Maybe you’ve heard about Becky Hammon, the 31-year-old WNBA star who will play for the Russian basketball team in the Beijing Olympics. Flag-waving bloggers and conservative radio hosts (including one tool who was sitting in for Schnitt in Tampa recently) have derided her as a traitor, even suggested that joining the Russian team was an act of treason.

What a basket of bullshit.

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Hammon was keenly interested in being a member of the U.S. Olympic team, but did not make the list of 23 invitees (hoops teams usually carry 12 players). She even had her agent sniff around and got no word about interest from U.S.A. Basketball. (She was ultimately invited to try out in a larger pool of players.)

Eight months out of the year, Hammon plays for a Russian pro team. Her willingness to join the Russian national team helped her procure, according to ESPN, one of the most lucrative contracts in women’s basketball: a four-year deal worth $2-million, six times what she makes with the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars. If she leads the Russians to gold, she stands to make a quarter-million dollar bonus.

The country has fast-tracked Hammon for citizenship (even though she has no ancestral ties to Russia). That passport opens further income opportunities for the fresh-faced blonde from South Dakota.

I find it disingenuous, even disgusting, that button-pushing pundits would bury Becky Hammon in the name of patriotism. The Cold War is 20 years gone, for starters. Russia may not be an ideal society, or even an ally, but they’re no longer a mortal enemy.

Further, Hammon’s was largely a business decision — she has said as much — so it seems odd that conservative commentators would demonize her for maximizing her earning potential. These are the same folks who would fall over backwards defending free and open trade.

But I guess flag-waving makes better commentary than exploring the intricacies of global economics.

Becky Hammon wants to ball at the Olympics. And she wants to get paid.

Hey, I’m pulling for the American women hoopsters to win the gold — with one exception: If Becky Hammon has a shot at the buzzer to win it for Russia, I hope it goes in.

Guess I’m a traitor.

had her agent sniff around and got no word about interest from U.S.A. Basketball.

Meanwhile, she signed with a Russian pro team (for considerably more than she makes with the WNBA’s San Antonio Silver Stars). And then the Russian Olympic team welcomed Hammon, a point guard, with open arms. The country even fast-tracked her for citizenship (she has no ancestral ties to Russia). That citizenship opens myriad income opportunities for the fresh-faced blonde from South Dakota.

I find it disingenuous, even disgusting, that button-pushing pundits would bury Becky Hammon in the name of patriotism. The Cold War is 20 years gone, for starters. Russia may not be an ideal society, or even an ally, but they’re no longer a mortal enemy. Further, Hammon’s was largely a business decision — she has said as much — so it seems odd that conservative commentators would demonize her for maximizing her earning potential. These are the same folks who would fall over backwards defending free and open trade.

But I guess flag-waving makes better commentary than exploring the intricacies of global economics.

Becky Hammon wants to ball at the Olympics. And she wants to get paid.

Hey, I’m pulling for the American women hoopsters to win the gold — with one exception: If Becky Hammon has a shot at the buzzer to win it for Russia, I hope it goes in.

Guess I’m a traitor.