“We left a SC*M BAG on the streets,” Charles Barkley deems Brittney Griner’s rescue ‘bittersweet’ as ‘Mr.Whelan’ gets left behind

“We left a SC*M BAG on the streets,” Charles Barkley deems Brittney Griner’s rescue ‘bittersweet’ as ‘Mr.Whelan’ gets left behind

Charles Barkley Brittney Grier and Paul Whelan

NBA Hall of Famer turned analyst Charles Barkley shared his bitter-sweet feelings when he heard about WNBA star Brittney Griner’s release from the Russian penal colony. The former Phoenix Suns star was pleased with this news but felt sad for ex-marine, Paul Whelan. Paul, who has been in a Russian jail since 2018 on espionage charges.

Charles Barkley was talking to CNN, where he quoted, “Obviously really good news on Brittney, the NBA family and the WNBA family, but obviously I think we were all kind of surprised and shocked that Mr. Whelan wasn’t part of the deal, I think that caught everybody off guard to be honest with you. I am greatly disappointed that more has not been done to secure my release.”

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Charles Barkley added, “For me, to get nine years over some stuff that isn’t even a big deal, and I don’t know all the facts of Mr. Whelan’s case, I think that people need to realize even though we got some issues and problems here, there’s nothing like the United States of America, It’s just an awful situation there.

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“So, on one hand I’m really happy for our NBA, WNBA family, but I feel for Mr. Whelan. He’s been there four years! But we also let a sc*m bag back out on the street!”

Also read What was Brittney Griner carrying in her bag? Know just why WNBA’s Tom Brady was held captive in Russia

Brittney Griner lands on home soil after a prisoner exchange with Viktor Bout

Brittney Griner
Brittney Griner

US basketball sensation Brittney Griner returned to her home country on Friday after being released from a Russian prison in exchange for an arms dealer Viktor Bout, serving a 25-year sentence in a US prison. Bout, a Russian arms dealer known as the ‘Merchant of Death,’ was detained in Thailand in 2008, extradited to the United States, and sentenced in 2012 to 25 years behind bars.

The WNBA player arrived at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston and was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center for a health check-up. The Phoenix Mercury star was arrested at a Moscow airport nine months ago.

The 32-year-old was accused of possession of vape cartridges filled with a small quantity of cannabis oil and sentenced to nine years in prison in August. Griner was later sent to the penal colony to continue her sentence further. The treatment given to the prisoners there was much worse, and it was starting to affect Griner’s mental health.

Also read Why was ‘Brittney Griner Hates America’ trending: Know all about it

Also read Brittney Griner’s release from Russian prison is way more than just sports

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