“You can’t handle Vladimir Putin” Dennis Rodman will NOT go to Russia to save Brittney Griner
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Dennis Rodman, Brittney Griner
After Brittney Griner was detained in Russia for smuggling illicit substances, former NBA star Dennis Rodman declined to help the fellow NBA player. Rodman said he had permission to go to Russia in order to assist in Griner’s release; however, after receiving a statement from the White House, he has since changed his mind. Dennis didn’t seem to have “approval” from the White House for his choice to travel to Russia and attempt to secure Griner’s release. The White House was not a fan of Rodman’s concept and believes it may actually make it more difficult for Griner to be released, according to an official in President Joe Biden’s administration.
Griner, 31, a star in the Women’s National Basketball Association and two-time Olympic gold medalist, was found guilty of drug offenses earlier this month and sentenced to nine years in prison by a Russian court. Rodman will not be visiting Russia for the first time; he has already engaged in hidden diplomacy with world leaders whose relations with the United States have been poor. After Griner’s arrest caused a public outcry throughout the world, the White House looked at other ways to secure her release. The US has proposed a prisoner trade in order to free Griner, but Russia hasn’t publicly opposed.
The storyline so far in Brittney Griner’s case
Brittney Griner, the Player of the Year at Baylor University and the 2012 National College Champion, joined the WNBA after being chosen by the Phoenix Mercury in the first round of the 2013 WNBA Draft. The 31-year-old, who is regarded as one of the league’s greatest defenders, was chosen in 2021 as one of the top 25 players in WNBA history. Since beginning her professional career in 2013 with the US women’s national basketball team, she has won two Olympic gold medals, a WNBA title, and other honours. She gained attention as the first out gay athlete to sign a lucrative contract with Nike.
Brittney Griner has been detained by Russian authorities ever since she was arrested on February 17 at the Sheremetyevo International Airport on the grounds that she had vape cartridges filled with hashish oil, which are prohibited in Russia. Griner competes in international teams during the WNBA summer season, like many other female basketball players, to raise her earnings and stay consistent with her performance. Griner was detained as she made her way to the UMMC Ekaterinburg team in the Russian Women’s Basketball Premier League. She was sentenced to 9 years in jail earlier this month even though her attorneys had filed an appeal.
Dennis Rodman finally backs off from his Russian trip!
Initially, Dennis Rodman told the media that he had been given permission to go to Russia and facilitate in Griner’s release and also indicated that later in the same week, he would be travelling. Rodman has now changed his mind after a spokesperson for the State Department said he wouldn’t be travelling on behalf of the government in a White House announcement, as a result the visit was cancelled. They further stated that any action conducted outside of the permitted channels might complicate and impede the release operations. Officials had previously warned Dennis about his conduct and stated that his trip was not on the Government payroll.
According to reports, the US and Russia are reportedly negotiating a prisoner swap for Griner on a diplomatic level. The entire procedure is still a secret and might lead to the player’s release. Rodman has spent the past decade attempting to increase his stature as a sort of cultural diplomat, but he hasn’t exactly infused faith in his ability to contribute to the reversal of Griner’s sentence. Rodman’s offer to help seems entirely spontaneous, but it’s possible that his earlier experiences with Russia inspired him to do so.
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Irvin Philip
(701 Articles Published)