Solomon: WNBA star joins Russian Olympians COMMENTARY

Hammon caught in middle trying to fulfill Olympic dream

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Some actions are almost unforgivable. Turning on one's country is among those.

That is why to some, Becky Hammon might always be thought of as a Benedict (or perhaps Bernadette) Arnold.

The San Antonio Silver Stars guard, who scored 20 points in a 75-72 loss to the Comets on Tuesday, will play basketball for Russia at the Olympics this summer.

She is not Russian. She wasn't born there. She didn't grow up there. She doesn't have relatives from there.

Hammon is an all-American girl. (Literally, she was one at Colorado State in 1999.) She grew up in South Dakota, which she describes as "a red state, where it's God, family, country."

God and family might continue to hold her loyalty, but her newest passport is from Russia. And when she takes to the court in Beijing, "RUSSIA" will be printed across her jersey, not USA.

Traitor? Uh, we're talking basketball here, not war.

"This is not life or death," Hammon said. "My patriotism isn't defined by basketball. My patriotism isn't defined in 94 feet of hardwood.

San Antonio Silver Stars guard Becky Hammon is caught in the middle of trying to fulfill Olympic dream and playing in the WNBA. San Antonio Silver Stars guard Becky Hammon is caught in the middle of trying to fulfill Olympic dream and playing in the WNBA. Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Solomon: WNBA star joins Russian Olympians 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

"I don't expect everybody to agree with my decision or understand my decision. But I know where my courage and patriotism lie. So I'm comfortable with it. I'd still do anything for my country."

Snubbed by USA Basketball

This all-American girl grew up in schools where prayer was part of the morning routine, where students recited the Pledge of Allegiance daily at the raising of the flag.

"That's the kind of girl I am," Hammon said.

Will that be enough to stave off criticism when she actually starts rebounding for Russia?

Traitor?

Webster's defines a traitor as one who betrays one's country. Hammon, 31, did not do that. USA Basketball turned its back on her.

Hammon, who has long dreamed of playing in the Olympics, said she never has been given serious consideration for a spot on the U.S. national team. The WNBA MVP runner-up a year ago was left off USA Basketball's list of players from which the 2008 Olympic team would be chosen.

She later was invited to try out but said indications from USA Basketball were that she would not make the team. The organization named nine players to the team last week, including the Comets' Tina Thompson, and named 20 players who remain in contention for three final slots. Hammon isn't one of them.

"I didn't say no to USA Basketball," Hammon said. "The option for me to play for USA Basketball really wasn't an option.

"It was: 'You can go take part in the Olympics or stay at home.' "

Russia's rules different

Under league rules in Russia, where Hammon signed to play for a team in Moscow last year, a player who has not played for another country in a FIBA-sanctioned event is allowed to become a naturalized citizen. Once a person is a citizen, the Olympic team is an option.

It is not unusual for American citizens to be on foreign Olympic teams. Typically, though, the loophole for participation is some familial tie.

"People want to make this too dramatic, because we're treading on new territory and new ground," Hammon said.

It could be quite dramatic if Hammon and the Russian team were to face Team USA, the defending Olympic champion, in Beijing.

Russia women's basketball is not some start-up. Russia won the bronze medal at the 2004 Games and currently is ranked No. 3 in the world. Not all of her Russian teammates were happy about her inclusion, but Hammon said after meeting them, she has been accepted.

The teams are in different groups in Beijing, so they could not meet until the quarterfinal round, possibly putting Hammon in the difficult position of trying to lead the Russians to victory over the Red, White and Blue in an elimination game or, worse, in a medal round.

"I'm not going there expecting to beat the U.S. team," she said. "There is no way any team should beat the U.S. team. They have the best players in the world."

If it comes down to a game-winning shot, however, Ham-

mon said she would shoot it like she always does: to make it.

"I would never cheat the game," she said. "I would never cheat myself and dishonor myself, the game, my country or another country. I'm a basketball player, so I'll play to win."

Thankful for opportunity

When she gets to the medal stand, as is expected, and The Star-Spangled Banner is playing, as is expected, Hammon will be emotional.

"When I'm standing on a podium, I'll be crying, but it'll be crying for much, much different reasoning than other athletes have cried," she said. "I'll just be thankful for the opportunity."

What a country.

jerome.solomon@chron.com