Play for Russia or sit on the couch?

WNBA star Becky Hammon, a former Colorado State player and Rapid City native, has an interesting choice to make this summer. Although she is an WNBA all-star, she was left off of the 29-player opening roster (12 make the squad) for the U.S. women's basketball team for the upcoming Olympics.

She can play in the Olympics, though, for Russia. She has opted to give that a shot.

I'm sure 20 years ago an American player wouldn't even consider the option, but times have changed. Russia isn't exactly viewed as the enemy these days -- at least like during the Cold War.

And it is hard to fathom somebody of Hammon's stature in U.S. women's basketball not at least making the original cut of 29.

I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision to make. It will be interesting to see how it turns out. Here's an AP link to the story:

http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/04/09/news/top/doc47fc577c2dc08661563940.txt

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