Comments on: Chris Kaman: “I want to be German”

By: Thomas E. Turm

Thomas E. Turm — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:32:58 +0000

Kaman a german? I don’t like it if countries offer their passports to foreign people just because they can play a ball. Well Kaman has german roots but if someone likes to be a member of a nation I think it should be a matter of course, that he should speak german or tries to learn it. I wonder if the coach is coaching the german team in english just because one of the “big players” don’t understand a single german word? or will dirk nowitzki be his interpreter? this phenomenon is new to basketball but not new to ice-hockey. the german ice-hockey-team in the past and even these days is pepperd with foreigner names like McKay (ger-can), Martin Ančička (ger-chez), Tomáš Martinec (ger-chez), Jhon Tripp (ger-can).
I would prefer to have a national-team playing inferior, than mix it up with unreal germans. if it is just sports and has nothing to do with nations so why dont we play with teams like in the NHL but worldwide and call off these nation things, if anyone is “cheating” about the nationalities anyway. just my In my humble opinion btw I am german.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:53:48 +0000

This is just dumb.
It tarnishes the reputation of the Olympics and Germany for allowing this.
Kaman has really no ties to Germany. He had never even been to Germany before Dirk and company came calling.

He shows no patriotism to the U.S. and this just smells like a money grab to raise he worldwide visability and thus more sponsorship dollars.

Just dumb.

By: Karl

Karl — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:13:29 +0000

Ich denke es ist überhaupt keine schlechte idea für die national mannschaft Kaman zu nehmen aber benötige das Kaman muss alles verstehen, wenn gibts schneller reaktionen zum plays “in moment ins spiel”, und braucht keine übersetzen. Jedenfalls Kaman wird ein Grabenschrift ins die unsere Mannschaft.

By: jon

jon — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:28:56 +0000

-Pete
US grabbed Tim Duncan? What nationality do you think he was before playing for US? Tim Duncan was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands, a territory of the U.S. and has had U.S. citizenship since birth.

I have no problem with Kaman playing for Germany if he intends to immigrate to Germany permanently. Nor do I have problems with any one else immigrating from or to any country if they truly desire the change. However, becoming a citizen of another country for a reason such as playing in the olympics, only to break all ties with the new country (in this case Germany) outside of the olympics disrespects both Germany and the US, as well as the members of the olympic teams. Take for example pete’s additional reference to olajuwon. Hakeem lived in the us for 16 years prior to representing the United States National Team in the olympics. I don’t think anyone questioned his right to do so. Nor would we be discussing Kaman’s if he had resided in Germany for even a few years prior to this. Perhaps a better comparison would be the long distance runner that will be performing for the US this year. I forget his name, but he has only been in America for a few years. Still, I am not aware of any athletes that represented the US in an olympics less than 2 months after setting foot in America. Although it may have very well happened.

By: gustavo

gustavo — Sat, 10 May 2008 05:29:54 +0000

can someone tell me if this is a done deal and where can i get news from european basketball.
thanks

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:15:10 +0000

Great news for Germany.
I think Kaman is more German, than some 10-generations born US going Georgian, Macedonian.

By: todd

todd — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:22:07 +0000

The US is also a country of immigrants and, at least in the north east ,if you ask someone their nationality they say Italian, German, Irish etc. Most people identify themselves with the country of their grandparents and great grandparents even though they were born in the US. In fact, I’m not sure I know many people who have families that lived in the US before 1900.

By: pete

pete — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:10:29 +0000

Also, the US grabbed themselves Tim Duncan (and Hakeem Olajuwon once upon a time)…

By: pete

pete — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:08:47 +0000

Yeah, it’s kinda shady, but I’l take him. Other countries have profited from their immigration policy, like France for example, so one extra good dude for Germany is okay with me. I think there’s more reason behind it in this case than with J.R. Holden on the Russian team.

By: Limitless

Limitless — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 14:17:40 +0000

Well, the difference is that Okulaja and Greene were, even though not born here in Germany (Okulaja was born in Lagos, Nigeria, while Greene was born in Fort Hood, TX, USA) raised in Germany, Demirel was born and raised in Berlin, Stefano “Nino” Garris was born in Paderborn, Robert Maras was not born in Croatia but in Freiburg, and Robert Garrett was born and raised in a “city” that is as German as Wurst and discipline: Ochsenfurt. The difference is, that they all held German passports since god knows when – and they consider themselves Germans. To me, this is evidence that Germany is or at least used to be an immigration country. They are just as German as Sven Schultze, Steffen Hamann or Johannes Herber. So, the nationality of everyone on the team is German, with the only “mostly ungerman” player being Julian Sensley, who was born and raised in the US and who holds a German passport mainly because he’s a basketball player.