Are you sure?
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.
They could all go over to Russia to keep her company. Perhaps even throw a wild party.
Let her rot in Russia.
GFY WNBA
I'm not sure she did. She was angry because she wasn't read "her rights." It's Russia, honey: There is no Bill of Rights. Some lessons must be learned the hard way.
Skylar sounds entitled…..
Are you sure?
“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.”
This is an idiotic string of manure. White man Paul Whelan has been sitting is a Russian jail for something like three and a half years. He stood no chance of being freed until gay, black woman Brittney Griner recently came along. That says something about the value of a white (presumably hetero) man.
Having watched Brittney play for the four years she starred at my alma mater, and as a fellow American, I want her home. But I sure hope she’s had a massive attitude adjustment by the time she gets back.
Nor do I. But she was in Russia, is subject to Russian law, and has received a Russian sentence. Is there a political element to her situation? Yes there is. But she put herself in this situation.
Now, play basketball in front of 500 paying fans.
These overprivileged athletes sure are tone deaf.
I don't care how well you can dribble a basketball (and that goes for male athletes as well). That does not make you better than a "random Jane" who is likely a mother raising a family, earning a living and running a household. Those "random Janes" contribute far more to our society than these people playing a sport that hardly anybody even watches or pays attention to.
You travel to a foreign country and break their laws - it's all on you.
Nope.
And all the players could go to Europe and Asia for employment.
She’s not bad looking.
Let her rot and shave her head.
I wish the ABA survived, better group of players. I still try to watch UConn women’s Basketball. I just saw that Sue Bird is engaged to that jackass Megan Rappaport, the women’s soccer player... :-(
Let's set aside our differences and agree that Biden and Harris are worthless and need to be kicked out of office.
Wow. And I thought college students were the biggest overly sensitive snowflakes.
I LIKE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN!!... ...to spoiled rotten self righteous scum that celebrities have become. I HOPE IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN!!!
Tell it to Putin because I don't care. Apparently Vlad doesn't either.
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