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Russia's little hero: Ex-Cougar is invited to join Russia's Olympic camp

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KGB still exists, secretly | 12:13 a.m. July 2, 2008

He works for the KGB. It's all a cover.

sean89052 | 12:13 a.m. July 2, 2008

This is an indication of just how bad The Russian National team is.

Justin R | 12:39 a.m. July 2, 2008

Travis and Laree are two of the finest people I have ever met. They are making a real difference in this world and its absolutely fantastic what they are doing. They are great examples of what America stands for and we should all be thankful to have them as our ambassadors to Russia.

Comments continue below

Neighbors | 1:28 a.m. July 2, 2008

Way to go Travis.

Congrats to both you and your wife!

Enter to learn, go forth to serve.

Ute Fan | 1:37 a.m. July 2, 2008

It's a shame people make trivializing comments like that after reading about 250,000 russian orphans and babies that have become glazed over by lack of attention and care.

Congrats on working to help people, Travis. I wish more people were like you. Good luck.

Good Luck Travis! | 1:47 a.m. July 2, 2008

He has actually developed into a pretty good basketball player. This should be evidenced by Russia winning the entire European League and the USA "Dream Teams" getting their butt's kicked by these same teams in the last several World Championships/Olympics! Give the guy some credit!

sloth | 2:06 a.m. July 2, 2008

Way to go Travis-- There's always a reason for everything and you truly are doing a service for those kids. I hope more people and businesses will get on board for this worthy cause.

Travis Hansen | 2:21 a.m. July 2, 2008

Say what you want, but I am having the time of my life over here!

agree with sean89052 | 2:26 a.m. July 2, 2008

This guy cant even make an NBA roster and he is being given expidited citizenship in order to play for Russia. That must be one sorry basketball team.

Manmade Borders | 3:54 a.m. July 2, 2008

Way to go Travis!!!

I saw you play at BYU and train in the Richards building... I enjoyed what I saw, but reading this article I have to admit... YOU ARE BIGGER then Basketball. Thanks for your example.

In 1988, still in the heat of the Cold War, in aprivate conversation Elder Nelson taught us a lesson. ^Manmade Borders* was a comment from him as we discussed BYU and MGU (Moscow State University)academic exchange possibilities.

If this opportunity to help Russians to excel in sports and humanitarian efforts requires you to have twin citizenship - then absolutely YES to you and your efforts.
Keep up the good work and continue to be an example!
AND do not worry what some little minded individuals may write in these columns, because just ONE smile from an orphan is wiorth more then a million dollars.

I served as a trainer for the Finnish Olympic team -72,ï¿½and attache Finnish Olympic team -02. In the church as a counselor to four mission presidents in Russia, Baltics when the work got started. - So, I know what I am talking about. You and your family are in our prayers.

GREAT NEWS!!!

Jussi

Jussi Kemppainen
Finland

Basketball Junkie | 4:55 a.m. July 2, 2008

Which is more impressive? Hanson being invited to try out for Russia after playing their for a few years... Or Tyler Kepkay from the U of U already making Canada's Olympic team while still a college BB player?

cats | 5:23 a.m. July 2, 2008

I think it's great that he's doing well in Russia, but wearing the uniform of a country other than one's own in the olympics is just plain tacky. I don't care if the Russians awarded him Russian citizenship or not. Accepting it is tacky and representing them in the Olympics is tacky. He's an American and he needs to remember that.

Chris J. | 5:45 a.m. July 2, 2008

What a great story! This guys is letting his light shine for all the world.

From BYU to KGB...... | 6:17 a.m. July 2, 2008

HMMMMMM, very interesting.

Anonymous | 7:01 a.m. July 2, 2008

Great work in Russia, but you should never forget what a blessing it is to be an American. Playing for a foreign country on their national team is like sending American jobs overseas, it only takes away from this great nation. I understand playing for their professional team, but representing them in the olympics, well that is a different story.

GO UTES!

To Cats... | 7:08 a.m. July 2, 2008

Oh, I'm sure he's completley fogotten he is an American!!
He shouldn't even be playing there to begin with.
In fact we should forbid any American from entering Russia.
Wait, really we should forbid any American to even enter any country that isn't there own.
Its just plain tacky to consider the idea of learning a forgein language, leaving our country or communicating with anyone who is of Russian decent.
See where this is going Cats?? Your comment oozes tacky.

Benedict | 7:15 a.m. July 2, 2008

Hanson has turned his back on the US and the flag.

Anonymous | 7:17 a.m. July 2, 2008

What a traitor. How can people honestly feel good about this. What USA born kid dreams of playing for Russia.

A Patriot | 7:25 a.m. July 2, 2008

His efforts in Russia are most noteworthy however I find it sad that any American would take the actions he has taken to try and play in the Olympics for another country!! Any athlete would be honored to play in the Olympics for their OWN country but he needs to put his ego back in the box. This is about national patriotism not indivdiual desires! Shame on Travis.

Belgie | 7:29 a.m. July 2, 2008

People on these forums never fail to amaze me.

People come from all over the world to the U.S., naturalize, consider themselves Americans and nobody every calls them tacky. Travis Hansen moves to Russia, falls in love with the people, helps countless orphans, has a chance to maybe play for Russia (the country where he has lived and worked for years) in the Olympics, and some people can only criticize.

To Basketball Junkie: so Kepkay is going to play for Canada. So what? There have been articles about him, too. Nobody was comparing Travis Hansen to him. In fact, this article was more about Travis's humanitarian work than about basketball.

RE: cats | 7:40 a.m. July 2, 2008

And yet I bet you have no problem with naturalized citizens or even non-citizens putting on the uniform of a US soldier and dying in Iraq. Come on. He is a citizen of a country he loves and that loves him. Why shouldn't he be able to represent that country in the Olympics?

OoooooH | 7:43 a.m. July 2, 2008

You poor Eweete fans are just having a rough morning arent you? Come on cheer up losers its just one little cougar here....

I always knew | 7:41 a.m. July 2, 2008

Hansen wasn't American at heart.

Anonymous | 7:49 a.m. July 2, 2008

You can go on Vacation in Mexico, build infastructure in Iraq, go on your Mission to Europe, or play basketball in Russia. It's probably a great experience, and you probably really enjoy it, however.... you don't represent one of these countries in the Olympics. It' just bad taste.

I'm sure Travis is just as nice of a guy as anyone else, but enjoying yourself in another country has got to be were it ends.

Anonymous | 7:49 a.m. July 2, 2008

To Cats:
What's the upside of not accepting their offer? Look at the downside of not accepting their offer. I believe it was Abe Lincoln who said the best way to do away with our enemies is to turn them into friends. Good advice, I think.
Jim in GA

WinSum | 7:52 a.m. July 2, 2008

Great opportunity and what a way to serve as an ambassador. Best wishes Travis.

Can someone tell Me | 7:59 a.m. July 2, 2008

Where can you go to donate to Hansen's "Little Heroes?"

Also how about the other 19 people who commented on this story chipping in a little for these children.

Kenneth in Texas | 8:01 a.m. July 2, 2008

re: cats.

The American Dream Team did not have a position for Travis. He said he would play for Team USA if there was a position.

Besides, the emphasis of the article is on the humanitarian efforts of he and his wife with Russian orphans. It seems his position playing basketball is just providing a vehicle to help make the humanitarian efforts productive.

Remember, those Russian orphans are children of the same God as American children.

VRW | 8:02 a.m. July 2, 2008

From some of the comments I wonder if you even read the whole article. There is more to this life than Utah sports. What Travis has done proves that. We need to act more what we believe and the Hansens are doing that. If you don't believe we are all brothers and sisters, I hope it comes to you soon.

Why not | 8:10 a.m. July 2, 2008

What a great story. Hansen and his wife are doing great things in that part of the world. Wouldn't it be great if all NBA players, with their access to resources, really got involved in humanitarian efforts and home and abroad. As far as playing for Russia, I say why not. Its not like he stiffed team USA to play for Russia, he was not invited. He is not bearing arms against his country or participating in any treasonous activities. In fact, I would argue that he is promoting the idea of freedom, and the principle that all men are created equal very well in that foreign land. He is promoting the best of American values in an area that has little history in the concept of human rights and freedom. It will be fantastic if he can amplify those values on a larger (olympic) stage. In addition, many olympic sports, basketball included, are less about national pride than about corporate money. Who benefits the most if Team USA wins the gold: our country, the players, or Nike?

sob | 8:10 a.m. July 2, 2008

here we go again with the radical right wing, american eagle forum, we are still fighting Godless commies on our borders, don't have international relations programs in our schools people, what if utah finds out they are only 1/600billionth of the world population and a smaller share of its thinking.
but at least the story wasn't in the new york times.
so may be it is true.

Re:Belgie | 8:10 a.m. July 2, 2008

You just don't get it. It's one thing to PLAY in a foreign country and make a living...it's another thing to REPRESENT a country. So he has been a good citizen in their community...great, but that doesn't mean he should REPRESENT THEIR COUNTRY. It's not like he was born and raised in Russia.

russ | 8:12 a.m. July 2, 2008

Neato. More power to you. The Olympics are not a nationalistic race; they are about peaceful sports. Your language skills have helped you show the Russkies that we are not all ego driven and SUV nuts. You are doing more for the goodwill of people than you will ever know.

I visited an orphanage near Zagorsk, Sergiev Possad, about 8 years ago. The site and situation was not good. However, they had a Russian priest who was up to his armpits in helping, and connected to 3 Methodist churches here in the states. Thus, he had some help, money, and people visiting. I dropped off cans and cans of nutritional stuff and toys. I saw a 16 yr. old boy who looked like he was 11. Yeah, your heart breaks right on the spot.

Do not stop where you are headed. Keep on truckn... we all on occasion need to be reminded that the Olympics is a just a set of games every 4 years. Orphanages seem to last forever, unfortunately.

By the way, I am a proud Ute. But we are neither ute nor cougar. We are humans and we must reach out to other humans.

Salute!

Leonard | 8:13 a.m. July 2, 2008

Way to go, Travis-- you and your wife are great examples for us!

Anonymous | 8:16 a.m. July 2, 2008

Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve!

Thanks to Travis and LaRee Hansen for a good example of helping the human family.

Don't worry, be happy | 8:19 a.m. July 2, 2008

Cheer up you negative nellies!

There's nothing wrong with playing for another country in the Olympics. Especially if you live there. We get athletes from other countries to do the same thing all the time! Half of MLB players are from South America and if they played for us we'd be stoked!

Now, if he'd been extended an offer to play for the U.S. team and turned it down in order to play for Russia, then you'd have a beef. But that isn't the case, so take your blinders off and be happy for a kid who's made it (in more than just the basketball sense)!

Way to go Travis, we're proud of you and EVERYTHING you are doing!

Don't take the bait | 8:29 a.m. July 2, 2008

John Stuart Mill taught that, in the marketplace of ideas, all opinions are welcome -- even those that sound idiotic. His rationale was that truth, because of its very nature, would rise to the top and become self-evident.

The people who read a story like this and respond with outlandish commentary accusing Travis and Laree of being traitors or questioning their patriotism because he might play for Russia's Olympic team have missed the point entirely.

Then again, maybe that's what they want us to think. Maybe they're just sad, pathetic people with no lives to speak of, and they get their kicks writing mean, rude and hurtful comments so they can come back later and see the furor they've created. Then they sit back and laugh.

I suggest not giving them that satisfaction by dignifying their "opinions" with specific responses.

For my own part, I'm very impressed with all that the Hansen family has done and continues to do for their fellow beings. They've taken to heart the words of King Benjamin (Mosiah 2:17) and the Savior (Matthew 25:40), and replaced their good intentions with good deeds. They can give, so they do.

The world needs more people like them.

Ernest T. Bass | 8:29 a.m. July 2, 2008

What an accomplishment! From surviving the mean streets of Orem to playing ball in Russia.
That right there is nearly impossible.

Ya know | 8:34 a.m. July 2, 2008

I hate BYU, but I love what Travis Hansen is doing. The only people posting negative comments here are either my fellow Ute fans that are just trying to get you (BYU fan) riled up (which I am totally fine with), or those that are bitter because they have to work and not play a game for a living.

JOE W. | 8:35 a.m. July 2, 2008

Travis Hansen IS a true American for what he is doing with these Russian orphans ~ AND the excellent manner in which he is contributing to better U.S.-Russian relations. I admire him for that.

As for you who stoop to some of these negative comments -Sadly,
you're either jealous, anti-mormon or just plain ignorant (quite possibly all three).

C'mon People | 8:46 a.m. July 2, 2008

It's one thing to move to a country with the aspiration to become "a naturalized citizen" just for the purpose of being able to be on their olympic team. This has happened numerous times in the history of the olympics. The only example I can think of is the american coach of the Jamaicain bobsled team.

It's another issue if you are working in a country and embrace the culture and are invited to be a citizen and then invited to represent their country in the olympics.

What about all of the european coaches who are now coaching US teams? Gymnastics is one example. Are they traitors? What about any foreign born US athletes? Shouln't they be loyal to their country of origin?

The US dominates the olympics and is always in the top medal earners as a nation. It is extremely competitive just to get on the team, in any sport.

As a kid I dreamed of becoming an olympian, but knew that I might have a better chance if I moved to another country and represent them.

Travis is doing what I would do in his situation. Kudos to him and his wife for their example and service!!

former president bill clinton | 8:48 a.m. July 2, 2008

Stay in russia for a few then comeback and run for president.

To Cats | 8:54 a.m. July 2, 2008

Step out of the cold war era...the world is getting much smaller now and I admire Hansen for stepping up to be a role model and ambassador for humanity wherever he finds himself. I'm sure his experience in Russia only strengthens his gratitude for America. With all the negative PR Americans get in foreign countries, he is doing more good for Russia's concept of what being an American means, than any political diplomat could accomplish in a lifetime of diplomacy. We need more of our citizens to catch this vision. If you lived in a foreign country and saw conditions like this, I'd hope you would do the same.

Clueless Kewgers | 8:58 a.m. July 2, 2008

You Kewger fans are too funny. If a Ute ever pulled something like what Travis Hansen is doing, BYU fans would react the exact same way. Typical hypocrite Kewgers.

Singapore | 8:58 a.m. July 2, 2008

Everybody hates the Ewtes! That is what unites us all.

Anonymous | 9:00 a.m. July 2, 2008

Way to go Travis. Hope you never come back.

Anonymous | 9:06 a.m. July 2, 2008

Kudos to Travis and his wife. They really are making a difference and I have to applaud their efforts.

re: Anonymous | 9:13 a.m. July 2, 2008

Comments like yours are ones the world can do without.

Ned | 9:19 a.m. July 2, 2008

Kind of odd. Someone is labeled a traitor to his birth country for even considering an invitation to play for a foreign national team. He hasn't made it yet, just an invitation. And the person who likely will keep him from making that team is--another American who has already been playing with the team. Never mind that Travis would love to play for Team USA if they'd only invite him. But they don't want him. And like any true athlete he loves to compete, and has a chance to do so there on a world stage. I really don't care who he is playing for, the ideals he represents and holds dear have not changed. So he & his wife accepted Russian citizenship. They are such traitors that they got assurances and protections in place to make sure that their American citizenship would not be impacted before they accepted the offer. They are such traitors that they put the foreign national team on hold while they returned home to celebrate the 4th of July. Personally, I say more power to them. Would that there were more in the world like this.

Get a life losers... | 9:20 a.m. July 2, 2008

You losers who have nothing better to do than criticize the good this guy is doing need to get off the dole and get a life. Seriously, this article is more about the good work Travis and his wife are doing BECAUSE of basketball. Travis has taken advantage of the opportunity basketball has given him to really serve and help those in need.

While I was a little bothered by an American playing in the Olympics on a foreign team, I got over it pretty quickly after reading about all he and his wife have done. The Olympics will come and go, but what the two of them are doing will have lasting effects on many, many children. That is what is important and that is what this article is about - ABOUT THE GOOD WORK THESE TWO ARE DOING FOR THESE CHILDREN IN NEED.

If Travis makes the team, you have two choices when you see him play - be an ugly American and boo him, or cheer him for the increased exposure his foundation will receive and all the many children that will benefit from that exposure.

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