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Post by afoundingfan on Jun 15, 2008 9:13:49 GMT -5
Thoughts on Becky Hammon playing for Russia in the Olympics?
I think it's odd (as M. Voepel of Sports Illustrated said, it's odd to see "free agency" in the Olympics) but I'm not going to judge her for it.
Teresa Edwards, BTW, was saying in the TV broadcast the other night that fans should bring American flags to the game on Wednesday. Agree or disagree? (I disagree).
AFF
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Post by lattafan on Jun 15, 2008 10:46:46 GMT -5
Disagree with bringing American flags. USA Basketball never gave Becky a good look. There are limited opportunities for women in pro basketball. I have no problem with her fulfilling her dream to play in the Olympics. You only have one life to live -- I say live it to the FULLEST! It's easy for T. Edwards to judge her and say "bring American flags" to the game; Teresa represented the US in the Olympics. I say walk a mile in her shoes and then judge her. There is way too much condemnation in this country - it's a shame... As someone who has seen Becky play in the Garden several times, I say: GO BECKY! May the best team win. If people don't stop harping on this, I'm going to start thinking that they are afraid to play against Hammon....maybe that's the REAL story here....
I love the US and I hope they win but as Erin Phillips has already said, no one is going to be the U.S.'s little X%#@* and just let them skate through to the Gold.
There are many flaws in decision making around USA Basketball and not ensuring that Becky was on the team months ago was just one of them. JMO
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Post by jaye on Jun 15, 2008 13:05:35 GMT -5
i remember years ago.... when i was a kid.... i saw oscar robertson play with cinn against seton hall at the old garden..... many ....many people thought it was a disgrace for oscar .... a black man ....to be on that team..... they came to the garden with little blackface dolls with ropes around their necks..... and threw them at oscar when he stepped on the court..... bringing flags to vilify hammon isn't quite as heinous..... but it's in the same vein......
this country has a long sad history of percecution..... i don't much care for hammon..... but that doesn't change facts..... that's who she wants to play for.... that's her choice..... those that don't like it..... don't support her.... but don't go out of your way to percecute her.... edwards is one of my fav female basketball players of all time..... but she should know better.... classless suggestion by teresa....
jmo....
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Post by afoundingfan on Jun 16, 2008 9:08:41 GMT -5
It would not surprise me if CNN walked over to the arena on Wednesday to get some film and some fan reaction. They have been playing a story on the situation.
I'd only boo Hammon if she did something unsportsmanlike, which is highly unlikely!
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Post by petrel on Jun 16, 2008 9:14:30 GMT -5
I'm sure CNN is praying that the fans boo. My understanding is that Teresa Edwards called for the fans to carry American flags to next game.
Geez. If the fans disapprove, then let them express their disapproval without media egging them on.
--Pet
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Post by jaye on Jun 16, 2008 9:42:20 GMT -5
i said some time ago that this thing was going to escalate as it got closer to the olympics and as the mainstream media picked it up.... and it hasn't gotten nearly as nasty as it's going to get.....
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Post by uptochallenge on Jun 16, 2008 19:12:15 GMT -5
i remember years ago.... when i was a kid.... i saw oscar robertson play with cinn against seton hall at the old garden..... many ....many people thought it was a disgrace for oscar .... a black man ....to be on that team..... they came to the garden with little blackface dolls with ropes around their necks..... and threw them at oscar when he stepped on the court..... bringing flags to vilify hammon isn't quite as heinous..... but it's in the same vein...... this country has a long sad history of percecution..... i don't much care for hammon..... but that doesn't change facts..... that's who she wants to play for.... that's her choice..... those that don't like it..... don't support her.... but don't go out of your way to percecute her.... edwards is one of my fav female basketball players of all time..... but she should know better.... classless suggestion by teresa.... jmo.... Very Well stated. Also liked Lattafan's comments. Some people don't seem to understand that the Cold War ended years ago when the USSR fell apart. The IOC makes the rules. In their eyes there is nothing wrong with this situation. Bottom line is BH was not invited to try for the U.S. team in a timely manner. She chose to play in Russia because they offered her a chance. The Olympics have become too political on the national and international levels. I started to loose interest when they allowed the pros to play. |
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Post by jimhalpert on Jun 17, 2008 13:01:33 GMT -5
I have no problems with Ms Hammon deciding to play on the Russia team. What she is doing is within the rules of the IOC.
However, having said that, this is a rule that the IOC needs to change yesterday. Having someone play for a country that they have no lineage to is ridiculous. As someone said earlier, there shouldn't be "free agents" in the Olympics.
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Post by SlimGoodie on Jun 17, 2008 16:10:22 GMT -5
I have don't have a problem because it is what it is. She is basically doing it for the money so that is all what the game has come to anyway. Just like the NBA, everything is all about the money. There is no more loyalty to a team, its about what team is going to pay the most. Sad but.....it is what it is.
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Post by jaye on Jun 17, 2008 17:28:12 GMT -5
again.... i'm about as far from a hammon fan as one can get.... but i remember when hakeem olajuwon became a naturalized citizen in order to play on the dream team for america..... none of the flag wavers had the slightest problem with it.... athletes from other countries have always played for countries other than their own.... even before the advent of pros into the olympics.... canada has had a host of them.... america has had it's share..... no one has ever had a problem with it....
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Post by shesaballerdotcom on Jun 17, 2008 21:59:46 GMT -5
again.... i'm about as far from a hammon fan as one can get.... but i remember when hakeem olajuwon became a naturalized citizen in order to play on the dream team for america..... none of the flag wavers had the slightest problem with it.... athletes from other countries have always played for countries other than their own.... even before the advent of pros into the olympics.... canada has had a host of them.... america has had it's share..... no one has ever had a problem with it.... This is what I have been saying all along.... with the exception of being a Hammon fan, cause Im a big Hammon fan. It just seems like Americans have the holier than thou thing going on and its ok for them to do to others, but dont want it done to them. As far as Hammon playing for Russia. Team USA could have nipped that a long time ago by having her play in a sanctioned event but never did. She went on tour with them in 2006 but they only played non sanctioned events. So it isnt like Hammon wasnt trying to pay her dues. |
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Post by afoundingfan on Jun 17, 2008 22:35:17 GMT -5
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Post by afoundingfan on Jun 17, 2008 22:40:22 GMT -5
I have a lot of problems with this AJC article. It gives no backstory into the situation and even says that Hammon has "no former ties" with Russia. It quotes Anne Donovan but not Hammon. It reads like Russia just called Becky up one day and said "wanna play for us instead?"
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Post by ladydawgs96 on Jun 18, 2008 9:57:04 GMT -5
As far as Hammon playing for Russia. Team USA could have nipped that a long time ago by having her play in a sanctioned event but never did. She went on tour with them in 2006 but they only played non sanctioned events. So it isnt like Hammon wasnt trying to pay her dues. I thought that she was invited to try-out, but refused to because she wouldn't be guaranteed a slot on the team. I have no problem with Becky playing for Russia, because it is well within the rules. I just think that we have a lot of bs going on here and the whole story really isn't out there and both parties are to blame. What I find funny is that both Tweety Nolan and Kelly Miller are also on the try-out roster, yet no one says anything about them. Why? Because they didn't try to pull this whole issue into the media and make a big deal about how AD is crushing Becky's childhood 'dream.' I think BH made a huge mistake in taking this feud public and she will not be America's sweetheart when she returns. I especially love how she just knows that she'll make the team above Tweety and Kelly per her quote in USA today, she has the spot wrapped up. I would love to see her get passed over. |
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Post by jaye on Jun 18, 2008 11:20:40 GMT -5
As far as Hammon playing for Russia. Team USA could have nipped that a long time ago by having her play in a sanctioned event but never did. She went on tour with them in 2006 but they only played non sanctioned events. So it isnt like Hammon wasnt trying to pay her dues. I thought that she was invited to try-out, but refused to because she wouldn't be guaranteed a slot on the team. I have no problem with Becky playing for Russia, because it is well within the rules. I just think that we have a lot of bs going on here and the whole story really isn't out there and both parties are to blame. What I find funny is that both Tweety Nolan and Kelly Miller are also on the try-out roster, yet no one says anything about them. Why? Because they didn't try to pull this whole issue into the media and make a big deal about how AD is crushing Becky's childhood 'dream.' I think BH made a huge mistake in taking this feud public and she will not be America's sweetheart when she returns. I especially love how she just knows that she'll make the team above Tweety and Kelly per her quote in USA today, she has the spot wrapped up. I would love to see her get passed over. she may not continue to be america's sweetheart..... but her fans are always going to make excuses for her.... i myself don't care who she plays for..... but there are double standards and hypocracy on both sides of this arguement..... |
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