Since this is the first blog, I thought I’d take a little time to introduce myself. I’m SayT, short for SayTownSpurs. Just an FYI, Say Town is a really crappy nickname for San Antonio and I chose this screen name a while back on the ESPN Message Boards and I have no idea why. I have never referred to my city as Say Town before. So when I moved over to Silver Stars Nation, I decided to shorten the screen name to SayT, which is what most people called me anyway. So as you can tell, I’m from San Antonio. And I love the Spurs and Silver Stars. I do NOT like any team from Phoenix, and never will.

I would also like to note that I am very opinionated. But, I’m not one of those people who feels that their opinion is THE opinion. So feel free to disagree with me. And feel free to send me an email if you have anything you’d like to say: SayT@silverstarsnation.com

So the point of this blog was really a little introduction about who I am. But I do want to touch a bit on some basketball. Recently, Becky Hammon accepted an invitation to play for the Russian National Team. In no way, as far as we know, is Becky Russian. So naturally, this caused a bit of controversy. Or a lot of controversy. I have read, on numerous message boards, several insults aimed towards Becky and her decision. She has been called “Benedict Hammon”, a traitor, un-American, unpatriotic, a terrorist, and a few other names that I cannot repeat. And you know what, fine. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, I think these people are sad. They have nothing better to do then think of “clever” ways to insult a basketball player. Some people have said that they’re “done with her” and others have said they’ll boo her every timeshe touches the ball. And I want to know why people are this pissed. Is it because she’s simply playing for another country? Or is it because they’re scared because Becky’s presence makes Russia THAT much harder to beat? If it’s the latter, then go be pissed at the Team USA selection committee for their choice in players. Yes, Becky was invited to training camp, but she was invited two days before the camp and after she had signed a contract to play for Russia’s CSKA Moscow club. So what was she supposed to do? Break her commitment to CSKA when she knew damn well that she didn’t have a shot at making Team USA? No, she honored her commitment which was the right thing to do. And it doesn’t stop there.

Not long before Becky announced her decision to play for Russia, Team USA put out a list of 29 players who they were looking at for a shot to make the team. Becky and her agent made several calls to USA Basketball to see if she was among those 29 players. They never returned the phone calls. They didn’t even have the courtesy to do that. And this is why Team USA has left such a bad taste in my mouth. It’s all about politics, not even about putting the best players together. Sue Bird is the team’s starting point guard, even though she had a poor 2007 season. Why, then, is she on the team? Well, the coach of Team USA happens to be Anne Donovan, Bird’s former Seattle Storm coach. Kara Lawson was a surprise to be added to the team. Well, her former college coach, the legendary Pat Summitt, is on the selection committee. And another surprise addition, Loree Moore was added as a backup to Bird. Not only did Moore also play for Summitt at Tennessee, but she plays for the New York Liberty. Why is this important? Well, the President and General Manager of the Liberty is Carol Blazejowski who is also on the selection committee. Not only that, but Blazejowski is also the person responsible for trading Becky to the Silver Stars. Hmm…coincidence? I think not. And to add insult to injury, Sylvia Fowels, Laura Harper, Crystal Langhorne, Courtney Paris, and Candice Wiggins are all currently on the Good Luck Beijing Tour roster. And none of them has any experience playing professional basketball. And Paris is still in college! So, again, is it a coincidence that all these players are on the roster, but last year’s runner up MVP isn’t? Team USA wanted nothing to do with Becky Hammon, so she has moved on and is living out her Olympic dream in a different way. And people can be pissed if they’d like, but they can’t say that Becky is a traitor. And I’d like to say that I support Becky in her decision and wish her the best of luck in Beijing!