doctors. Other nations clamor for high caliber talent and will go anywhere to get it, including the US. Did you notice Spain's table tennis team? I'm playing for the South Koreans these days...
savvysymbiont 3 years ago
I missed the Spanish table tennis team. Yes, we have an abundance of athletes, I suppose, but even we did some poaching of former Eastern bloc athletes and coaches after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
kenrg 3 years ago
Clearly she's an evil communist and we should retaliate by boycotting all blond women.
And stay outta my bomb shelter!
OhCurt 3 years ago
I hear you've been boycotting blond women, and indeed all women, for years now. I can't bring myself to do anything that extreme.
kenrg 3 years ago
It weren't easy, neither! Lisa Hartman could have turned me back in the 80s during her Knots Landing heyday.
Pairing her with Alec Baldwin wound up being a checkmate in that chess game, however.
OhCurt 3 years ago
I have to differ with you on one point of information: the cold war is no longer over. Russia has declared a new cold war by invading Georgia. (Now I see that PappyStu already made this point.) A nice ironic twist is that Gorbachev, who helped end the old cold war, is egging on those who are starting the new one.
Of course this has happened since Becky Hammon made her decision, so I won't fault her. If her life were a film, the audience would probably be rooting for the Russian team.
DClaudeKatz 3 years ago
DClaudeKatz, or maybe it was US who declared new Cold War? Remember Ronald Reagan at his speech, after Soviet Union's collapse said something like: "Russians shouldn't worry anymore, NATO will not be expanding"
But NATO IS expanding and Russians feel threatened by its expansion. If you were Russian what would you do?
wildbestia 3 years ago
Good point, but I think we should distinguish between provoking a new cold war and declaring one. There has been an escalation of tensions going on between Russia and the west for quite a while now, and I'm not sure who started it or if it's even possible to say. But Russia crossed a line (both literally and figuratively) by invading Georgia. Before that there was tension and mistrust. Today there's a second cold war.
DClaudeKatz 3 years ago
Yeah... but... it was Georgia who attacked South Osettia, bombed Tskhinvali, and killed 15 Russian soldiers stationed there....
If anybody would kill American soldiers just like that, US would declare war to that country... right? What makes Russia different? They should have retreated?
wildbestia 3 years ago
There's considerable dispute as to what exactly happened and why. From what I hear, the evidence doesn't particularly favor Russia's version of the story.
DClaudeKatz 3 years ago
well... there is considerable dispute as to whether Holocaust happened or not. But the public speeches of Georgian leaders speak for themselves :) search youtube "Georgia winning" - you'll find "report" of Sky News that Georgians are actually have superior military and winning :) and draw your conclusions who and why was cooking such reports.
And don't forget, NATO expansion way predates Georgia conflict. What did Russia do wrong to trigger Nato expansion?
wildbestia 3 years ago
Point taken, regarding Georgia, but it's not quite the same as Cold War era. I still feel for Becky being the one getting all the heat when there's so many cross-border athletes competing in this year's Olympics.
kenrg 3 years ago
I'd say Becky Hammon had the misfortune to cross from the US to Russia at the wrong time. She had no way to know what was going to happen, but I can see why the US-Russia transition is of particular interest to people right now, and if she were making the decision today, it would be more difficult for her.
DClaudeKatz 3 years ago
Perhaps instead of "representing" the country, the athletes should be labeled as "sponsored by" the country. If we are a "melting pot" and most Americans have roots in other parts of the world, should anyone, other than native Americans, really qualify to be on team USA?
NorCalCorsello 3 years ago
Well, I think there's a compromise somewhere between "been in country for 100 generations" and "got my papers last week." Perhaps even a five year citizenship requirement?
kenrg 3 years ago
Fair enough.
NorCalCorsello 3 years ago
Do you remember the uproar about Zola Budd, the south african girl? My sister, a british citizen, born and raised in Belgium, was rejected from the belgian athletics team for having a british passport. It broke her heart and her dreams. Zola, also never managed to survive the controversy
yellowlabrador 3 years ago
I haven't heard that name in ages. I'd forgotten what all the controversy was about. Interesting about your sister, too.
kenrg 3 years ago
I'm not sure the cold war is over...
Recent developments in Iran, Venezuela and Georgia may foreshadow future ugliness...
But then I am a cold war submarine baby eh
PappyStu 3 years ago
Don't forget also the Russian objection to our missile defense agreement with Polland!
NorCalCorsello 3 years ago
Lots of sand in the blanket eh? We seemed bound to irritate each other....
PappyStu 3 years ago
I ain't saying we're the best of buddies, but it ain't quite 1962 either.
kenrg 3 years ago
Yea I uploaded a response vid to this one on this point...
PappyStu 3 years ago
Becky should have been on U.S. team if not for her basketball skills then at least for her model looks.
wheateater 3 years ago
What gets me is the coach who turned her down calling her a traitor. Yes, she should have been on our team.
kenrg 3 years ago
Recent events in Georgia have probably made this more sensitive but hey its sports...
And its her life...
PappyStu 3 years ago
Right - It's nothing as meaningless as politics, it's important: it's sports! ;^)
kenrg 3 years ago
They guy who almost beat Phelps in one of his events was from California I think. I should mention he was representing another nation.
wheateater 3 years ago
Right - There were a lot of cross-border athletes this Olympics - more than I remember from previous years. It's getting a bit out of hand. But, again, I don't fault the athletes, it's the IOC that needs to do something.
kenrg 3 years ago
Go Becky Hammon!!!
muxusbxt 3 years ago
Go Becky!
kenrg 3 years ago
In my opinion, it kills part of the Olympic spirit when the players just go to other countries so they can play. She has no Russian heritage. There are other people whose parents are from that country & have gone to compete for them. Maybe she didn't make the team because she's a difficult person? Have you also noticed that a lot of the athletes have gone to school here & trained here. I still think it's in bad character to go to another country for the Olympics.
LilCav68 3 years ago
I think she does have some Russian heritage, but beyond that - I sort of agree. In general, I think these "fast track passports" are a very thin farce. But, as long as those are the rules, I can't fault her - I fault the system that allows this.
kenrg 3 years ago
Tru dat (fast track and rules)... Hey I was first :0)
LilCav68 3 years ago
There is a lot of untrue statements being made by Becky in this instance. Unfortunately people have to watch the WNBA to understand that Becky likes to manipulate circumstances so they work out the best for her while saying she happens to be fortunate that things break well for her. She has also said she never had anything to do with being traded to San Antonio even though, surprise ! she wants to play there more than anywhere else. She seems to be getting all the glory down there anyways !!
Metfan223 3 years ago