USA – Donovan backs off criticism of 'Russian’ Hammon

NEW YORK (Olympics) – United States women’s basketball boss Anne Donovan recently questioned the patriotism of Becky Hammon following the American guard’s decision to “put on a Russian uniform” and try out for the old enemy’s Olympic squad.

Now the USA coach has moved to take the sting out of her comments with the Beijing Games just several weeks away.

In an interview with ESPN, Donovan said of South Dakota native and WNBA star Hammon: “If you play in this country, live in this country and you grow up in the heartland and you put on a Russian uniform, you are not a patriotic person in my mind."

Hammon qualified for citizenship in Russia because she spent this season with CSKA Moscow earning, it is understood, far more money than she does in the WNBA.

Donovan was this week quoted in USA Today and said she “never intended to criticize Becky”.

"It's a great business opportunity for her," Donovan said.

"This generation is different, their history is different.”

Donovan was on three USA Olympic teams – one of them in 1980 when the United States boycotted the Moscow Games.

"For me, with the 1980 boycott and then the Soviet boycott of the 1984 Games, it would be unfathomable to consider wearing a Russian jersey,” Donovan said.

“But I've been reminded that generations have changed and they aren't as tied to history as I am.

"If I had it to do over again, I'd make it clear that I was talking about myself and not about Becky. She is a great kid and has done great things for women's basketball."

What is often lost in the Hammon controversy is why Russia need an American in their team, anyway.

The Russians are one of the best teams in international basketball and even defeated the United States in the semi-finals of the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Brazil.

Last year, they won the EuroBasket Women – the toughest of all the regional championships.

China coach Tom Maher, who coached Australia and New Zealand, is one who questioned the Russians’ logic.

He watched them win the European title last year in Chieti, and while coaching China at the 2008 Beijing Basketball Test Event in April, he said to FIBA.com: "It's ridiculous how many good players the Russians have got, and they're talking about selecting maybe an American transferee?"

"I think the Russian point guard (Oxana Rakhmatulina) is great, but they seem to have a problem with her. She can play for me."

Hammon is an excellent shooter, though, particularly from long range.

"Maybe that might make them stronger," Maher admitted.

Hammon, meanwhile, has insisted she just wants to play at the Olympics.

She was not in the preliminary squad announced by USA Basketball a year ago but was later invited to try out for the team.

Hammon does have to make the team, however.

Russia have also named two others who compete in Russia’s Superleague – Spartak Moscow Region’s Kelly Miller and UMMC Ekaterinburg’s Deanna Nolan – in their preliminary squad.

FIBA