Russia's little hero: Ex-Cougar is invited to join Russia's Olympic camp
The U.S. has the same colors as Russia, where Hansen has been embraced for his basketball skills and humanitarian efforts. He is so well liked in Russia that he has been given citizenship and an invitation to the national team's Olympic training camp.
If he makes the team, he could wind up facing the Americans later this summer. For Hansen, it is an opportunity to play on the biggest stage in sports, albeit for a different country than he could have ever imagined while growing up in Utah.
Hansen said he is an American first, but that the U.S. roster was already stocked with names like Kobe and LeBron, and USA Basketball wasn't going to consider a 30-year-old who had played one season in the NBA and the rest in Europe.
"I'd love to play for Team USA but they didn't invite me," he said.
Nor did he expect them to. In the era of "Dream Teams," Hansen has never really been on the U.S. Olympic radar. The Russians, on the other hand, were interested.
Hansen only gave the OK to continue with the naturalization after being assured that it would in no way affect his U.S. citizenship. He will also miss the first part of the Russian camp to be home for the Fourth of July.
While his shooting touch and versatility would make him a welcome addition on the Russian national team, his good deeds have made him welcome most everywhere in the country.
Hansen and his wife, LaRee, have tackled one of the most troubling issues in Russia — the care of orphans. In just two years, the Hansens' Little Heroes foundation has grown into something big and given Hansen a reputation as an American player with a genuine heart.
"We had to convince them 'We want to help,"' Hansen said. "We don't want to have our name on the hospital or anything. We just want to help."
The initial wariness the Hansens ran into as foreigners trying to lend a hand eventually diminished. Hansen said he doesn't think Little Heroes necessarily sped up the citizenship process, but it didn't hurt either. After an extensive background check, Hansen said he was approached by the head of Russia's Federal Security Service, the successor to the KGB.
"He shook my hand and said 'Thanks for all you do for Russia,"' Hansen said.
Hansen said that was an honor because it had nothing to do with him as a basketball player. It was because of Little Heroes, which was formed after LaRee began looking into adopting a child during her husband's first season with Dynamo Moscow. She knew Russia's reputation for having an arduous adoption process. She didn't know about the grim conditions faced by more than 250,000 orphans living in institutions.
Recent comments
That man is amazing. Check YouTube and look at some of the things...
Young_Basketball_Phenom | July 15, 2008 at 1:34 p.m.
I think it is great that you were asked to play in the Olympics....
Reggi | July 9, 2008 at 3:51 p.m.
Hey, it is all right. He moved to Russia, fell in love with the country...
Utes Fan | July 6, 2008 at 4:37 p.m.
