Disclaimer: This article may contain the viewpoint and opinion of the author.
Once again, embattled WNBA athlete Brittney Griner is in the news. On the off chance, dear reader, that you’re not caught up with Griner and her situation. In early February, Griner was arrested in Russia by authorities for being in possession of vaporizer cartridges that contain hash oil. In the aftermath of her arrest, he was detained, of course, and in now in the process of trial. In the interim, she has effectively begged that country that she has previously spoken out against for help. While America shouldn’t “disown” one of her own, there is a little irony to be had there.
It is now being reported by MSN.COM that:
WNBA star Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia for over five months, was found guilty on drug charges in a Moscow-area court Thursday. She was then sentenced to nine years in prison.
The judge found that Griner had criminal intent and said she was guilty of smuggling and storing illegal drugs. Griner, a 31-year-old Houston native who plays professional basketball for the Phoenix Mercury, was detained on Feb. 17 at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Khimki as she returned to Russia to play during the WNBA’s offseason after she was accused of having vape cartridges containing hashish oil, which is illegal in the country.
It was further reported by Fox News that Griner wanted to issue, predictably, an apology which may or may not have been full-hearted:
“I want to apologize to my teammates, my club, my fans and the city of (Yekaterinburg) for my mistake that I made and the embarrassment that I brought on them,” she said. “I want to also apologize to my parents, my siblings, the Phoenix Mercury organization back at home, the amazing women of the WNBA, and my amazing spouse back at home.”
Griner contended she made “an honest mistake” when she brought vape cartridges containing oils derived from cannabis into a Moscow airport back in February, adding, “I hope in your ruling it does not end my life.”
Griner was returning to her Russian basketball team, UMMC Ekaterinburg, after there was a pause in the season for international play. She called Yekaterinburg her “second home.”
“I had no idea that the team, the cities, the fans, my teammates would make such a great impression on me over the 6 1/2 years that I spent here. I remember vividly coming out of the gym and all the little girls that were in the stands there waiting on me, and that’s what kept making me come back here,” she said.
These so-called apologies very often seem to fall on deaf ears. How many of these apologies are genuine? That is a question that most people have likely asked themselves. One suspects that doubt pervades their answers.
So, Griner is in the abjection stage of the posturing process that seems to plague many Americans, such as Colin Kaepernick and Megan Rapinoe. So, this a tune that we have all heard before and it’s a music of which we are very likely growing tired. The ridiculous apologies and the victim mentality that goes along with it.
