The free agency in international sporting competitions continues to grow:
In this file photo, taken on Jan. 16, 2018, Seoul Samsung Thunders forward Ricardo Ratliffe gets set for a free throw during a Korean Basketball League (KBL) game against the Seoul SK Knights at Jamsil Gymnasium in Seoul. (Yonhap)
An American forward is set to play for South Korea men’s national basketball team, having completed the naturalization process on Monday.
Ricardo Ratliffe, who plays for the Seoul Samsung Thunders in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), passed his citizenship interview with the Ministry of Justice for special naturalization in the area of sports. He will be now eligible to play for the national team.
Ratliffe, a Virginia native, is considered one of the top foreign players in the KBL. The 28-year-old won the league championship in three consecutive seasons with Ulsan Mobis Phoebus from 2012 to 2015, before moving to the Thunders.
For the last six seasons, Ratliffe averaged 18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He also won the KBL’s top foreign player award twice.
Ratliffe is the fourth foreign basketball player to earn South Korean citizenship through the special naturalization process, following Moon Tae-young, Moon Tae-jong and Kim Han-byeol. However, since the previous players all had South Korean mothers, Ratliffe is the first naturalized player not of Korean descent [Yonhap]
I have a friend who has lived in Korea for 15+ years, speaks fluently, teaches English at his own hagwon, pays taxes, employs local Koreans, etc, and is a productive member of Korean society, but he can no longer trade crypto currency. A Korean with a criminal record? Good to Go, Ajusshi!
So, the “Sizzle” of Bitcoin went up to $18,000 before falling back to $10,300 as of posting this. What is the “Steak” worth?
His team probably said they would pay him a bigger salary for not occupying one of the foreigner only player slots. I’d need a BIG raise to be convinced to trade my US passport for a Commie one.
Lots of details at the link, but I liked this line:
“Putting the Team Korea jersey on for the first time, it was like, ‘What am I doing? Am I betraying my country? Am I a traitor?'” Testwuide says. “Then you look at it like a cool opportunity. Something you can’t really script. The Olympics were never really on my radar. I was never in that league. NHL All-Stars, that’s who usually goes to the Olympics. I never made the NHL, so that was out of my realm. But for this to actually come to fruition …”
Followed later by this one:
Why are you doing this?
“My answer?” he says. “I played with these guys for five years. We’ve become like a brotherhood, a big family. We’ve battled together. It’s not about being American or Korean or Canadian. When we’re on the ice, we’re all Korean.”
A paycheck’s a paycheck, I guess.
I didn’t see anything about him getting bumped so the North Koreans could play. He came here when Park was President, and Korea wanted to Win. Now Moon is President, and winning seems to take a back seat to kissing Fatty’s azz.
Two more Weeks to the Opening Ceremony!
J6Junkie
6 years ago
Selling out your nationality to be bounced in the first round of the Olympics. Great job bud.
Stuff like this gives me contempt for the Olympics. Pro athletes in the games are a disgrace, no matter if the Soviets used it or not.
Don’t worry, he’s just going to go 3/20 against Team USA anyway.
The flip side is he also is renouncing American citizenship, which, while rare is increasing.
Yes, but can he trade crypto currency?
https://www.coindesk.com/korean-crypto-exchange-korbit-halting-deposits-from-non-citizens/
I have a friend who has lived in Korea for 15+ years, speaks fluently, teaches English at his own hagwon, pays taxes, employs local Koreans, etc, and is a productive member of Korean society, but he can no longer trade crypto currency. A Korean with a criminal record? Good to Go, Ajusshi!
So, the “Sizzle” of Bitcoin went up to $18,000 before falling back to $10,300 as of posting this. What is the “Steak” worth?
CH, any opinion? You’re a tech geek.
Taxation is theft. Most people give up US citizenship due to taxes. As a US citizen no matter where you make your money it is taxed by the US government, even if that money never “touches” US soil. The US is only one of two countries that do this: http://www.internationalman.com/articles/this-appalling-practice-is-only-used-in-two-nations-and-the-us-is-one-of-th
Elections apparently matter.
His team probably said they would pay him a bigger salary for not occupying one of the foreigner only player slots. I’d need a BIG raise to be convinced to trade my US passport for a Commie one.
Another “Round Eye” becomes a Korean citizen to play sports. Allow me to introduce Mike Testwuide of Colorado!
http://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/22043867/nhl-american-mike-testwuide-skate-south-korea-olympics
Lots of details at the link, but I liked this line:
“Putting the Team Korea jersey on for the first time, it was like, ‘What am I doing? Am I betraying my country? Am I a traitor?'” Testwuide says. “Then you look at it like a cool opportunity. Something you can’t really script. The Olympics were never really on my radar. I was never in that league. NHL All-Stars, that’s who usually goes to the Olympics. I never made the NHL, so that was out of my realm. But for this to actually come to fruition …”
Followed later by this one:
A paycheck’s a paycheck, I guess.
I didn’t see anything about him getting bumped so the North Koreans could play. He came here when Park was President, and Korea wanted to Win. Now Moon is President, and winning seems to take a back seat to kissing Fatty’s azz.
Two more Weeks to the Opening Ceremony!
Selling out your nationality to be bounced in the first round of the Olympics. Great job bud.