Skylar Diggins-Smith
Posted on 08/09/2022 3:50:40 PM PDT by nickcarraway
With Brittney Griner recently being sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison for possession of cannabis, members of the underwhelming WNBA are speaking out about the trauma this is causing them.
One of them even told media members during a press conference that this means something because Griner is no ordinary American. Read that again.
“It’s our sister,” Skylar Diggins-Smith said. “This is not some random Jane off the street.”
Before we look deeper at the rest of her comments, let’s pause right there.
So, what if it was just some random Jane off the street? Would they be less worthy of being rescued from a Russian prison in the eyes of Diggins-Smith?
Who knows, because it wasn’t just some regular American that got hemmed up. It was a female basketball player.
Her friends and teammates in the league have a platform that puts them in front of cameras. So they are able to say what they want to say.
“It’s not anything we’re politicizing. It’s a human being and this is our real-life friend and real-life sister,” she continued. “So, imagine if your real-life friend or real-life sister is out here. Now I don’t expect everybody to give a damn, but we really do.”
But what about their ability to play the game in light of the situation?
“We come out here and we’re supposed to still play this game,” she said.
“Nobody wanted to even play today. How are you supposed to approach the game, approach the court, and with a clear mind, and the whole group is crying before the game? Because you try to honor her. And you try to come out and still play hard for her.”
The Phoenix Mercury shared her answer on their Twitter account, urging people to listen to what she had to say.
Out of curiosity, if they had chosen not to play that day, would many people have even noticed?
To jump on the Twitterverse and read about Griner’s story leads to people sharing their angst with the US prison system, racism and pay inequality between men and women (side note: why do we only hear about the gap between men and women and not the other 8,422 other genders that supposedly exist?), the ridiculousness of the length of the sentence and the lack of action on the part of the US government to intervene.
To the salary point, Harper’s Bazaar ran a piece about the sentencing and spoke with Griner’s coach on the Mercury, Vanessa Nygaard.
Nygaard said, “If it was LeBron, he’d be home, right? It’s a statement about the value of women. It’s a statement about the value of a Black [sic] person. It’s a statement about the value of a gay person. All of those things. We know it, and so that’s what hurts a little more.”
The article took the time to point out the athletes like Lebron James and Tom Brady made about $40M in their previous season, affording them the opportunity to not have to play in Russia to make ends meet.
The piece also surmised that Griner’s inability to survive and provide for her family on her WNBA checks was difficult. For the record, Griner’s base salary in the 2021 season was $221,450. Her salary for the season she would have been playing in this year was going to be almost $228,000.
Her 2021 numbers mean that she earned more than 93.32% of Americans. If she is having trouble surviving in the top 7% of wage earners, she is doing it wrong.
It is reported that she has a net worth of somewhere between $5M and $17M.
So, to say that her playing in Russia is to make the ends meet and to get by was a necessity is a bit disingenuous. She was there by choice. And she was convicted of not only possession, but also smuggling.
Do I think that she needs to spend 9 years in jail in Russia? No. I don’t. But let’s keep the conversation on topic.
The topic should be based around whether or not Russia has legitimate claim to keep her locked up, or if they are simply playing politics with an American citizen.
We can have that conversation all day long but stop making this about something it isn’t.
If the Biden administration gets her back or doesn’t, it isn’t because she is black, gay or a woman. It is because the political ramifications are worth the risk.
Keep in mind, Biden learned from Obama, who exchanged multiple terrorists being held at Guantanamo Bay for one Army deserter named Bowe Bergdahl.
So, it wouldn’t surprise me if Biden gives a slew of things over to Russia in exchange for a WNBA star who hates our anthem and flag and believes there are better countries than the US.
Right about now, I am guessing she doesn’t think Russia is one of them.
But not everyone was jumping on the “free Brittney” bandwagon.
“Brittney Griner is a cautionary tale. Hate America? Think it’s oppressive?” tweeted Tomi Lahren. “Go to another country, play stupid games and find out what oppression and ‘No justice’ looks like. Too bad too sad.”
Does Griner actually hate this country? Hard to say. But here are her words regarding the national anthem.
“I honestly feel we should not play the national anthem during our season. I think we should take that much of a stand. I’m going to protest regardless. I’m not going to be out there for the national anthem. ‘If the league continues to want to play it, that’s fine. It will be all season long I’ll not be out there. I feel like more are going to probably do the same thing. I can only speak for myself.”
I wonder if she will feel the same about the anthem, the flag and this nation now, or at the very least, when she returns home.
https://fundourpolice.com/
Watch: LeBron James questions if Brittney Griner should “even want” to come back to America For those who have been following, WNBA superstar Brittney Griner has pleaded guilty to drug charges in Russia after allegedly having banned hash oil when stopped at an airport.
She was arrested months prior and on Thursday, July 7th, she entered a guilty plea. During the court hearing, she said:
“I’d like to plead guilty, your honor, but there was not intent. I didn’t want to break the law.”
Her next court date is scheduled for July 14th and depending on the outcome, she could face up to a decade in a Russian prison.
Now, LeBron James, an NBA star with the Los Angeles Lakers, is putting his two cents in, stating that Griner has every right to not even want to return to the U.S.
After being in custody for several months, James said that if he was in her shoes, he might not even want to return to America. In an upcoming promo for “The Shop,” LeBron said:
“Now, how can she feel like America has her back? I would be feeling like, ‘Do I even want to go back to America?'”
It seems that his comments, which you can watch below in the trailer, have people wondering what on earth he is saying or if he is just looking for attention.
David Hookstead, in an op-ed with the Daily Caller, wrote:
“Of all the insane things LeBron James has ever said, this is right near the top of the list. Is LeBron actually this dumb or is he just saying things looking for attention?
He thinks she’d be justified in not wanting to return because we haven’t gotten her out yet? Insane. Legit insane. It’s not like the American military can just fly to the jail she’s being held at, kill the guards and fly out with her.”
He added:
“This is Russia we’re talking about! Like it or not, it’s a nuclear-armed nation and it is an enemy of America. It’s not like Biden can just pick up the phone and demand her release. It doesn’t work like that.”
After the blow-up of the trailer comments, James later took to Twitter to clarify what he said:
“My comments on ‘The Shop’ regarding Brittney Griner wasn’t knocking our beautiful country. I was simply saying how she’s probably feeling emotionally along with so many other emotions, thoughts, etc inside that cage she’s been in for over 100+ days! Long story short #BringHerHome.”
This not the first time LeBron has commented on Griner’s unfortunate situation. In June, he demanded action from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to bring the WNBA star back to the United States. He tweeted:
“We need to come together and help do whatever we possibly can to bring BG home quickly and safely!! Our voice as athletes is stronger together.”
In a separate June post, LeBron shared a message “demanding” Biden and Harris bring Griner home “swiftly and safely” by taking immediate action. The post said:
“As a decorated Olympian and member of an elite global sport community, BG’s detention must be resolved out of respect for the sanctity of all sport and for all Americans traveling internationally. It is imperative that the U.S. Government immediately address this human rights issue and do whatever is necessary to return Brittney home.”
The post added:
“Join us in demanding that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris bring Brittney home swiftly and safely by taking action today.”
Interestingly, Phoenix Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard wondered if Griner’s situation in Russia would have been resolved already if it were James, not Griner that was detained. She said:
“If it was LeBron, he’d be home, right? It’s a statement about the value of women. It’s a statement about the value of a black person. It’s a statement about the value of a gay person. All of those things. We know it and so that’s what hurts a little more.”
Griner has been detained since February 7th and could see 10 years in prison on drug smuggling charges.
Don’t they mean “Brother”?
Your sister hates America. She might like Siberia better. It is gorgeous in the winter.
And cold. Very, very cold.
Rot baby rot.
That's the most privileged statement I've heard in some time. Think any one of these big-mouthed "celebrities" would help you? Not a chance in hell, but you'd better move mountains to help them. Because they're entitled, you see...
These people get the wrong idea these days. They are treated
with great care here now. Then they go elsewhere and all of
a sudden their S does stink.
I don’t like seeing this person have to deal with this, but
then don’t put yourself in that type of situation.
It’s not that difficult to think once in a while.
Griner knew the law in Russia and the possible consequences of breaking the law. She is where she is by her own actions. Leave her there.
She isn’t my sister, but the sisters need to talk to Joey ‘bout it. All joey has to do is give the Russians what they want and the sistahs can reunite.
Maybe next time Brittany can be smart enough to keep herself from being a political pawn.
I have no doubt she won’t be there too much longer.
They can’t understand why the race card doesn’t work in Russia.
This Griner creature is XY, not XX. Should be fun times in Russian prisons.
Skylar Diggins-Smith said. “This is not some random Jane off the street.”
I hope Skylar gets busted in Singapore or Turkey one day.
5.56mm
You know who failed women’s sports?
Why they have such terrible attendance and make less money?
Women don’t watch them.
Women failed them.
Women.
You saw that Bill Burr routine too.
Yes, if that isn’t an elitist statement, I don’t know what is.
Maybe most women don’t like watching the NBA? Unless they promote the WNBA, so what? I am guessing more women watch the NBA, than the WNBA. I bet most female sports announcers would rather cover the NBA, and would resist be moved to cover the WNBA.
Not the highest IQ with this one.
If this is any indication of the quality of her friends, leave Britney Griner there.
“They can’t understand why the race card doesn’t work in Russia.”
and the female card and the LGBT card and the celebrity card...
Now I know why folks around here keep calling me a “Putin Puffer”....because I think Russia gets it right on race, right on women, right on LGBT and right on celebrities—no special privileges.
None.
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