“What’s Happening With Brittney Griner Is Political Theater”: Former NFL Linebacker & Longtime Fox Analyst Dissect & Provide Harsh Take On WNBA Star’s Russian Situation

Brittney Griner and her custody in Russia have caused a lot of debate and discussion in the public forum. Being a professional athlete, it obviously garnered a lot of responses from the sports and adjacent media personalities. Everyone had their take on the situation. And since the issue is so double-edged, the opinions are also coming in from all sides, and have every flavor possible.

A few weeks ago, the underrated sports media show called, “Speak for Yourself,” hosted by two former NFL players, attempted to provide a nuanced perspective of the whole situation. Although, these are still sports personalities, and seemingly this issue has gone beyond their expertise as well. So, reader discretion is of utmost importance while forming any kind of opinion on this issue.

Joy Taylor, who has been a regular analyst for FS1, said, “What’s Happening with Brittney Griner is political theater, and she’s absolutely being used by Russia as a political pawn.” Like many others, Taylor believes that the punishment does not fit the crime.

While on the other hand, Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL linebacker and NYT Bestselling Author, brought some perspectives from different sides. First, he explains what the situation is completely and that Griner belongs to “the most disenfranchised” community in the world.

Always another side to the story, even with Brittney Griner

But he also adds, “With that being said, it would be ignorant of me and inflammatory to not talk about the entire nuanced perspective of this situation. Brittney Griner was detained for not abiding by the law of THE land. See, in America we sometimes believe that our laws should be everyone’s laws. But it’s not abiding by the law of your land, it is abiding by the law of THE land.” 

Clearly, there are multiple facets to this extremely politicized and globally sensitive issue. The history between the countries in question goes back decades. And in such a scenario, arriving at a definitive outcome would always have some or other critiques.

Read More: NBA ‘Bad Boy’ Dennis Rodman, Who Recently Voiced on Brittney Griner, Sent a Scathing Warning to the UFC With ‘Kick A**’ Remarks Once

But it is important to remember, that at the center of this situation is a person, a human being, just like everyone. With a home, a family, future plans. One act should not take away everything that Brittney had built for more than a decade in the US as well as Russia.

For now, the situation is seeing no updates. Brittney is facing 9 years of jail time. Justified, or not, for now, she is suffering along with her family, her friends and especially her wife. Where this issue ends or how it concludes, is a black box. Meaning, that it is anyone’s guess at this point.

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