Where's the Backlash?

I've waited on posting my thoughts on the topic, only because I was certain that after the Becky Hammon "controversy" that came about with her joining the Russian National team, people would soon turn their patriotic wrath against Chris Kaman.

It never happened.

So in case you weren't aware, the Grand Rapids, Michigan-native has been lighting up the courts for the German team alongside actual German Dirk Nowitzki.


So why were we so adamant in chastising Hammon?

Was it because she did it for the money?

What's more American than capitalism? At least Becky lives more than half the year in Russia.

Kaman, whose great-grandparents were German, became a German just this month and to my knowledge really has no other ties to the country.

Yet, we hear not a peep of criticism. No OTL specials. No coaches criticizing his Americanism.

I personally don't fault either athlete for their choice to play ball elsewhere. But I do fault critics for having a double standard.

Comrade Becky

I caught the end of OTL's piece on Becky Hammon's decision to play for Russia following her snub by the US Women's Olympic Basketball Team.

I was ready to blast her. But before I did, I wisely decided I should probably get the whole story. Truth be told, I don't blame her decision. In fact, it seems she got a pretty raw deal.

From Coloradoan.com, "Hammon would play for U.S., if she could":

First of all, this was not Hammon's idea. Like most young basketball players, Hammon grew up very much wanting to play for Team USA. After the 2007 WNBA season, it looked like that would be a pretty sure thing. That season, Hammon averaged 18.8 points per game and led the WNBA in assists with five per game. She was named first-team all-WNBA. She finished second in MVP voting after leading San Antonio to its first playoff appearance in five years.

After being named to the 2007 West all-star squad, Hammon became only the second player in WNBA history to earn a starting spot on both the East and West teams during her career.

Yet, as the aticle points out, "In the (blind) eyes of USA Basketball, Hammon was not one of the 23 best American female basketball players out there."

"I'm the ultimate, ultimate patriot," [USA Coach Anne] Donovan told the media. "For me, it's about this country."

Apparently Donovan and other Team USA officials, the ones that caused this controversy with their hideous decision in the first place, expected the WNBA's best point guard to spend the Olympic break parked on her couch in San Antonio waving her miniature American flag, chanting "USA, USA!"

Someone needs to point out to Donovan and the rest of the group that loyalty is a two-way street.

Click the link above to rad the full article, and see the full OTL piece below.