One former MLB player has different feelings than the majority of the sports world, which is eagerly anticipating Brittney Griner’s hoped-for return to the United States.
Curt Schilling, a former Red Sox pitcher, feels that the WNBA star should be held accountable for violating the laws of another nation.
Since February, Griner has been detained in Russia after officials claimed to have discovered cannabis vape cartridges in her luggage at the Moscow airport.
“I know this may seem like a stretch,” the 55-year-old said. “But something like 300 million people understand ‘OBEY THE F***ING LAW’, why is that such a challenge?” tweeted Schilling.
“She, as far as I know from every quote of hers, has NEVER denied committing the crime, not once,” Schilling replied to one of the comments made in his tweet about how Russia has a 97 percent conviction rate.
Last week, LeBron James said on his show “The Shop” that he was not sure if he’d want to return to America given it has not seemed like they have had her “back” in securing her release.
James later clarified the comment, stating that it was not intended to be an insult to our “beautiful country,” but rather, that if he were in her shoes, he would be thinking the same things.
Social media backlash
“I wonder would he have the same views if that were his grandmother, mother, wife, daughter, niece or any other female that was close to him,” one fan tweeted as many more followed in angry unison.
“Now ask him about the grandma serving 60 days for the insurrection that conservatives are so up in arms about,” another fan added.
The 55-year-old Schilling persisted in blaming Griner for her situation. “You do understand she was arrested going INTO Russia right?” he asked. “Where, and they warn athletes every single year, you don’t f-k around.”
Another commenter argued that Griner only had trace amounts of cannabis and that the appropriate punishment instead of jail time should have been a fine, this did not sit well with the former pitcher.
“Really? Are you quoting American law here? You aren’t are you?” Schilling asked. “Because she was arrested in Russia after breaking Russian law. Corrupt ass country but they (American athletes) are always lectured about ‘when in Rome do as Romans do’. This wasn’t her 1st go around with customs.”
Griner has been wrongfully detained, according to the U.S. State Department, and the Biden administration has stated that getting her released is a top priority.
Her imprisonment occurs at a time when relations between the United States and Russia are strained due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the United States’ financial support for that country.
Marca
