https://www.snopes.com/ap/2022/08/04/russian-prosecutors-seek-9-12-year-sentence-for-griner/. Conservatives Mock Brittney Griner in 'Idiotic' Attacks at Her National Anthem Stance. Don't hide who you really are. I was always told, 'If you're gay, your career is going to fail.'. All rights reserved. In 2012, the three-time All-American was named AP Player of the Year and Final Fours Most Outstanding Player. . According to an expert, there's a good reason for this. In a prison, in Mordovia, So, it wasn't hard at all. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Hmm, I know I get more feminine when I'm mad, like I'll roll my neck, like I'm rolling my eyes. Also a million ruble fine. Accessed 9 Aug. 2022. She didn't want to give America or those who fought for our freedoms their due respect. I'm a competitor, you know. I don't want to play just to play; I want to play to win, and I wanted to win it all. "When the national anthem [was . A convicted Russian arms dealer, aka the Merchant of Death, in exchange for an America-hating gay pothead. And in exchange for this Best of America poster boy, Obama released butchers Khairullah Khairkhwa, Norullah Noori, Abdul Haq Wasiq, and Mohammad Fazl. Market data provided by Factset. Baylor finished its undefeated season with 40 wins, the most in NCAA history. Top editors give you the stories you want . On the bright side, B Griner wont have to endure our National Anthem for 9 whole years! Brittney Griner, the statuesque basketball player from Houston, Texas, is in the news as her trial for drug possession begins in Russia. I do have pride for my country., Im going to protest regardless, Griner added. Molly Knight. Some speculate the U.S. government may offer trading convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout for Whelan and Griner, an anonymous source told The Associated Press. Going into the bathroom, I still get the shocked look, like, 'Are you supposed to be in here?' It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.". He played college basketball for the Baylor Lady Bears in Waco, Texas. Many have tried to protest for her, primarily because they felt the situation wasn't getting enough media attention. This is yet another sad example of the toxic discourse that pops up on almost every issue, including an Olympic gold medalist being held as a political prisoner. Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon, who as a player spent years in Russia and won Olympic bronze for her adopted country, said it was upsetting to see a fellow member of the tight-knit women's basketball community locked up for nearly six months. Following the news of the prisoner swap, "Brittney Griner hates America" continues to trend. Its easy to not know all the facts. This is the case even though her release was sought-after by thousands of Americans. I'm going to be Brett Favre: 'Yeah, I'm retiring Naah, I'm coming back!'. Many believe the USA should not have swapped her for Viktor Bout, especially considering the fact that they believe shes anti-American. In exchange for her, the U.S. sent back to Russia one of the worlds deadliest arms dealers who was serving 25 years for crimes including the targeting of American citizens. Detained WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner has been photographed for the first time since she was arrested at a Russian airport last month for having vape cartridges in her luggage.. The basketball star made her comments during a teleconference in July 2020, reported Arizona Republic at the time. Honestly, I like how unique it is. At the time, talk about a possible prisoner swap had started to make rounds online. So heres what Biden drummed up the geniuses at the State Department: a business. 8 July 2022, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/britney-griner-national-anthem-b2118955.html. July 17, 2022. "I personally don't think it belongs in sports," she said. https://www.snopes.com/collections/george-floyd-rumor-collection/. "Owning The Middle". Article by Kate Fagan, www.espn.com. When I was at Baylor, I wasn't fully happy because I couldn't be all the way out. May 29, 2013. Joe Biden gave up a Russian terrorist in exchange for anti-American WNBA player, Brittney Griner. Turner, too, is against the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner at WNBA games. "I think we should take that much of a stand. I can only speak for myself. Jerome Solomon , Staff writer. 'Outnumbered' reacts to Brittney Griner's release from Russian prison, Charade: The COVID Lies That Crushed A Nation. Griner was suspended at the time by the WNBA for that eruption, and she was required to attend 26 weeks of domestic violence counseling. Catching the ball, it was bad. The panel reacted to the Brittney Griner prisoner swap and the Biden administration's failure to secure Paul Whelan's release. Snopes Collection: George Floyd Protests. The president, Joe Biden announced it to the world when he said he had just spoken to the Phoenix Mercury player and she was on the way back to the US last night. - Brittney Griner. Many NBA stars tried to call for more awareness as Russia refused to let Griner go. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. 67.9K. This stems from a comment she made during the 2020 WNBA season. That is a very real danger. Brittney Yevette Griner is an American professional women's basketball center with the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. !, So sick of this false narrative that BG hated the US. I would love to individually respond and annihilate every negative viewpoint I receive but that would be a waste of my time. I think we should take that much of a stand., I dont mean that in any disrespect to our country, she said. The diplomat's comments marked the first . The US has urged Moscow to accept a deal to free basketball player Brittany Griner, who has been sentenced to nine years in Russian prison. In the summer of 2020, Brittney Griner . But those closest to her do NOT want to turn a terrifying story into a political cause. Please logout and login again. Griner's teammate, Brianna Turner, couldn't agree more. The Kremlin has responded that it is open to discussing the potential exchange, but that such conversations should take place out of the public eye. ", Following Griner's sentencing in Russia, some social media users mocked Griner's two-year-old sentiment, among them conservative personality Tomi Lahren. November 4, 2013. In the months since, politicians have also weighed in, including U.S. President Joe Biden who denounced the verdict and sentence as "unacceptable.". No one's telling you what to do, nothing's planned out. pic.twitter.com/eFEI656oNz, On a Ledge Somewhere (@LedgeSomewhere) December 8, 2022. Griner faces up to 10 years in jail for the charge, and prosecutors asked for 9.5 years in closing arguments. Griner is one of 11 women to receive Olympic gold medals, NCAA Championships, FIBA World Cup gold medals and WNBA championships. Brittney Griner, in full Brittney Yevette Griner, (born October 18, 1990, Houston, Texas, U.S.), American basketball player who is one of the game's leading centres, especially known for her play with the Phoenix Mercury, which she helped win a WNBA championship (2014). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Griner added that she would walk off the court should the Star-Spangled Banner be played. I'm just hard on myself. Without advising Congress first as required by law, Obama secretly released five of our Guantanamo prisoners, representing the best of Arab Islamic murderers, in return for Bergdahl. IPL All time Records and Achievements in History, Best F1 Monaco Records and Achievements All time, Ciryl Gane 2023: Net Worth| Salary| Career Earnings. The dribbler in question, one Brittney Griner, previously has demanded that the Womens National Basketball Association (WNBA) stop playing our national anthem before games or, her threat, she would protest publicly. Cherelle Griner, wife of Olympian and WNBA player Brittney Griner, speaks after President Biden announced Brittney's release from Russian custody at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. This year, Griner is set to take home a league-maximum $227,900 annual base salary from the Mercury, with a potential to earn up to $500,000 between bonuses and marketing opportunities should she stay in America for the winter. On April 3, 2012, Griner led Baylor with 26 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots to win the Division I Women's Basketball Championship, 80-61 over Notre Dame. 'The city, the team, the players, the organization, front office really got behind me and everything I wanted to do. WNBA star Brittney Griner released from Russian in Exchange for International Arms Dealer (Podcast Episode 2022) Quotes on IMDb: Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, TV series and more. May 29, 2013. Brittney Griner had a advantage of living in solitary confinement without human contact by having played in the WNBA. Mark McGwire from Oakland to St. Louis in exchange for T.J. Matthews, Blake Stein, and Eric Ludwick. (You can unsubscribe anytime), Brittney Griner Represents the Best of America, Rabbi Dov Fischer, Esq., is Vice President of the Coalition for Jewish Values (comprising over 2,000 Orthodox rabbis), was adjunct professor of law at two prominent Southern California law schools for nearly 20 years, and is Rabbi of Young Israel of Orange County, California. However, despite all this, many believe that Griner is anti-American. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko), President Biden speaks about the release of Olympian and WNBA player Brittney Griner from Russian custody at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. This summer, Griner penned a handwritten note to President Biden, which included the following: "On the 4th of July our family normally honors the service of those who have fought for our freedom, including my father, who was a Vietnam War veteran. WNBA's Griner Convicted at Drug Trial, Sentenced to 9 Years. Complete biography of Brittney Griner . Griner was in court on Thursday as two members of her Russian basketball club, a teammate and the general manager, vouched for her character. ET): Brittney Griner was freed from Russian imprisonment Thursday after U.S. and Russian officials successfully negotiated a prisoner swap. Here is a picture of him shirtless. We don't talk about things, and in certain communities we really don't talk about our feelings. At least, with the geminated infants, it was not Brittney in the Gulag Archipelago but her partner in the maternity ward who had to do the hard labor), There is something about these Democrats in the White House when it comes to making insane prisoner exchanges, releasing the worst of human vermin in our custody, goons who have murdered and brought about countless deaths through their confederates, in return for the best of America.. . So Griner concluded that her lesbian marriage had not been legit after all. ". I can only speak for myself.". Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl. Thanks to the rapidly deteriorating relationship between her home country and her offseason abode, Griner may be a pawn in a fiery feud between two global superpowers. This woman (so to speak) had better be that special because she now has cost America a valuable prisoner, international arms dealer Viktor Bout, known commonly as the merchant of death. To secure the Ingrates release from Russian incarceration, Joe Biden now has freed Bout reciprocally, 10 years into his 25-year sentence for (i) conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and officials, (ii) delivery of anti-aircraft missiles, and (iii) providing aid to a terrorist organization. But also, that America is a place that has gone to extraordinary lengths to save her life. Legal Statement. I don't say that I'm the best in the country, because I always criticize myself so hard. How do you think the Russians are viewing it? I grew up wanting to enlist and then go into law enforcement. Should US Marine Paul Whelan still be in a Russian prison? We can either use it for ourselves or we can use it to bring awareness to issues that are going on in the world. Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. The legendary hooper was only in Russia to supplement her income. Its easy to spread hate on social media. Happy, Strong, Women. I've always been pretty athletic, but when I got really tall, I just felt awkward. I think more people should be open to talking about mental health issues. Several tweets sent in August, 2022 claimed that Brittney Griner has been "ordered by officials" to take a DNA test to determine whether she would serve her sentence in a male or female prison. Hello, I am Gurmeet singh , Blogger from Jammu, India. There are plans to continue this, but only through streaming services and the brands own apps. A dunk, won some money for a fan, had over 600 shoes brought in, it definitely didnt turn out that way at the end. The time for silence has passed. But by making the national anthem the symbol of that protest, Griner painted the whole of America as the source of these abuses. Mercury President Vince Kozar gave Insider behind-the-scenes details of Griner's return to Phoenix. I think its patriotic to hold ones country accountable for atrocious actions., BG has pride for her country, Turner added.