Mars,

That is one of the most ignorant comments I've seen in a long time.

First of all, Hansen isn't going to be on the Beijing Olympic roster. They can only have one naturalized citizen and that is their point guard. Hansen is being groomed for the 2012 Olympics possibly.

Second, Hansen becoming a Russian citizen allows him to further establish his charity which helps orphans. Being a citizen will help him to facilitate adoptions of Russian orphans into American families according to what he said on the radio yesterday.

Third, It's not like he spurned the U.S. team to join Russia's.

Mars wrote:

BYUROCKS wrote:

holy crap let them play you guys are wayyyyy to stuck up

If that were true I would tell you that you spell like crap. Besides, my opinion is the only one worth listening to, as I'm always right. And Hansen is now as Un-American as Fidel Castro.


Honestly though, nobody else thinks that competing against your country is just one step away from what Benedict Arnold pulled back in the Revolutionary War?

I hate to say it, but no. I was born in 1969, I grew up through the cold war, so it does somewhat surprise me that I'm not bothered by an American aspiring to play on the Russian team. If I were to quote an articulate public speaker it would be:

During this fight, I've seen a lot of changing, in the way you feel about me, and in the way I feel about you. In here, there were two guys killing each other, but I guess that's better than twenty million. I guess what I'm trying to say, is that if I can change, and you can change, everybody can change!

dYrtbYkerYder wrote:

That is one of the most ignorant comments I've seen in a long time.

Nice to know that you think that thinking that backstabbing your country is bad is ignorant. Duly noted, you red Commie bastard.

Mars wrote:

dYrtbYkerYder wrote:

That is one of the most ignorant comments I've seen in a long time.

Nice to know that you think that thinking that backstabbing your country is bad is ignorant. Duly noted, you red Commie bastard. :dry:

I don't sense any "changing"...Beware! Rocky is watching you!

Mars wrote:

BYUROCKS wrote:

holy crap let them play you guys are wayyyyy to stuck up

If that were true I would tell you that you spell like crap. Besides, my opinion is the only one worth listening to, as I'm always right. And Hansen is now as Un-American as Fidel Castro.


Honestly though, nobody else thinks that competing against your country is just one step away from what Benedict Arnold pulled back in the Revolutionary War?

Its freaking BASKETBALL!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry if I don't see it as being on par with someone selling military secrets to the enemy, or pushing the world to the brink of nuclear war. Akeem Olaujuwon played for us in 1996. Tim Duncan in 2000. Others have as well.

One interesting note is that Hansen is actually quoted as saying the US team didn't even express an interest in him playing.

If you had the opportunity to play in the Olympics, wouldn't you take it?

Given the current state of America popularity, I'd say We need more Americans spreading the kind of goodwill abroad that Travis is doing in a very public way.