Cold War...Cold Shoulder

By: Karen Devereaux

Becky Hammon will be playing basketball in the Olympic Games.  She, currently, is a star for the WNBA's San Antonio Silver Stars.  It is every athlete's dream, when growing up and possessing amateur athlete minds, to compete in the Olympics.  Hammon can already envision having to take that last second shot to win the gold...taking it away from the Americans.  You see, Becky Hammon, born and bread all-American girl, will be playing for the Russian team. 

Twenty to Thirty years ago, it may have been more bothersome, as the boycotts were taking place back and forth in Moscow and Los Angeles and we were right in the midst of the "Cold War".  Should it bother us now?  Hammon does not expect people to agree or understand her decision.  In fairness to her, she was slighted by the American team as it was suggested that she would not make it, even after having been runner-up for the MVP award in the WNBA a year ago. 

She says it's not life or death...basketball does not define her patriotism...it's basketball, not war...all good points.  So why will we still find ourselves cheering against Hammon and the Russians, even more than other opponents?  If Hammon played for another team, would it even be a patriotic issue?  The answer probably falls within the same thought process where we flinch when we hear how many Americans were killed in a plane crash, as opposed to other nation's, as if they were more human or closer to us.  Even in death, people care what team you played for. 

At the end of the day, or event, when the Americans are standing atop the Gold Medal stand and the National Anthem is played, the basketball part will have ended.  Hammon will assume her natural allegiance and the pain she will feel will show just how much basketball has defined her patriotism. 

In sports, just like life, you have every imaginable human emotion.  In sports, just like life...who we cheer for...who we cheer against...who we play for...it really does define us.

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