Becky Harmon (U.S born and raised) to play for Russian National Women's B-Ball team

tzjung · 06-05-2008, 04:07 PM

Here's a messed up article from ESPN.com about how Becky Harmon, who's from Rapid City SD and plays for the San Antonio in the WNBA, has signed a 4 year $2 million contract to play for the Russian National team and the Beijing Olympics this summer.

ESPN - Olympics opportunity too much for Hammon to pass up - Olympics

Is this just me, or would this qualify as selling out your country?

ffelknirznarf · 06-05-2008, 04:16 PM

I would play for the Russians for that type of money. Espically when it sounds like she had little chance of making the US team.

The US occassionaly as people from other countries on their olympic teams as well.

tamjam · 06-05-2008, 04:17 PM

The US government should revoke her citizenship ASAP.

acs4isu · 06-05-2008, 04:21 PM

Sounds like she wasn't getting a sniff from Team USA despite having the credentials. I hate the fact that Olympic athletes get paid out in the open now, but turning down a fat check like that would be hard to do. It sounded like no one really said anything until she got snapped up by Russia, and then it was all "How could this happen???" More power to her I say.

acs4isu · 06-05-2008, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by tamjam

The US government should revoke her citizenship ASAP.

Why? Its not like she's selling nuclear secrets. She's playing basketball for cryin' out loud.

brianhos · 06-05-2008, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by tamjam

The US government should revoke her citizenship ASAP.

what could be more american than selling your services to the highest bidder?

isuarch80 · 06-05-2008, 04:26 PM

I read the whole thing - I'm okay with it. And why does it take her leaving for people to start making phone calls. They were fine with her sitting at home and not helping the US team, but a talent like that goes elsewhere, and now they have to do something. And if the WNBA is the epitome for players, and she's considered possibly the 2nd best and one of the top over her career, how does she not got the initial invite?
Good for her - she's being smart for the rest of her career now and she's going to play in a situation she dreamed of being in, just not the way she envisioned it.

isuarch80 · 06-05-2008, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by tamjam

The US government should revoke her citizenship ASAP.

I hope this is sarcasm in response to some of the comments in the article...

clones_jer · 06-05-2008, 04:30 PM

Don't we have a foreign soccer coach for the national team?

There have been multiple America baseball and basketball coaches to coach other countries national teams even during the olympics.

I don't think its a big deal, the US "buys" players all the time anyway through facilites and sponsorship.

EggMcClone · 06-05-2008, 04:42 PM

The men's national soccer coach is American but I don't know who coaches the women.

In soccer this type of thing is pretty common. There's a lot of Brazilians that get nationalized in other countries because they can't play on their own national team and Giuseppe Rossi was born and raised in New Jersey with Italian parents and chose to play for Italy.

Also, I should say that I'm not a big fan of this mercenary type of activity where she has no knowledge of the language or heritage or anything.

cloneu · 06-05-2008, 04:44 PM

I would only have a problem with it if the US team wanted her on it but she went to the Russian team because they would give her more money. Getting a good chunk of change and playing for the Russian team would be better then watching the Olympics from her couch.

LindenCy · 06-05-2008, 04:48 PM

Here's a question: is the money a lot better overseas for women BBall players?

isuarch80 · 06-05-2008, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by LindenCy

Here's a question: is the money a lot better overseas for women BBall players?

Tons better! I think SI or ESPN the Mag did a huge story on this, as was explained in this article, about how the best WNBA players are playing overseas in Europe because the money is double, triple what they're making. It's also why the best of the best are getting duel citizenships because of the 2 american rule.
Paul Shirley had to deal with finding teams in regard to a similar rule on the men's side as well.
These girls are getting multi million dollar contracts to play full seasons over there, then they come and play their WNBA season and get paid their $95k for the season, and then go back and start the new season in Europe. So it's year round.

pulse · 06-05-2008, 05:19 PM

If she can make $500,000 year in Russia, or $95,000/year here its a no brainer. Maybe the USA National Team didn't want her because she batted from the other side of the plate.

cybsball20 · 06-05-2008, 05:21 PM

If another country offered me $5 to play baseball on their national team in the Olympics or WBC I would do it in a heartbeat!