Is she a traitor?

No she isnt a traitor if she was born in russia then she should play for there team. NBA players do it all the time look at yao ming he never played for the american team he played for his own country. Thats what a lot of spots atheletes do So I dont think she is a traitor and her coach should apologise for calling her one.

She has a Russian passport. That's where you get a problem with dual citizenship, lol. Where is your heart? Which country will you represent in the Olympics? Most athletes use a dual citizen status as an opportunity to get there. If the Americans wouldn't have wanted her at all, there would have never been any bad blood and namecalling. Instead the Americans should kick themselves that they dragged their feet to name her to the team.

If one of my kids would ever be such a great athlete, they may face the same dilemma. Go for the US or for Germany. Bloodwise they are both. They know both languages. I'm sure since they grew up in the US they would probably prefer the American team, but if the chance to get on there is slim and Germany would offer a spot, no, I would not blame them to jump at the opportunity.

Many team sports have the same problem with players coming in from other countries for regular plays and then for worldcups and such normal teammates have to play against each other because they are representing other countries.

Ultimately, I have to say, no this girl is not a traitor. She is grabbing a for her probably once in a lifetime opportunity to participate in the Olympic games. It's sports, nothing else. The best athlete wins. This is not a war where the best country wins. Some people are really taking this too far.

One can only hope she'll enjoy being there and won't get more flack for her decision.

She wanted to play in the Olympics and Russia gave her a spot. She is good plus they get to stick it to the US team and their fans. To play for them she had to be given citizenship, and who knows what else. If you really want to play and they are the only game in town, then I guess you play.

You know, calling someone traitor and names, really shows that the other person is out of his minds. This explains that the coach is too worried about his pride or so

Quote from the Article.

""I don't expect everybody to understand, or jump on my bandwagon," Hammon said. "I know how I feel about my country. I'm very proud of what America represents to the world. But this is a basketball game. This is not life or death. The real heroes are over in Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm playing a game.

"I think the Olympics are about unity. Bringing all the countries together. It's not about going out there and beating everybody up. It's supposed to encompass the spirit of sportsmanship. I kind of let everybody just say what they want to say, and I'm comfortable knowing what I know in my heart.""

If all sportsmen looked at Olympics that way, then we wouldn't have to worry about doping and all those nasty things that go around.

May the best Athlete win.

bourne