Britney Griner

[Fletch 5,800]

2 hours ago, Porterhouse said:

I have very little sympathy for anyone who travels to China or Russia. What is the point, ever, in going to these places?

Cause traveling and experiencing different cultures is fun as fuck. Let me guess, you’ve never left the states 

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, Fletch said:

Cause traveling and experiencing different cultures is fun as fuck. Let me guess, you’ve never left the states 

All the time. I actually go to Mexico and that’s pretty idiotic but I have my head on a swivel and limit my travel to Cabo. Going to Cayman in August. Go to UK, France and Italy a lot. You know, interesting places, safe places, historic places, places with (mostly) good food. Not communist backwaters. There is nothing “fun as fuck” about visiting China and especially Russia. 

[ztejas 43,411]

The more I think about it the more I'd place the blame on Griner's agent and handlers. She has people around her that are supposed to put her in the best situations. The fact that no one said "hey we should probably get out of Russia and in the meantime you should probably quit having weed on you" seems to have done her a pretty big disservice. 

But, a lot of these people are fucking morons and/or have conflicts of interest...

[Guest]

44 minutes ago, Zeus said:

yup

Imagine going on vacation then being eaten by an escalator or getting AIDS and your liver taken by a guy in a tracksuit.

Brazil is the other one lol

All I can think about is liveleak videos when I think of Brazil

 

I also wouldn’t ever go to Brazil if you paid me copious amounts but don’t want to offend Swayze, because he turns into an angry elf often. 

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, ztejas said:

The more I think about it the more I'd place the blame on Griner's agent and handlers. She has people around her that are supposed to put her in the best situations. The fact that no one said "hey we should probably get out of Russia and in the meantime you should probably quit having weed on you" seems to have done her a pretty big disservice. 

But, a lot of these people are fucking morons and/or have conflicts of interest...

But but but she could make $1 million in Russia. 

[Pimphand 5,732]

5 hours ago, Pam Cummings said:

Lmao. As if yall wouldnt go play basketball in Russia for $1m if you were her.

I don't think the issue is playing basketball in Russia it's playing basketball in Russia with drugs in your possession.....

Try visiting Singapore they will put you to death as stated on the immigration card

[closetohumping 17,433]

Was it olbermann that suggested a brittney for ovechkin trade?

[Zeus 6,012]

54 minutes ago, closetohumping said:

Was it olbermann that suggested a brittney for ovechkin trade?

MAYBE RUSSIA IS AFRAID!

[Brian Fantana 6,678]

2 hours ago, Porterhouse said:

All the time. I actually go to Mexico and that’s pretty idiotic but I have my head on a swivel and limit my travel to Cabo. Going to Cayman in August. Go to UK, France and Italy a lot. You know, interesting places, safe places, historic places, places with (mostly) good food. Not communist backwaters. There is nothing “fun as fuck” about visiting China and especially Russia. 

 

I'm not sure visiting highly Americanized resort town carve-outs that are meant to resemble the look and feel of being in America as much as possible count as visiting another country.

[Js1 85,270]

2 hours ago, Porterhouse said:

All the time. I actually go to Mexico and that’s pretty idiotic but I have my head on a swivel and limit my travel to Cabo. 

Wow, You go to Cabo??

[GreenspointTexas 9,598]

Shes getting fucked. We all know/knew that. But at this point something has to be done. Is she just gonna be detained over there until 2025?

[Rockethorn1978 6,072]

26 minutes ago, GreenspointTexas said:

Shes getting fucked. We all know/knew that. But at this point something has to be done. Is she just gonna be detained over there until 2025?

What would you suggest? Russia will ask for like the hardest criminal and watch us make that trade. Wouldn’t surprise me one bit.

[Guest]

2 hours ago, Brian Fantana said:

 

I'm not sure visiting highly Americanized resort town carve-outs that are meant to resemble the look and feel of being in America as much as possible count as visiting another country.

That’s precisely WHY I limit my travel there. Went to Mayakoba in ‘19 and Punta Mita year before that. I had two UT couple friends that had a driver murdered later in ‘19 in cartel related violence and won’t go anywhere but Cabo, despite a UT All-American being drugged in a downtown bar. 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, GreenspointTexas said:

Shes getting fucked. We all know/knew that. But at this point something has to be done. Is she just gonna be detained over there until 2025?

Yeah nothing other than diplomatic pressure ought to be done. 

[ztejas 43,411]

4 hours ago, closetohumping said:

Was it olbermann that suggested a brittney for ovechkin trade?

How about a Griner for Olbermann trade. 

[jimmyjazz 45,881]

4 hours ago, ztejas said:

How about a Griner for Olbermann Joe Buck trade. 

fify

[Dutchrudder 11,133]

Send in the Special Forces at night, raid the prison, exfiltrate her, bring her back home, and put her on TV to show Putin what a bitchass he really is. 'MERICA! FUCK YEAH!!!

[Vegas64 673]

If we didn't do anything when the Norks killed Otto Warmbier then I don't suspect we will do much outside of more of the same diplomatic pressure we are doing now for Britney Griner. But then again we got Trevor Reed back after his petty crimes by trading a Russian cocaine trafficker on a 20 year sentence, maybe we will find a good trade but it's going slower than Cleveland trading Baker Mayfield.

I do wonder if it was a more popular athlete or celebrity (or straight male) if things would be different though, as much as that sucks to say. 

[Laxtonto 12,078]

So she just admitted to it and said there was no intent to break Russian law..

Not sure if that is the strategy  I would have taken, but then again not sure if there is any other options either.

[HtownHorn 14,663]

22 minutes ago, Vegas64 said:

If we didn't do anything when the Norks killed Otto Warmbier then I don't suspect we will do much outside of more of the same diplomatic pressure we are doing now for Britney Griner. But then again we got Trevor Reed back after his petty crimes by trading a Russian cocaine trafficker on a 20 year sentence, maybe we will find a good trade but it's going slower than Cleveland trading Baker Mayfield.

I do wonder if it was a more popular athlete or celebrity (or straight male) if things would be different though, as much as that sucks to say. 

The funny part is Russia thinking anyone gives 2 shits about Britney Griner, such that a prisoner exchange would be worked out.

[MNLonghornFUKM 8,817]

Shes getting fucked. We all know/knew that. But at this point something has to be done. Is she just gonna be detained over there until 2025?

Is she?

America suddenly isn’t looking too bad…but a million dollars is a million dollars

[Texzilla58 4,731]

She pleaded guilty. If she weren’t a minor celebrity no one would notice. If she did it and carried it on the plane that’s a federal offense since weed is still a schedule 1 narcotic. She knows not to carry that shit in Russia as she’s been there.

You break the law in other countries you get their rules. The consul should do nothing more than what would be done for a common us citizen.

[TommysTinyTowels 785]

30 minutes ago, Laxtonto said:

So she just admitted to it and said there was no intent to break Russian law..

Not sure if that is the strategy  I would have taken, but then again not sure if there is any other options either.

Yeah, I don't know about "strategy" or "options" either.

Putin says she stays she stays, Putin says she goes she goes. Logic/arguments be damned.

[Blotto 23,487]

15 minutes ago, Texzilla58 said:

She pleaded guilty. If she weren’t a minor celebrity no one would notice. If she did it and carried it on the plane that’s a federal offense since weed is still a schedule 1 narcotic. She knows not to carry that shit in Russia as she’s been there.

You break the law in other countries you get their rules. The consul should do nothing more than what would be done for a common us citizen.

Exactly. This dude just got 14 years for flying in with a little over a 1/2 ounce, prescribed for medicinal reasons.

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-american-medical-marijuana-prison/31902563.html

I hope something can be done to get them both back, but whatever is done for Griner should be done for Fogel as well. Who gives a fuck that she plays in the WNBA. Ironically, Griner getting busted is probably the best thing that could happen for this guy, because he would be easily forgotten otherwise. Its also notable that he was arrested last summer, so its not like there was no precedent that flying into Russia with weed is not a good idea when Griner got popped this spring. Stupid games/stupid prizes. 

['stache 21,794]

1 hour ago, Laxtonto said:

So she just admitted to it and said there was no intent to break Russian law..

Not sure if that is the strategy  I would have taken, but then again not sure if there is any other options either.

My guess is the alternative would have been life through a kangaroo trial. And diplomatic negotiations will continue. I say give them the old warlord guy in exchange for Griner and whoever else might be there on similar bs stuff.

[SL Xpress 7,513]

14 minutes ago, Blotto said:

Exactly. This dude just got 14 years for flying in with a little over a 1/2 ounce, prescribed for medicinal reasons.

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-american-medical-marijuana-prison/31902563.html

I hope something can be done to get them both back, but whatever is done for Griner should be done for Fogel as well. Who gives a fuck that she plays in the WNBA. Ironically, Griner getting busted is probably the best thing that could happen for this guy, because he would be easily forgotten otherwise. Its also notable that he was arrested last summer, so its not like there was no precedent that flying into Russia with weed is not a good idea when Griner got popped this spring. Stupid games/stupid prizes. 

 

That Fogel case I don't understand at all. Griner I can at least wrap my head around what happened. She was busted for less than a gram after living a highly insulated and wealthy lifestyle for years in Russia. I'm not saying what she did was smart, but the level of sanctimoniousness people are managing to conjure is truly impressive to me. But Fogel is flying in with his wife with 17 grams thinking a doctor's note is going to make it okay, for a $34k a year teaching job, after being a former employee of the US Embassy, so you'd think he'd have a little more exposure to how the real world works than Griner. 

But all the articles I'm reading are short on details.

 

[SL Xpress 7,513]

1 minute ago, 'stache said:

My guess is the alternative would have been life through a kangaroo trial. And diplomatic negotiations will continue. I say give them the old warlord guy in exchange for Griner and whoever else might be there on similar bs stuff.

 

Well, now we're up to at least 3 we know about. Griner, Whelan, and the Fogel guy.

[Pimphand 5,732]

On 5/29/2022 at 9:39 AM, NeverMarryAStripper said:

Russia will keep doing things like this as long as there are no consequences and they get something out of it.  We need to arrest one of Putin’s oligarch friends for child porn and do a swap.  If there are any still here.  I’m sure it wouldn’t be hard to find a LEO willing to plant the evidence.

 

On 5/29/2022 at 2:00 PM, Blotto said:

I have sympathy for any american stuck in a russian prison, but flying into foreign countries with drugs keeps my sympathy at the bare minimum. If it was planted, then she is getting fucked. If she did bring it in, she is a fucking moron, especially as a high profile american. 

 

On 5/29/2022 at 4:08 PM, SL Xpress said:

When you’re given special treatment for 6 years, is it a massive character flaw to expect special treatment?

The circumstances of her living in Russia changed dramatically practically overnight in ways most of the global population couldn’t have anticipated. I’ve always known, but I read a lot more history and keep up with current events in ways that aren’t normal. 

She’s being charged for “large scale transportation of drugs” for a sentence that could be up to 10 years in a Russian prison for…vape cartridges. This is a political gesture on Russia’s part, plain and simple. They could have just as easily planted the evidence for the same result if they’d wanted. They didn’t have to, which made her low hanging fruit. 

The truth is she’s going to be given special treatment. Either the US will figure out a swap for her, or Russia will make her a scapegoat to show the world and their domestic population they don’t bow to anyone. It’s also another way to send a message to the oligarchs, “you have no power here. The only power and wealth you have is what we allow you to have.”

 

I think you all can drop the hand wringing on the planted excuse....

https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/34205952/detained-wnba-star-brittney-griner-pleads-guilty-drug-charges-russia

[Laxtonto 12,078]

My guess this is a calculated move knowing that there is no way Russia would agree to a swap of “prisoners” with the US without her admitting guilt anyways.

 

The problem is politically why should Russia not shoot for the moon in their request for what they need to let her go. It’s not like they aren’t persona non grata with most of the civilized world and them holding her has no real downside. 
 

I am guessing that the likelihood of other non-Russian athletes going to play in Russia now is pretty close to zero in the foreseeable future anyways. It’s not like this is going to deter anyone in the near term anyways.

[royiv 9,247]

1 hour ago, Blotto said:

Exactly. This dude just got 14 years for flying in with a little over a 1/2 ounce, prescribed for medicinal reasons.

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-american-medical-marijuana-prison/31902563.html

I hope something can be done to get them both back, but whatever is done for Griner should be done for Fogel as well. Who gives a fuck that she plays in the WNBA. Ironically, Griner getting busted is probably the best thing that could happen for this guy, because he would be easily forgotten otherwise. Its also notable that he was arrested last summer, so its not like there was no precedent that flying into Russia with weed is not a good idea when Griner got popped this spring. Stupid games/stupid prizes. 

I feel bad for any American detained in a Russian prison/work camp, but I don’t understand what Fogel was thinking. A quick google search before boarding a flight would have told him whether or not medical marijuana is legal in Russia. I can’t imagine flying to fucking Russia with a drug that is widely known to be illegal in many parts of the world without checking the laws beforehand.

[Helobious 9,456]

31 minutes ago, Pimphand said:

 

 

 

I think you all can drop the hand wringing on the planted excuse....

https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/34205952/detained-wnba-star-brittney-griner-pleads-guilty-drug-charges-russia

If she pleaded not guilty the odds of her ever seeing America again would be about 0. 

[CooterBrown 18,002]

She’d get 2 years in jail if caught with the same thing in Texas. We keep good company.

[SL Xpress 7,513]

56 minutes ago, Pimphand said:

 

 

 

I think you all can drop the hand wringing on the planted excuse....

https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/34205952/detained-wnba-star-brittney-griner-pleads-guilty-drug-charges-russia

Your reading comprehension sucks. 

[SL Xpress 7,513]

24 minutes ago, CooterBrown said:

She’d get 2 years in jail if caught with the same thing in Texas. We keep good company.

If she was caught with less than a gram of THC? Where in Texas do you get 2 years in jail for that? Plenty of jurisdictions have openly decriminalized possessing that amount, where the district attorneys office makes it clear they won’t ever prosecute such a case. You wouldn’t be thrown in jail for two years for less than a gram of THC back in the 80s in the Reagan era. 

[Blotto 23,487]

1 minute ago, SL Xpress said:

If she was caught with less than a gram of THC? Where in Texas do you get 2 years in jail for that? Plenty of jurisdictions have openly decriminalized possessing that amount, where the district attorneys office makes it clear they won’t ever prosecute such a case. You wouldn’t be thrown in jail for two years for less than a gram of THC back in the 80s in the Reagan era. 

you're confusing 1 gram of cannabis oil with one gram of flower. 

Quote

Possession of a form of marijuana concentrate such as THC oil carries felony punishment, as per Texas Statute § 481.116.

Here’s what that means:

Found with less than a gram, you face up to two years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

Found with one to four grams, you face up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

Found with four or more grams, you face up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

Found with 400+ grams, you could go to jail for up to 99 years and be forced to pay up to $10,000.

 

[Dutchrudder 11,133]

It's hard to have sympathy for someone who was making big money playing sports in Russia while they invaded Ukraine. She's made herself into a pawn in this proxy war, and Russia isn't going to let her go unless they get a huge reward in return. 

[Rockethorn1978 6,072]

If you know a state has stricter laws regarding things you like to do then move to a state where you can do it. But don't do it, then cry about how dumb it is. Griner shouldn't have carried it over there. pretty simple. Now they will really drag this out and give her the full punishment. I won't be surprised if she gets the full 10 years just because it's Russia and they laugh at how mad America gets so they will drag this out.

[ztejas 43,411]

44 minutes ago, CooterBrown said:

She’d get 2 years in jail if caught with the same thing in Texas. We keep good company.

She'd have to get arrested in the most bumfuck county in the state, hire a terrible lawyer and call the judge a cocksucker to get anywhere close to 2 years for a fucking vape cart. In the big city counties I doubt they'd even press charges. 

[McCroskey 1,504]

Part of me feels bad for Griner but come on, asking for mercy from Russia since you didn't "intend" to break any laws?  While showing up at court wearing Nipsey Hussle and Jimi Hendrix t-shirts?     WTF does she think she's doing?

IMO it's sad that such a high % of affluent kids under say 30 or even 35 just aren't accustomed to dealing with consequences for their actions, and therefore they seem to put themselves into precarious situations thinking they'll just get away with it like they do at home.

We see these stories all the time...yet it continues happening.  Warmbier, those three people who "hiked" into Iran...now Griner...etc...what compels these people to enter and/or take risks in such anti-west (or anti-American) countries or territories?

 

 

[52-80 19,147]

On 7/5/2022 at 12:36 AM, SL Xpress said:

And you're sitting here acting sanctimonious because you'd never carry THC vape capsules to a foreign country. I get it. You'd probably never wear short skirts leaving a club drunk off your ass at 2am, either, but it doesn't justify someone else getting raped. She's getting a raw deal here, period. Going into blame the victim mode because you'd never make the same error is a gross simplification of the specific circumstances here. You're never going to be an international women's basketball star, either. 

What a wild card of an analogue.

There's a pretty fucking wide spectrum of NUANCE between "she's a victim" vs "she deserves it".

OBVIOUSLY she is being used as a political pawn.  I sympathize *greatly* for her. 

At the same time, she has TINY but NON-ZERO culpability for transporting something that should be known to be questionable.  Not obviously-illegal.  But just "marginally questionable", is significant enough to leave at home when crossing fucking state lines.

As a fresh college graduate, before my first transoceanic trip ever (to Russia, coincidentally), I was already aware there was a gray area of something superficially innocuous as poppy seeds.  Goddamn bagel toppings.  That's not being sanctimonious - feels like pretty common sense. 

[52-80 19,147]

On 7/5/2022 at 8:51 PM, Js1 said:

They can triple or quadruple their earnings to go play abroad. 

There's a funny joke in here, but it's very insensitive given her situation... (again, i feel massively bad for her....)

['stache 21,794]

3 hours ago, Pimphand said:

 

 

 

I think you all can drop the hand wringing on the planted excuse....

https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/34205952/detained-wnba-star-brittney-griner-pleads-guilty-drug-charges-russia

I thought her wife admitted she's done it by accident in the past, left a vape in her luggage, which isn't that big a deal here.

[52-80 19,147]

On 7/5/2022 at 9:37 PM, Porterhouse said:

There is ZERO reason to ever visit China or Russia. 

 

On 7/5/2022 at 10:25 PM, Porterhouse said:

I also wouldn’t ever go to Brazil if you paid me

All 3 are globally important, historically and culturally significant, and just straight up interesting to visit.

C.S.B. I met an Egyptian colleague during a business trip to Brazil.  Dude whipped out a joint.  Asked where he got it from - answer: snuck it in a shampoo bottle.

The temerity to smuggle drugs from a conservative Muslim country, on a work trip, to a place where its easy as hell to find... just completely floored me.

 

5 hours ago, Vegas64 said:

I do wonder if it was a more popular athlete or celebrity (or straight male) if things would be different though, as much as that sucks to say. 

Not exactly the highest profile catch for the Russians, but you get what you can get

[Helobious 9,456]

1 hour ago, ztejas said:

She'd have to get arrested in the most bumfuck county in the state, hire a terrible lawyer and call the judge a cocksucker to get anywhere close to 2 years for a fucking vape cart. In the big city counties I doubt they'd even press charges. 

Not true at all. Decently populated suburb right outside SA

https://www.ksat.com/news/2019/08/13/north-side-man-says-he-lost-job-faces-felony-after-arrest-for-having-legal-cbd-oil/

[SL Xpress 7,513]

2 minutes ago, Helobious said:

Not true at all. Decently populated suburb right outside SA

https://www.ksat.com/news/2019/08/13/north-side-man-says-he-lost-job-faces-felony-after-arrest-for-having-legal-cbd-oil/

That article clearly says they haven't decided on whether to press charges or not.

[Helobious 9,456]

2 minutes ago, SL Xpress said:

That article clearly says they haven't decided on whether to press charges or not.

I believe it got dropped almost 2 years later. Still having a felony hanging over you for that is nuts. And that arrest will be on your record regardless. 

[ztejas 43,411]

35 minutes ago, Helobious said:

Not true at all. Decently populated suburb right outside SA

https://www.ksat.com/news/2019/08/13/north-side-man-says-he-lost-job-faces-felony-after-arrest-for-having-legal-cbd-oil/

 

27 minutes ago, Helobious said:

I believe it got dropped almost 2 years later. Still having a felony hanging over you for that is nuts. And that arrest will be on your record regardless. 

What does this have to do with my comment that Brittney Griner - in 2022 - would have to be the unluckiest bitch in the history of the state of Texas to somehow wind up in prison for 2 years over less than a gram of concentrate? Which part of my comment are you claiming is "not true"? Did that guy go to prison? Was he arrested and charged in 2022? Was it in Bexar county? Did he have the type of lawyers that Griner would hire? Would it have been a story on ESPN? 

People lose their jobs for wrongful arrests all the time. Were charges even brought against him? What felony charge could they have possibly hit him with?

You can also get arrests taken off of your record, or you can just explain to a reasonable employer that that bullshit happened to you and show them the press about it. They'd be more likely to feel sorry for you than hold it against you. 

Point remains - no high profile athlete (who is a Texas women's sports LEGEND) - is doing two years in prison for a vape cart. 

Edited July 7, 2022 by ztejas

[d2o 1,602]

2 hours ago, McCroskey said:

Part of me feels bad for Griner but come on, asking for mercy from Russia since you didn't "intend" to break any laws?  While showing up at court wearing Nipsey Hussle and Jimi Hendrix t-shirts?     WTF does she think she's doing?

IMO it's sad that such a high % of affluent kids under say 30 or even 35 just aren't accustomed to dealing with consequences for their actions, and therefore they seem to put themselves into precarious situations thinking they'll just get away with it like they do at home.

We see these stories all the time...yet it continues happening.  Warmbier, those three people who "hiked" into Iran...now Griner...etc...what compels these people to enter and/or take risks in such anti-west (or anti-American) countries or territories?

 

 

I'm betting she didnt have a whole lot dress clothes and its not exactly easy for a 6'8 chick to find them while in the gulag.   Not sure what you're expecting her to be wearing.

[SL Xpress 7,513]

1 hour ago, Helobious said:

I believe it got dropped almost 2 years later. Still having a felony hanging over you for that is nuts. And that arrest will be on your record regardless. 

Without a doubt. To me life is a struggle and there’s a lot of unfairness out there. Especially if you’re unfortunate to run crosswise with the justice system and you don’t have sufficient resources and/or leverage to fight back. You end up being at the mercy of whatever cogs of the system you arbitrarily happen to encounter and how they’re feeling that day. Modern society can absolutely turn into a Kafkaesque nightmare pretty quick  

That said, what should have happened in a world where Russia isn’t trying to score points against the US but is still intent on enforcing their laws is that they throw her in jail for a short period of time, fine her some amount, and then put her on a plane with the message she’s not welcome ever again. Worst case. She did something stupid. I’ve never said she shouldn’t face any consequences for her actions.

What I am saying is that the state apparatus has arrested her and is deliberately charging her under intent to distribute laws to use her as a political pawn, and to simultaneously send a message to their oligarchs and the US/West to fuck around and find out. Blame Griner for being stupid, sure. Blame her for putting herself in a bad situation, that I get. But to not acknowledge this isn’t about her making a dumb decision, this is about having an American passport and the FSB sending a message to anyone and everyone as to who holds the real power in Russia is simply judging her for stupidity so we can feel better about ourselves regarding how much smarter we are and how we’d never put ourselves in a similar position. Which is a natural knee jerk reaction when we hear about anything awful that befalls someone else. But just because it’s a natural reaction doesn’t mean people have to go balls deep in leaning into it. Which is what some of the people in this thread have done. 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, 52-80 said:

 

All 3 are globally important, historically and culturally significant, and just straight up interesting to visit.

C.S.B. I met an Egyptian colleague during a business trip to Brazil.  Dude whipped out a joint.  Asked where he got it from - answer: snuck it in a shampoo bottle.

The temerity to smuggle drugs from a conservative Muslim country, on a work trip, to a place where its easy as hell to find... just completely floored me.

European countries are more globally important, more historically and culturally significant, and MUCH more interesting to visit. Cool Anwar Sadat drug story bro.