OT: Kaman will play for Germany in Olympics- What?

[Danny Darko]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/olympics/2008/07/03/bc.oly.bko.kaman.germany.ap/index.html

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) -- Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman has received German citizenship and will team up with Dirk Nowitzki for Germany at an Olympic qualifying tournament later this month.

Kaman, whose great-grandparents were German, averaged 15.7 points and 12.7 rebounds last season with the Clippers.

Ok Great Grandparents are german? Oh brother. They made him a citizen so they'd have a 7ft Center to pair with Dirk. That does not sound like the spirit of the olympics to me when an american red neck is magically granted citizenship to be a ringer for a country he likely can't speak the language of. WTF? Lame.

[hermes]

he must really want to play in the olympics, or germany really wants him

and did he even know his great-grandparents, i mean i have ancestors from europe too, but i'm not getting citizenship over there

[amb1ent]

Ok Great Grandparents are german? Oh brother. They made him a citizen so they'd have a 7ft Center to pair with Dirk. That does not sound like the spirit of the olympics to me when an american red neck is magically granted citizenship to be a ringer for a country he likely can't speak the language of. WTF? Lame.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jus_sanguinis

Happens more often you think, LA Times ran an article about several local athletes competing for Mexico since they wouldn't make the cut for Team USA.

[Sedale Threatt]

Even if it does give you a shot at the Olympics, I fail to grasp the allure of playing for a country you have no significant ties with. How much can it mean? If you're second-generation, like many of the Mexican-Americans mentioned in the aforementioned Times article, then I suppose I can understand. But in Kaman's case, or that of Becky Hammon suiting up for Russia, what's the point? You're putting on a jersey and representing a country which means virtually nothing to you. And isn't that the antithesis of the Olympic experience?

[Danny Darko]

Nice.. in that case I'll be competing for ireland in the beer-put and Sweden in the Bikini Team wrestling

[LLcoleJ]

Even if it does give you a shot at the Olympics, I fail to grasp the allure of playing for a country you have no significant ties with. How much can it mean? If you're second-generation, like many of the Mexican-Americans mentioned in the aforementioned Times article, then I suppose I can understand. But in Kaman's case, or that of Becky Hammon suiting up for Russia, what's the point? You're putting on a jersey and representing a country which means virtually nothing to you. And isn't that the antithesis of the Olympic experience?

I agree with everything. However, I think with the Becky situation.. it also tied to some financial aspects in the 7 figures. Something she wont get playing in the WNBA.

Kaman has plenty of money -- so yeah, I dont see the draw.

[amb1ent]

Even if it does give you a shot at the Olympics, I fail to grasp the allure of playing for a country you have no significant ties with. How much can it mean? If you're second-generation, like many of the Mexican-Americans mentioned in the aforementioned Times article, then I suppose I can understand. But in Kaman's case, or that of Becky Hammon suiting up for Russia, what's the point? You're putting on a jersey and representing a country which means virtually nothing to you. And isn't that the antithesis of the Olympic experience?

You could argue that for the athletes themselves, the Olympic experience itself transcends any ties to nationalism. Kaman never would've made the cut, so to me at least it's a nonissue.

Now, if it was Kobe cutting loose to play for Italy or something, I can see why people would be pissed.

[LLcoleJ]

Nice.. in that case I'll be competing for ireland in the beer-put and Sweden in the Bikini Team wrestling

lol - I am both Irish and Sweedish too.. where do we sign up?

[Squirrel Boy]

Wow...Pathetic...

[Danny Darko]

Nice.. in that case I'll be competing for ireland in the beer-put and Sweden in the Bikini Team wrestling

lol - I am both Irish and Sweedish too.. where do we sign up?

All you need is a youtube clip where you say something like, "tuhttle" or "numa numa" then you would need to show skill at projectile vomiting and putting women in the figure four leg lock or ultimate gorilla press.

[Luxury]

Nice.. in that case I'll be competing for ireland in the beer-put and Sweden in the Bikini Team wrestling

Sweden has some really hot women

[milesfides]

Yo, I posted about this already in the Lakers Clippers thread...where's the love?

But seriously, I can't think of any excuse for Kaman's actions. The reality is that nearly all Americans came from somewhere else. That's the whole point of the U.S. of A. Everybody came from somewhere else, but we draw strength from diversity, and despite our differences, we're United. We make the rest of the world look petty with their ethnic homogeneity. The USA has every single race and ethnicity representing the country. That's what makes us awesome.

For example, Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936 Nazi Germany. That's crazy for two reasons: one, non-whites didn't have equal rights in the U.S., but Owens still repped the red, white, and blue. Think about that - your country doesn't do you right, but you still rep it because you believe in it. Two, Owens owned Hitler's idea of nationalistic racial superiority.

Kaman's decision to represent Germany because he has German ancestry is fine. But he should have to relinquish his US citizenship.

It's a disgrace, and it fundamentally opposes what America stands for.

[hermes]

Yo, I posted about this already in the Lakers Clippers thread...where's the love?

its for the Swedish girls

[SashAlex]

J.R. Holden has russian ctizenship ! Plus Trajan Langdon is thinking to receive russian citizenship too !
Both play for CSKA Moscow.

Don't forget who sank Spain in the european finals in september last year !

[Clip34life]

Kaman shoots bow and arrows, plays elaborate games of a labor tag, and owns a shipping business in an economy where oil prices are through the roof...and THIS is what makes you question him?

[NOODLESTYLE]

Team USA didn't want him, and he gets a chance to play for the Olympics. Joakim Noah is already going to play for France. Who might be the next one, Joe Alexander? who knows but if Chris Kaman has All-star numbers and the German team happens to beat Team USA because Kaman somehow dominates the bigs, what a awkward moment that would be.

[snaquille oatmeal]

Even if it does give you a shot at the Olympics, I fail to grasp the allure of playing for a country you have no significant ties with. How much can it mean? If you're second-generation, like many of the Mexican-Americans mentioned in the aforementioned Times article, then I suppose I can understand. But in Kaman's case, or that of Becky Hammon suiting up for Russia, what's the point? You're putting on a jersey and representing a country which means virtually nothing to you. And isn't that the antithesis of the Olympic experience?

I agree with everything. However, I think with the Becky situation.. it also tied to some financial aspects in the 7 figures. Something she wont get playing in the WNBA.

Kaman has plenty of money -- so yeah, I dont see the draw.

Phil I am confused, are you saying that it is ok to sellout your patriotic allegiance as long as it is for 7 figures?

[LLcoleJ]

Even if it does give you a shot at the Olympics, I fail to grasp the allure of playing for a country you have no significant ties with. How much can it mean? If you're second-generation, like many of the Mexican-Americans mentioned in the aforementioned Times article, then I suppose I can understand. But in Kaman's case, or that of Becky Hammon suiting up for Russia, what's the point? You're putting on a jersey and representing a country which means virtually nothing to you. And isn't that the antithesis of the Olympic experience?

I agree with everything. However, I think with the Becky situation.. it also tied to some financial aspects in the 7 figures. Something she wont get playing in the WNBA.

Kaman has plenty of money -- so yeah, I dont see the draw.

Phil I am confused, are you saying that it is ok to sellout your patriotic allegiance as long as it is for 7 figures?

" sellout your patriotic allegiance" is not the term I would use. If the USA wanted them and they said , no I am going to play for Russia then I can see your point. In Beckys case-- and allstar in the WNBA who lives in the offseason in Russia earning a living and was offered 6 times more money then she can make.. then yeah, I would play a basketball game on pluto if someone would pay me 7 figures. Its just a basketball game.

[snaquille oatmeal]

Phil, yeah, but we are talking about the Olympics, a forum where you go to represent your country. if it was any other forum other than the Olympics or the soccer world cup I can understand, but when the point of the games is to represent your country then you are selling-out your patriotic allegiance.

it is more clear cut with Kaman, but with Becky i'll admit that is more complicated , however, she has stated that the only reason for her dual citizenship is to ease her travels when her Russian team plays road games and that her own personal allegiance is to the US. she basically sold it out for money. I doubt that her dream was always to win a gold medal for the Russians.

Joe Louis, Cassius Clay, and Pat Tillman are atheletes that sacrificed their prime and money for what they beleived and deserve all the respect for it, but I always have looked down upon atheletes that put self interest above their beleives and principals.

[LLcoleJ]

Phil, yeah, but we are talking about the Olympics, a forum where you go to represent your country. if it was any other forum other than the Olympics or the soccer world cup I can understand, but when the point of the games is to represent your country then you are selling-out your patriotic allegiance.

I actually stated that I agreed with Sedalle and that is seems kind of pointless to play for Germany in Kaman's case and in Beckys situation there was a lot of money invloved. She is also employed in Russia. So, I can understand where she is coming from in that regard. But as far as me? If someone paid me a couple million dollars to go play a game a I love.. I probably wouldnt hesistate. And I am very patriotic and capitalizm is the american way.

it is more clear cut with Kaman, but with Becky i'll admit that is more complicated , however, she has stated that the only reason for her dual citizenship is to ease her travels when her Russian team plays road games and that her own personal allegiance is to the US. she basically sold it out for money. I doubt that her dream was always to win a gold medal for the Russians.

Yes, this is the point I was making. She did it for the money. I never once assumed she did it for the love of Russia. She saw and opportunity and she grabbed it. This is AFTER she knew she wouldnt be on the USA team.

Joe Louis, Cassius Clay, and Pat Tillman are atheletes that sacrificed their prime and money for what they beleived and deserve all the respect for it, but I always have looked down upon atheletes that put self interest above their beleives and principals.

Pat Tillman and I went to the same highschool. He was a great american. I have some issues with how he and guys like Joe Louis were treated in return after their sacrafices.. but I wont take this conversation there.

I scratch my head as to why Kaman would do it. As I agreed as much with Sedale. I saw an actually incentive as to why Becky would and I really dont blame her. It is just a game and to be able to set up their family is pretty important to alot of people. I can see both sides though.

I am sure Becky would have played on the USA team had they given her a chance.