As Veruca Salt Puts It.. "I Want It Now!!!"...

Some here in South Dakota, especially in Western South Dakota, are somewhat proud of the people who get out of the area to make something of themselves in the national spotlight of sorts. To name a couple, Adam Vinatieri plays in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts, Eric Piatkowski plays in the NBA for the Phoenix Suns, Mark Ellis plays in MLB for the Oakland Athletics. But the pro athlete from Western South Dakota making a giant stink is Becky Hammon of the WNBA San Antonio Silver Stars.

Hammon has agreed to play for the Russian National Olympic Womens Basketball Team. After learning that she wasn't part of the American Olympic Roster, she decided that defecting to the Russian Team was the best option for her to play. She wanted to fulfill a personal dream of playing in the Olympics.

Many close to Hammon around Rapid City have decided to support her decision but a lot of people are fuming mad. I, for one have my pro's and con's about it... Okay, mostly con's.

The consensus with the supporters are: "She's local so support her..." My answer to that is she is an American. Heritage should have nothing to do with the Olympics. She lives and plays here. Hammon has made her decision to play a personal quest and has nothing to do with supporting her country of origin. Selfishness. I think ego has a major part in her decision and that is all.

On the flip side of the coin... I think being an American and representing it's way of life & culture of freedom to pursue her happiness we should keep our proverbial traps shut and let her do as she pleases no matter how Un-American "we" think it might be. In some sense, you have to admire her for a ballsy move and the potential backlash from locals when she returns... if she returns.

I'm not sure how people from all over the country, especially here in South Dakota, will receive Hammon upon her return from Beijing. It will be interesting if the Russians beat the American's out for gold on a game winning clutch shot from Hammon at the buzzer.