True champion Martina Navratilova looking for a final Czech

Czech-born American citizen Martina Navratilova is mad. Although President Bush is having his last days of "fun" as citizen No. 1 in America these days, Navratilova decided to regain her Czech citizenship, claiming she is ashamed of Bush and his policies, especially his views concerning gays and lesbians rights.

Thirty three years after fleeing then communist controlled Czechoslovakia to give her tennis career a chance as an 18-year-old talent, Navratilova now wants her roots back, and claims that she felt she had replaced "one system that suppresses free opinion for another" since Bush took office.

Navratilova's decision is an interesting one, if you take into consideration her history with her home country.

I was lucky enough to be in the stadium in Prague, in 1981, when Navratilova came back to her homeland a year after receiving her American passport, to play for the U.S. Federation Cup Team in the event held in Czechoslovakia that year.

When Navratilova and her American team-mates entered the stadium, the Czech crowd were on their feet, cheering for her as if she was still one of their own. I remember the electric atmosphere and the goose bumps I had at being part of an historic moment. 

The sporting attitude of the crowd didn't change when Navratilova and the U.S. team won the title. It was at a time when Fed Cup matches were played at one site for 10 days and not in the "home and away" format like today.  

Another crowd in any other country might have seen Navratilova as something of a traitor in those days, but not the Czechs. They knew and understood that standing in front of them was a great athlete who deserved to be given a chance. Under their flag or any other – that didn't really matter.

So Navratilova is, in her own way, maybe giving her respect back to her homeland. After seeing the attitude of the crowd back then, nine Wimbledon singles titles and many others later, she is sending a signal to her homeland more than to President Bush.

You cannot but feel that for years, Navratilova was waiting for the right time to pay her respects back to the country she abandoned when she really had no other choice.

But make no mistake. The timing is anything but an excuse. Navratilova really cares about the reasons she has given for seeking her Czech citizenship again. She has proved time and time again that she is a great human being and, let's face it, any country should be glad to give her a passport. Wouldn't you?