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

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

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

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.

Way to go Travis.

Congrats to both you and your wife!

Enter to learn, go forth to serve.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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,�and 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

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?

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.

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

HMMMMMM, very interesting.

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!

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.

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

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

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.

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.