Chris Kaman Bin Ein Berliner (Or, Dirk Has a Friend in Beijing)

A throwaway comment from Chris Kaman months ago, in which the Clipper revealed his great-grandparents were German immigrants, has spiraled out of control. Ball in Europe reports Kaman will join Dirk Nowitzki and the German national team for this month's Olympic qualifying tournament and -- hopefully -- the Beijing Olympics.

Kaman received an expedited German passport, which allows him to compete ASAP. The Germans need the help, too: in the qualifying tournament, they share a group (the toughest) with Greece (the 2005 European champs), Slovenia (Rasho! Sasha!) and Croatia ... and need to finish in the top two just to finish to the elimination round, of which only three of the six remaining teams gets a crack at Beijing.

Other threats to a Kaman-Nowitzki appearance in Beijing include Brazil (a virtual lock to qualify, even without Leandro Barbosa) and Samuel Dalembert's Canadian squad.