brittney griner quotes brittney griner quotes

"I'm going to protest regardless," she said. pic.twitter.com/JEsGaOfFiu. I don't know what people think I'm hiding. I'll keep playing 'til the doctor tells me I can't play. Brianna Turner on August 4, the day Griner was sentenced, WNBA Star Brittney Griner Sentenced To 9 Years In RussianPrison, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. BrainyQuote has been providing inspirational quotes since 2001 to our worldwide community. Appearing on Fox News, basketball player Enes Freedom also referenced Griner's 2020 statement. In that 2020 interview with The Republic, Griner said: "I honestly feel we should not play the national anthem during our season," Griner said. Like many other women's basketball players, Griner spends her WNBA offseason competing overseas. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. I kid I kid, because shes an anti-American jerk. 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. I . I do have pride for my country.". Danny J. Boggs in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit before practicing complex civil litigation for a decade at three of Americas most prominent law firms: Jones Day, Akin Gump, and Baker & Hostetler. US officials: Russia frees WNBA player Brittney Griner in prisoner swap, with US releasing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. At the end of the day many people lack compassion & critical thinking skills and its not my responsibility to teach that. I'm an outdoor person. On top of not wanting it in the WNBA, Griner believes the national anthem doesn't need to be in sports in general. We went 40-0 - the first men's or women's team in history to ever do that. WNBA star Brittney Griner's drug possession trial resumed on Thursday. 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). I do have pride for my country. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) December 9, 2022. She was first detained at a Moscow-area airport after Russian . Weak Joe Biden brings home anti-American Brittney Griner from Russia. Respectfully, get a life trolls., I dont have the capacity to respond to every hateful message about Brittney Griner, she continued. Brittney Griner, the statuesque basketball player from Houston, Texas, is in the news as her trial for drug possession begins in Russia. I am committed to making positive changes. Facing the end of her line. Yknow, role models like Brittney Griner and remember this guy? I'm supposed to go out there and, 'Oh, I broke my nail,' or 'Oh, you hit me?'. I grew up wanting to enlist and then go into law enforcement. Brittney Griner is famously known for being an open book. But Griner is an American, one of our own, and as a nation we have decided that whatever the risks of releasing Bout, the priority was her freedom. But perhaps going forward, when she chooses to fight social injustice she can remember that the United States is not just a place where injustice exists what country doesnt have that? @TJQuinnESPN explains a misunderstood . Oh our Brittney, Oh our Brittney, With your hash oils for to dine . This stems from a comment she made during the 2020 WNBA season. Hello, I am Gurmeet singh , Blogger from Jammu, India. If I can show that I'm out and I'm fine and everything's OK, then hopefully the younger generation will definitely feel the same way. ", Be the first one to comment on this story. If you ever need a pillow, I can make you a pillow. When you're confident, you're going to do things a little differently. So I think youre going to see some really good basketball in the gold medal game. Griner and every American can and should protest if they see injustice, such as abuses of police power against Blacks or anyone. It looks like the Biden White House might be lying about the Brittney Griner prisoner swap. Top editors give you the stories you want . WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted from a court room ater a hearing in Khimki, just outside Moscow, on Aug. 4, 2022. Right-wing political commentator Sebastian Gorka also took to Twitter to poke at the WNBA star. !, So sick of this false narrative that BG hated the US. On the bright side, she has not had to hear the National Anthem for 170 days.https://t.co/t7tqWBjaBa, Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) August 6, 2022. Article by Kate Fagan, www.espn.com. Honestly, I like how unique it is. Alas, the court denied the sought annulment, so Griner got stuck with the order to pay child support for the twins. Phoenix Mercury's Brittney Griner Will Not Be on Court for National Anthem This Season. Anybody that's different, be who you are. I know many Americans lack compassion due to all the chaos that happens regularly in our country., BG [Brittney Griner] is my friend and teammate and one of the kindest people I know. 137. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. ET): Brittney Griner was freed from Russian imprisonment Thursday after U.S. and Russian officials successfully negotiated a prisoner swap. Happily, she ended up marrying the fiance anyway, but not happily ever after. Rather, when Griners lesbian wife revealed that she was pregnant with twins conceived in vitro Mazal Tov! I don't want to play just to play; I want to play to win, and I wanted to win it all. Yes theres an article where we state the anthem should not be played, but she goes on to also say how she has pride for her country. Stay up to date with what you want to know. You'll always see me outdoors - mountain biking, going to the park, going outside throwing the football. ATVs, dirt bikes. This material may not be reproduced without permission. However, despite all this, many believe that Griner is anti-American. 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. You can't control injuries, but you can control how hard you work to come back. If you want to know more or withdraw your consent to all or some of the cookies, please refer to the. 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.. Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) August 5, 2022. As far as Brittney Griner, the Phoenix Mercury center and 2019 WNBA MVP runner-up, is concerned, there's no valid reason for playing the national anthem before sports events and she plans to . After all, she has just come out of jail, which she spent her time in, surrounded by people she had connections to. We were astonished at how up to date he was on Austin's case and how committed his to getting him home. Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly! Brittney Griner is the center of the Venn diagram in which all these trends overlap. Snopes Collection: George Floyd Protests. It hit rock bottom when I was in seventh grade. Now that's rich. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Quotes.net. As expected, most did not take well to Brittney Griner's comments regarding the national anthem. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Pure confusion and denial.. After WNBA star Brittney Griner was convicted of smuggling at a drug trial and sentenced to nine years in the Russian prison system, some conservative personalities used her sentence to point out a remark made by Griner two years prior. Well Buttercup, too bad She wants to have the U.S. trade her for a Russian spy who has killed Americans? Brittney Griner, detained in Russia, faces up to 20 years in prison. "I'm not going to be out there for the National Anthem. Sports. Brittney Griner. "I honestly feel we should not play the National Anthem during our season.". That's something I think has hurt us as a society. Washington Post. The best of America? It's just, 'Put it in a box and forget about it, push it to the back.' Brett Favre from Atlanta to Green Bay in exchange for a draft pick. I'm just hard on myself. You were lost and gone forever. She got several awards as the best player in the WNBA . Ivan Fedotov was in the hospital, at least in fact, but for some reason Ivan Fedotov was not listed as the other patients. It will be all season long, Ill not be out there. But during moments of international crisis like the early days of the pandemic or right now, as Russia wages war in Ukraine WNBA players taking on second jobs overseas becomes all the more perilous. Get the recap of top opinion commentary and original content throughout the week. But also, that America is a place that has gone to extraordinary lengths to save her life. Watch on. Being able to move, pivot around and dribble better were the big things I wanted to add to my game, as well as stretching out my game so I can shoot away from the basket better. I honestly feel we should not play the National Anthem during our season, Griner told AZ Central in 2020. www.washingtonpost.com, https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/07/28/brittney-griner-brianna-turner-call-wnba-stop-playing-national-anthem-this-season/. Solomon: Cheering Brittney Griner's prison sentence is un-American. Dec 8, 2022. For those of you who don't regularly watch women's basketball: Brittney Griner is probably the most successful female player of all time. Market data provided by Factset. "Brittney Griner, Brianna Turner Call for WNBA to Stop Playing National Anthem This Season." According to The New York Times, Griner's arrest could be linked to a Russian effort "to create leverage for a potential prisoner exchange with the American government or a reduction in sanctions related to the [Ukraine] invasion." https://www.snopes.com/ap/2022/08/04/russian-prosecutors-seek-9-12-year-sentence-for-griner/. I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that that is far from this courtroom., Related:WNBA Star Brittney Griner Sentenced To 9 Years In RussianPrison, EVGENIA NOVOZHENINA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images. She takes it to another level and is basically another coach on the floor. Aug. 4, 2022 Updated: Aug. 5, 2022 9:13 a.m. WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist . Griner faces up to 10 years in jail for the charge, and prosecutors asked for 9.5 years in closing arguments. He is the only NCAA basketball player to score 2,000 points and block 500 shots. The diplomat's comments marked the first . Seven-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February for possession of vape cartridges filled with cannabis oil. league-maximum $227,900 annual base salary. I've heard, 'Oh, she's not a female, she's a male.'. Mark McGwire from Oakland to St. Louis in exchange for T.J. Matthews, Blake Stein, and Eric Ludwick. Russian Prosecutors Seek 9 1/2-Year Sentence for Griner. At this moment, we can't say exactly how things are. I'm going to be Brett Favre: 'Yeah, I'm retiring Naah, I'm coming back!'. The basketball star made her comments during a teleconference in July 2020, reported Arizona Republic at the time. On the bright side, B Griner wont have to endure our National Anthem for 9 whole years! Brittney Griner is not being asked to pay a debt to her country for the deal that ended her torment. He was Chief Articles Editor of UCLA Law Review and clerked for the Hon. Retweets. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. There is so much to unpack that I don't even know where to start. Break the hashtag, set Britney free, make a deal! Riya starts off by saying this. Brittney Yevette Griner is an American professional women's basketball center with the Phoenix Mercury of the Women's National Basketball Association. Market data provided by Factset. What is One America News?One America News (OAN) was founded in 2013 by Robert Herring and grew in popularity with Donald Trump. I don't say that I'm the best in the country, because I always criticize myself so hard. Calls it racist and unjust. Ms Griner, a nine-year veteran of the league - is the "best of the best", said Melissa Isaacson, a sportswriter and . WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner drinks water as she listens to the verdict in a cage in a courtroom in Khimki, just outside Moscow, on Aug. 4, 2022. You're not going to be hesitant to take a shot, you're not going to be hesitant to make a certain move. - Brittney Griner. Quote Tweets. Article by Kate Fagan, www.espn.com. It was my rookie duty. Griner is one of 11 women to receive Olympic gold medals, NCAA Championships, FIBA World Cup gold medals and WNBA championships. While the WNBA still plans to play the song . 24.2K. Im not going to be out there for the National Anthem. I've had moments when I questioned my place in the world. Improve yourself, find your inspiration, share with friends, This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. 2:25. WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted from a court room ater a hearing in Khimki, just outside Moscow, on Aug. 4, 2022. How do you think the Russians are viewing it? 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Once I came out in sports, I basically told myself, 'I'm coming out, officially. "Brittney Griner hates America" was trending after Griner's arrest Russia-imprisoned WNBA star Brittney Griner said in 2020 that the national anthem should not be played before WNBA games and vowed to protest if it was played. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. At the time, talk about a possible prisoner swap had started to make rounds online. Standing for "The Star Spangled Banner" would be a very welcome way to show that you love her back. I would love to be an ambassador for Baylor, to show my school pride, but it's hard to do that - it's hard to stand up and say, 'Baylor is the best!' Brittany Griner is escorted by police before her hearing in Russia. In July 2020, amid the George Floyd protests sweeping across the nation, WNBA star Brittney Griner vowed not to take the court during the national anthem for the entire season. Don't worry about what other people are going to say, because they're always going to say something, but, if you're just true to yourself, let that shine through. Baylor finished its undefeated season with 40 wins, the most in NCAA history. I'm a big supporter of the LGBT community and stopping bullying. Fellow Phoenix Mercury playerBrianna Turner on August 4, the day Griner was sentenced, defended her teammate. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM DAVID MARCUS, David Marcus is a columnist living in West Virginia and the author of "Charade: The COVID Lies That Crushed A Nation.". We've seen protests on Brittney Griner's behalf in New York, Washington and other cities. Others dramatized Griner's 2020 protest, attacking her character and suggesting that she was "begging the country [she] despise[s] for help.". 67.9K. She didn't want to give America or those who fought for our freedoms their due respect. The U.S. government offered a deal to Russia to bring Griner home, as well as another jailed American named Paul Whelan. Had she made even a fraction of what her NBA counterparts do while playing domestically, Griner could have stayed in the United States for the offseason without fear that she wouldn't have enough money for retirement. Reading what people say makes me want to be me even more. Who Is Keith Appling, Former NBA Player Accused of Second Degree Murder. Where have we seen this before? I like extreme sports too. I go canoeing, kayaking, anything really. My dad was in Vietnam and a law officer for 30 years. A US marine, Paul Whalen, was not in the deal and was left to rot in a Russian prison. "How Slam-Dunking, Gender-Bending WNBA Rookie Brittney Griner Is Changing the World of Sports" by Laurie Abraham, www.elle.com. If we are being honest, it is justified that she doesnt look like her usual self. June 21, 202206:43. Accessed 9 Aug. 2022. Reports have stated that Russia will get back Viktor Bout, an arms dealer nicknamed "The Merchant of Death.". All rights reserved. Brittney Griner had a advantage of living in solitary confinement without human contact by having played in the WNBA. I'm a different player. Accessed 9 Aug. 2022. I am a student and a blogger all alone, Gurmeet. The USA has exchanged arms dealer Viktor Bout for Griner. Its easy to spread hate on social media. When I go into a sports bar, some of the people I wouldn't think would watch women's basketball are there watching. Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes. The same America that has now sacrificed so that she may come home. Russian state prosecutors had requested 9.5 years in prison for Ms Griner, who said in her closing remarks that bringing the vape cartridges into Russia had been "an . "When the national anthem [was . (Alexander Zemlianichenko / Associated Press) From the hell of a Russian penal colony, an American basketball superstar pleads for her freedom. Last month, Turner was more specific about Griners Left-wing activism, which she strongly defended. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Last week, Griner pleaded guilty to criminal drug charges . I can only speak for myself. I think its easy to be an outsider and wish the worst. I've always been pretty athletic, but when I got really tall, I just felt awkward. I think that's what makes life beautiful: everyone is different and we can all learn from one another. 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. They say America is back? I would love to individually respond and annihilate every negative viewpoint I receive but that would be a waste of my time. I made an honest mistake and I hope that in your ruling that it doesnt end my life here. Remember that Brittany Griner opposed the American flag and anthem by telling the WNBA that these hate symbols have no place in the WNBA. In America, you can point your middle finger at the American flag and be rewarded with streams of encomia muttered by the presidents spokesperson. They both hate America. Hes always down for a chat about Cristiano Ronaldo and Kobe Bryant's greatness. I've always been open about who I am and my sexuality. With the much . I don't have a soft voice. What a win for her!. Instead of holding in so much. Brittney Griner, the American basketball star detained in Moscow on allegations of drug smuggling, will remain in custody for at least two more months, Russian media reported Thursday. Following the news of the prisoner swap, "Brittney Griner hates America" continues to trend. And a link to a video. I think we should take that much of a stand., I dont mean that in any disrespect to our country, she said. I don't want to play just to play; I want to play to win, and I wanted to win it all. Following the news of the prisoner swap, "Brittney Griner hates America" continues to trend. listen to that voice. Update this biography Griner's teammate, Brianna Turner, couldn't agree more. 64. I never wanted to deny who I was, but dealing with the sadness and the anger that came from people constantly making fun of me wore me down at times. Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) December 8, 2022, A user tweeted, I have seen reports that they had the choice to select former US Marine Paul Whelan and went with the anti-American drug using WNBA basketball player.. After their release, four of the cutthroats rose to become Taliban leaders in Afghanistan. Associated Press. No one's telling you what to do, nothing's planned out. I wanted to help the younger me, when I was a kid, give them somebody for them to look up to. Her comments about the anthem resurfaced online after sentencing. Joe Biden gave up a Russian terrorist in exchange for anti-American WNBA player, Brittney Griner. I went into high school at 6 feet and left at 6-7 and then grew another inch in college. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie . (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images), 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. Brittney Griner hates America. Footwork is the foundation to my offensive game. Don't worry about what other people are going to say, because they're always going to say something, but, if you're just true to yourself, let that shine through. He likewise has held leadership roles in several national Jewish organizations, including Zionist Organization of America, Rabbinical Council of America, and regional boards of the American Jewish Committee and Bnai Brith Hillel Foundation. 2023. The WNBA star has been detained in Russia since February 2022 for drug possession. Turner, too, is against the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner at WNBA games. I didn't even play basketball. In that . broke the law in Russia after putting down the United States. Its simply what America does for Americans. American basketball star Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia and faces drug smuggling charges. Brittney Griner: How much weed did have| Drug charges, Brittney Griner: Who does russia want to trade for| Wife occupation. Happy, Strong, Women. You don't turn the cheek. My dad and my mom have always told me, 'Be who you are.'. Brittney Griner from Apr 18, 2013, There is a mistake in the text of this quote. Sure, love is love but, hey, child support is child support, especially when earning WNBA numbers. Brittney Griner. WNBA star Brittney Griner didn't want any alone time as soon as she boarded a U.S. government plane that would bring her home. A Russian court sentenced U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison on Thursday after finding her guilty of deliberately bringing cannabis-infused vape cartridges into Russia, a . Languished a whiner, I stand out in the world and I love that about myself. Please logout and login again. Italian Mike2 (@ItalysMike54) December 8, 2022. Jerome Solomon , Staff writer. 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. Welcome home, Brittney Griner, America loves you. Web. (The good news for her is that child support runs only 18 years or so, twice a Russian prison sentence for smuggling in illegal drugs. 'Outnumbered' reacts to Brittney Griner's release from Russian prison, Charade: The COVID Lies That Crushed A Nation. Fishing, hunting, hog hunting. I'm a competitor, you know. I had somebody say to me, 'You should play more ladylike.' Griner and other women's basketball stars command much higher salaries overseas than in the US. Should US Marine Paul Whelan still be in a Russian prison? Honestly, I could sit on the couch, kick my feet up, play some video games - some 'Modern Warfare.'. Bostons Jeff Bagwell to Houston for Larry Anderson. To the Editor: Let me get this straight. ", Back in August, Brittney Griner received her sentence from a Russian court. I was bullied in every way imaginable, but the worst was the verbal abuse. Also a million ruble fine. Mercury President Vince Kozar gave Insider behind-the-scenes details of Griner's return to Phoenix. You never want to change that. Every day we present the best quotes! Going into the bathroom, I still get the shocked look, like, 'Are you supposed to be in here?' Most importantly, had she been offered an opportunity to make $1 million in America instead of Russia, Griner could have avoided jail time under a hostile foreign power. And no matter how much support I felt as a basketball player at Baylor, it still doesn't erase all the pain I felt there. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Russia has admitted that it is in talks with the US to exchange a notorious arms dealer for basketball player Brittney Griner, a Russian diplomat said. If the league continues to want to play it, thats fine. WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner stands listening to a verdict in a courtroom in Khimki, just outside Moscow, on Aug. 4, 2022. The price he paid for her freedom was releasing . BRITTNEY GRINER RELEASED FROM RUSSIAN PRISON IN SWAP FOR CONVICTED ARMS DEALER. In Russia, by contrast, you bring in vape cartridges and hash oils, and you can end up in prison for life. Some ingrate woman (whatever that word means), a basketball player, now has been described by Joe Bidens official mouthpiece, Karine Jean-Pierre another masterpiece as represent[ing] the best of America. Putins people had busted the Ingrate in February for bringing vape cartridges containing cannabis oils through a Moscow airport. I first came out to my mom in the ninth grade. 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. His writings have appeared in, Hunter Biden Cashed In to Fuel His Drug and Sex Habits, Targeting People With Mental Illness and Dementia for Euthanasia. She did mention that she meant no disrespect to the country and highlighted that her dad was represented the countrys law system and war efforts. I wanted to be a cop before basketball. Griner (right) competes for Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA . Complete biography of Brittney Griner . We won the national championship. Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. ", Following Griner's sentencing in Russia, some social media users mocked Griner's two-year-old sentiment, among them conservative personality Tomi Lahren. It's taken me a long time to figure out exactly where I fit. I always say I don't want to change the game - just add to it. I never thought a big coming out was necessary. July 17, 2022. With UMMC Ekaterinburg, she reportedly earns $1 million per season, according to The Arizona Republic's Jeff Metcalfe. US officials: Russia frees WNBA player Brittney Griner in prisoner swap, with US releasing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. He is the only NCAA basketball player to score 2,000 points and block 500 shots. Your login session has expired. https://www.snopes.com/ap/2022/08/04/wnbas-griner-convicted-at-drug-trial-sentenced-to-9-years/. Menu. A final thing about Griner and it has to do with one of the best quotes I've seen about her. According to an expert, there's a good reason for this. During that journey, I realized that everyone has a unique place in this world. Likes. . Lisa Leslie dunked, that inspired me to dunk. MANORCO PVT LTD 2022 | All Rights Reserved, Former NBA Player Paul Pierce Ordered to Pay $1.4 Million in Crypto Scam After Allegedly Making False Promotional Statements, All the Stars Who Are Injured for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game. This is the case even though her release was sought-after by thousands of Americans. pic.twitter.com/NWqHVKmRZ1, Brianna Turner (@_Breezy_Briii) July 12, 2022, Before Griner was sentenced, the 6-foot, 9-inch WNBA star told the court she never meant to break any laws and made an honest mistake., I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never meant to break any laws here, she said. Many believe the USA should not have swapped her for Viktor Bout, especially considering the fact that they believe shes anti-American. Bill Russell from the St. Louis Hawks to the Celtics in return for Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan. Madison Dapcevich is a former writer for Snopes. Lib Fails (@LibFails) December 8, 2022, Biden Sends Merchant of Death Arms Dealer Back to Russia for a woke anti-American WNBA Player Brittney Griner! , What do both prisoners have in common? A dunk, won some money for a fan, had over 600 shoes brought in, it definitely didnt turn out that way at the end. While some Republicans argue Biden should have gotten more out the deal, specifically the freedom of former Marine Paul Whelan, we can all agree that the U.S. paid a real price for Griners release, not just by putting Bout back in the killing game, but also by sending a message to other foreign dictators that absconding with American citizens can be a powerful bargaining chip. Following these comments, the narrative started to form that Brittney Griner hates America. The panel reacted to the Brittney Griner prisoner swap and the Biden administration's failure to secure Paul Whelan's release. I don't really feel the pressure when people say, 'You're changing the game, you've gotta keep doing it.' I wanted to be a cop before basketball. In the summer of 2020, Brittney Griner . Free Brittney GrinerRussia detained the most-famous WNBA player. A convicted Russian arms dealer, aka the Merchant of Death, in exchange for an America-hating gay pothead. When I first started playing basketball, my coordination was horrible! This woman/man (who knows?) I think of some of the worst trades ever: But nothing compares to an Obama-Biden trade.