RUSSIA - WNBA star Brittney Griner, Detained @ Sheremetyevo International Airport, 2022 *Guilty*

[gitana1]

I'm in no way saying she should still be imprisoned. I do have so many parts of this situation I don't understand. If you are "lesbian, American, and Black," and it will put you in more danger to be in a particular country, then why in the world would you repeatedly go there to play basketball? She should be able to go anywhere in the world that she desires, but the reality of life is that she can't in certain places without facing more danger. I guess I'm getting too old and cautious. I'm pretty sure I'd stay far away from these kinds of countries. Hopefully, her situation will serve as great education for others. I'm sure she wants something good to come from her situation.

The reason someone like her would go to a country like that is because of a disparity in pay compared to NBA players. WNBA players often supplement their income playing in other nations.

Be that as it may, she was probably fairly safe until the military buildup by Russia on the border with Ukraine. She should have immediately come home then. But familiarity causes complacency. Who knew she would become a pawn?

The fact is, it is prison where she faced the most risks, rather than living in Russia as a ball player there.

Regardless, we Americans don’t tend to leave people to their own devices, when they get into trouble due to risky behavior. People who overdose get Narcan. People who go off high into the wilderness get rescued. People who venture to close to a cliff or fast-moving water, we try to save them. People who get into trouble in other countries, even due to their own stupidity- we try to help them. Etc. It’s who we are as a people.

 

[SugarQueen]

WNBA players are severely underpaid and need to make enough money to make a living and save for a retirement. The career length for players like this is significantly smaller compared to the average person's career.

I understand wnba players don’t make as much as men but I do think she’s making a decent living just playing in the USA. Over $200,000 is nothing to sneeze at.
I admire anyone who is willing to work a little harder than they have to. No way would I do it in Russia, but that was her choice to make.

Is Brittney Griner Receiving Her WNBA Salary While in Russian Jail?

Griner is still in a Russian jail, but she could return home if a prisoner exchange plan is completed.

www.newsweek.com

Brittney Griner | WNBA Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.com

Brittney Griner contract and salary cap details, full contract breakdowns, salaries, signing bonus, roster bonus, dead money, and valuations.

www.spotrac.com

I wonder if BG will continue to play in Russia??
The deal is done. I guess we just sit back and pray Viktor Bout suddenly decides to be a good guy? We pray we don’t regret what our administration has done.

 

[PriorTheCreator]

I understand wnba players don’t make as much as men but I do think she’s making a decent living just playing in the USA. Over $200,000 is nothing to sneeze at.
I admire anyone who is willing to work a little harder than they have to. No way would I do it in Russia, but that was her choice to make.

Is Brittney Griner Receiving Her WNBA Salary While in Russian Jail?

Griner is still in a Russian jail, but she could return home if a prisoner exchange plan is completed.

www.newsweek.com

Brittney Griner | WNBA Contracts & Salaries | Spotrac.com

Brittney Griner contract and salary cap details, full contract breakdowns, salaries, signing bonus, roster bonus, dead money, and valuations.

www.spotrac.com

I wonder if BG will continue to play in Russia??
The deal is done. I guess we just sit back and pray Viktor Bout suddenly decides to be a good guy? We pray we don’t regret what our administration has done.

She is making 200 for only 5-10 years in the league. That will not be available when she retires. Also to make that much you have to take care of your body and trainers, coaches, chefs all cost alot of money. LeBron James spends 1million on his body every year.

If we paid the athletes what they were worth, she wouldnt have to look to play overseas

 

[familymem]

WNBA players are severely underpaid and need to make enough money to make a living and save for a retirement. The career length for players like this is significantly smaller compared to the average person's career.

I understand that, it is a big problem. That said, how many of you watch the WNBA? follow a team? buy a players jersey? It is a business and if there isn't as much demand for your product, you can't spend as much on salaries. Doesn't seem fair but that is how this world works. What I don't understand is why a Russian team would pay her a million dollars to play if her being black and gay would automatically make her hated? Personally, in all of the photo's coming out of Russia she never looked mis treated. Yes, she was depressed; I would be too. Prison isn't fun and certainly not what she is used to or ever expected. I don't believe she belonged in prison, nor do half the people we have incarcerated. But all of the comments about what would have happened to her, that she was set up and forced to confess, that her life was endanger because of who she was. That is just pure speculation. I am not mad that people wanted her released and brought home. I do however think that Russia is laughing their &*E#ss off at us for exchanging a basketball player for a dangerous arms dealer all while we slap their hands over the war in Ukraine. We basically gave them someone to help further that war so a celebrity could come home. But, that is just pure speculation on my part.

 

[Morag]

Trump said that he was offered Whelan in exchange for Boot several years ago. But he refused to make a deal, leaving Whelan languishing in prison. We can’t make Russia take an offer, so we decided to get at least one of our citizens home. There might never have been another chance to rescue Brittney.

 

[Mojito]

Maybe the squeaky shoe gets the grease?! lol.
rbbm.
View attachment 386730

Why Are Basketball Games So Squeaky? Consider the Spiny Lobster (Published 2017)

The sound of shoes skidding on hardwood can be explained by shoe designers, rubber scientists, mechanical engineers and a biologist.

www.nytimes.com

''It is the unofficial soundtrack of basketball, a noise consistently heard but rarely considered — rubber-soled shoes squeaking on the hardwood.

Squeaks are the background rhythm to the game. But that sound is also one of the enduring mysteries of sports, and presents a question that gets scientists talking: Why do basketball shoes squeak?''

I love the sound. One of my favorite sports, to watch. That's hard work all that running.

 

[familymem]

She is making 200 for only 5-10 years in the league. That will not be available when she retires. Also to make that much you have to take care of your body and trainers, coaches, chefs all cost alot of money. LeBron James spends 1million on his body every year.

If we paid the athletes what they were worth, she wouldnt have to look to play overseas

We don't pay teachers, nurses, or first responders what they are worth, why should athletes be any different.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

We don't pay teachers, nurses, or first responders what they are worth, why should athletes be any different.

I agree that we do not value nor compensate teachers anywhere near adequately, but I will just share why athletes make the big bucks (please don't assume I agree or don't agree, just sharing).

Athletes bring in BIG money for communities, schools, etc. and their sports and all that entails, employs A LOT of people.

We could easily argue that teachers in turn generate successful people who in turn also help their communities and also might bring in BIG money, but it is not as immediate so we don't see it nor compensate as readily.

All IMO and worthy of a real discussion.

 

[sds71]

Griner also specifically thanked Biden ad urged the U.S. to continue to fight to bring imprisoned ex-Marine Paul Whelan home from Russia.

"President Biden, you brought me home and I know you are committed to bringing Paul Whelan and all Americans home too," she wrote. "I will use my platform to do whatever I can to help you. I also encourage everyone that played a part in bringing me home to continue their efforts to bring all Americans home. Every family deserves to be whole."

Brittney Griner speaks out for 1st time since being released from Russian prison

Brittney Griner thanked her family and friends and credited her faith for surviving her time in custody on Friday in her first comments since being released from Russia.

abcnews.go.com

Brittney Griner is back home and she intends to play basketball this season | CNN

Brittney Griner departed a medical military facility in Texas on Friday and returned home to Arizona, vowing in an Instgram post to play in the WNBA this season as she took another step in her reintegration into American life after her detention in Russia.

www.cnn.com

 

[Marysmith]

Griner urges supporters to contact Whelan, help Americans detained abroad

"There remain too many families with loved ones wrongfully detained," Griner wrote in a letter posted on her Instagram account.

www.reuters.com

 

[sds71]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1651630362613751816

 

[tarabull]

Brittney Griner is honored in Washington despite missing Mercury's game with a hip injury - World News

Brittney Griner waved to fans who applauded her as she walked onto the court, embraced Elena Della Donne and signed an autograph before taking a seat on the bench. A video tribute and standing ovation followed at the first timeout.

www.castanet.net

 

[sds71]

"My emotions are all over the place," Griner said. "It means so much to me. My family didn't think I would be here, like I've said before, and then to be here and win and gold for my country, representing when my country fought for me so hard to even be standing here. Yeah, this gold medal is going to hold a special place."

Griner: Gold 'means so much' after Russia ordeal

A third gold medal with the U.S. women's basketball team hit differently for Brittney Griner after she went through the ordeal of being imprisoned in Russia in 2022.

www.espn.com

 

[Inthedetails]

"My emotions are all over the place," Griner said. "It means so much to me. My family didn't think I would be here, like I've said before, and then to be here and win and gold for my country, representing when my country fought for me so hard to even be standing here. Yeah, this gold medal is going to hold a special place."

Griner: Gold 'means so much' after Russia ordeal

A third gold medal with the U.S. women's basketball team hit differently for Brittney Griner after she went through the ordeal of being imprisoned in Russia in 2022.

www.espn.com

Very touching. I can't even imagine how it must feel for her.

 

[Trebor5591]

WNBA players are severely underpaid and need to make enough money to make a living and save for a retirement. The career length for players like this is significantly smaller compared to the average person's career.

Only a very few professional athletes make enough to make a good living and save for retirement.

NFL (National Football League): Each team has a 53-man active roster, and there are 32 teams. That totals around 1,696 players.

NBA (National Basketball Association): Each team has a 15-man roster, and there are 30 teams. That totals around 450 players.

MLB (Major League Baseball): Each team has a 26-man active roster (with variations during the season), and there are 30 teams. That totals around 780 players.

NHL (National Hockey League): Each team has a 23-man roster, and there are 32 teams. That totals around 736 players.

Adding these together, the total number of players across all four leagues would be approximately 3,662 players. Better for young people to study hard, get good grades in school, and then get a good job either in a trade or in a profession, than to spend time and energy on becoming a "professional athlete". Being a "professional athlete" is pretty much a "pipe dream", IMO.

 

[Inthedetails]

Only a very few professional athletes make enough to make a good living and save for retirement.

NFL (National Football League): Each team has a 53-man active roster, and there are 32 teams. That totals around 1,696 players.

NBA (National Basketball Association): Each team has a 15-man roster, and there are 30 teams. That totals around 450 players.

MLB (Major League Baseball): Each team has a 26-man active roster (with variations during the season), and there are 30 teams. That totals around 780 players.

NHL (National Hockey League): Each team has a 23-man roster, and there are 32 teams. That totals around 736 players.

Adding these together, the total number of players across all four leagues would be approximately 3,662 players. Better for young people to study hard, get good grades in school, and then get a good job either in a trade or in a profession, than to spend time and energy on becoming a "professional athlete". Being a "professional athlete" is pretty much a "pipe dream", IMO.

The women's team brought home the gold for USA in the Olympics. Sounds like an occasion (and achievement!) to celebrate. It's a pipe dream the vast majority of us could never realize, and I'm impressed and proud.

jmo

 

[Rikissa]

The women's team brought home the gold for USA in the Olympics. Sounds like an occasion (and achievement!) to celebrate. It's a pipe dream the vast majority of us could never realize, and I'm impressed and proud.

jmo

Besides the honour and gold medals the US athlets get some prize money, for a gold medal it's $37,500. Not much compared to the sums gold medalists from somecother countries gets.

How much money does each player of the women’s basketball Team USA make for winning the gold medal in Paris 2024?

The Americans made history in Paris by clinching the gold medal by the tightest of margins in an intense final against France.

en.as.com

 

[Elley Mae]

Imagine the massive amount of arms he could move in 5 years. Now imagine how much destruction they can cause. Now imagine how many people could potentially die in those 5 years.
If we kept him those 5 years how man lives would it have saved?

He’s back at his old job.

Putin’s ‘Merchant of Death’ Is Back in the Arms Business. This Time Selling to the Houthis.

https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/putins-merchant-of-death-is-back-in-the-arms-business-this-time-selling-to-the-houthis-10b7f521?st=VXbHBh&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Viktor Bout, the Russian arms dealer known as the “Merchant of Death,” walked out of a U.S. prison almost two years ago in a trade with Moscow for U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner. Now he is back in business, trying to broker the sale of small arms to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants.

 

[SugarQueen]

He’s back at his old job

Selling to the Houthis, how nice ( insert dripping sarcasm). It’s all good, we got back a law breaking basketball player. I’m sure the people of Israel won’t mind.

 

[sds71]

Paul Whelan credits Brittney Griner for ‘great help’ in his release from Russia

Retired US marine, sentenced to 16 years in prison, says NBA star made sure he wasn’t forgotten after she got out

www.theguardian.com