Happy, Strong, Women. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images), WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner drinks water as she listens to the verdict in a cage in a courtroom in Khimki, just outside Moscow, on Aug. 4, 2022. This is not a woman. And (drum roll ) Babe Ruth from the Red Sox to the Yankees in exchange for some cash and a $300,000 loan to finance. I wanted to be able to look in the mirror and tell myself that I was being true to me. Follow AzQuotes on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. So Griner concluded that her lesbian marriage had not been legit after all. They both hate America. I love the freedom that comes with being an adult. Brittney Griner dropped her impassive game face, looked at me with big sad eyes and said, "The nightmare for me was definitely feeling like I was forgotten and that I was going to end up alone Had she made even a fraction of what her NBA counterparts do while playing domestically, Griner could have stayed in the United States for the offseason without fear that she wouldn't have enough money for retirement. What is One America News?One America News (OAN) was founded in 2013 by Robert Herring and grew in popularity with Donald Trump. Associated Press. According to an expert, there's a good reason for this. Conservatives Mock Brittney Griner in 'Idiotic' Attacks at Her National Anthem Stance. Following these comments, the narrative started to form that Brittney Griner hates America. But I was tall. Income Inequality Loves Student Loan Forgiveness, Teach Your Children Well About Communism, Without advising Congress first as required by law, Obama secretly, Why J6 Transparency Frightens the Democrats, Dear Comrade Angela: History Isnt Always Black and White. I love being on the water. He is the only NCAA basketball player to score 2,000 points and block . Scottie Pippen from Seattle to Chicago for, uh, Olden Polynice. Fittingly, Obamas national security adviser, Susan Rice, said on ABC at the time of that prisoner swap that Bowe Bergdahl served the United States with honor and distinction. Remember? USA has finally managed to secure the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner. pic.twitter.com/JEsGaOfFiu. I can only speak for myself. Two lightning bolts bookend the words "Free Brittney Griner" in her display name, and her feed is mostly a steady stream of Griner updates beneath a header image of a basketball flanked by . "I have been in prison for 10 months now, listening to Russian. (Getty Images). Yes theres an article where we state the anthem should not be played, but she goes on to also say how she has pride for her country. It's just, 'Put it in a box and forget about it, push it to the back.' When I go into a sports bar, some of the people I wouldn't think would watch women's basketball are there watching. Going into the bathroom, I still get the shocked look, like, 'Are you supposed to be in here?' Who Is Keith Appling, Former NBA Player Accused of Second Degree Murder. Sign up for notifications from Insider! After nearly a year in a Russian prison, Brittney Griner finally returns home to be reunited with her friends and loved ones. I can only speak for myself.". In America, you can point your middle finger at the American flag and be rewarded with streams of encomia muttered by the presidents spokesperson. She was later found . Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Many believe the USA should not have swapped her for Viktor Bout, especially considering the fact that they believe shes anti-American. 137. I . Honestly, I could sit on the couch, kick my feet up, play some video games - some 'Modern Warfare.'. Kremlin Says Griner Swap Must Be Discussed Without Publicity. I feel like more are going to probably do the same thing. What a win for her! Im not going to be out there for the National Anthem. All rights reserved. 67.9K. Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes. Russia-imprisoned WNBA star Brittney Griner said in 2020 that the national anthem should not be played before WNBA games and vowed to protest if it was played. The absurd nine-year sentence that Griner received for possession of a few canisters of cannabis oil appeared to be a clear effort by Russian President Vladimir Putin to gain leverage, and it seems to have worked. Brittney Griner has signed a one-year deal to rejoin the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury for the 2023 season. An official ruling is expected next week. Even under ordinary circumstances, this two-season-per-year lifestyle is far from ideal. A prominent BLM activist, African American, lesbian, and WNBA superstar, Griner could have believed she was . Brittney Griner is a political prisoner, and we need to treat her as such and bring the kind of spotlight and international solidarity that so desperately needed . One might wonder there is a large group of people claiming that Brittney is against America. The time for silence has passed. It looks like the Biden White House might be lying about the Brittney Griner prisoner swap. Thats right: A plethora of Americans, some of whom proudly call themselves patriots, are stomping on Griner while she roams a Russian prison cell. I go canoeing, kayaking, anything really. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider When I first started playing basketball, my coordination was horrible! But perhaps going forward, when she chooses to fight social injustice she can remember that the United States is not just a place where injustice exists what country doesnt have that? It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.". (Evgenia Novozhenina/Pool Photo via AP), Brittany Griner is escorted by police before her hearing in Russia. The horrifying situation has shaken the American sports landscape to its core, but ironically, the circumstances that led to Griner's arrest could have been avoided entirely had the American market placed a higher value on her talent. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Brittney Griner is famously known for being an open book. Griner was arrested in February at a Russian airport when customs agents reportedly found vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her . ATVs, dirt bikes. Web. ", Following Griner's sentencing in Russia, some social media users mocked Griner's two-year-old sentiment, among them conservative personality Tomi Lahren. 1995 - 2023 by Snopes Media Group Inc. We've seen protests on Brittney Griner's behalf in New York, Washington and other cities. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM DAVID MARCUS, David Marcus is a columnist living in West Virginia and the author of "Charade: The COVID Lies That Crushed A Nation.". Griner has already been detained in the country for three weeks according to a fellow WNBA player and, given escalating tensions between the United States and Putin's regime, could spend an extended period of time in Russian custody. July 17, 2022. A Russian court sentenced U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner to nine years in prison on Thursday after finding her guilty of deliberately bringing cannabis-infused vape cartridges into Russia, a . "Brittney Griner, Brianna Turner Call for WNBA to Stop Playing National Anthem This Season." This stems from a comment she made during the 2020 WNBA season. The U.S. government offered a deal to Russia to bring Griner home, as well as another jailed American named Paul Whelan. Photograph: Yuri Kochetkov/EPA. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I wanted to be a cop before basketball. Seven-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner was arrested at a Moscow airport in February for possession of vape cartridges filled with cannabis oil. US officials: Russia frees WNBA player Brittney Griner in prisoner swap, with US releasing Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Russian Prosecutors Seek 9 1/2-Year Sentence for Griner. But those closest to her do NOT want to turn a terrifying story into a political cause. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Now she wants the government to help her get released. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 3,647. pic.twitter.com/eFEI656oNz, On a Ledge Somewhere (@LedgeSomewhere) December 8, 2022. I honestly feel we should not play the National Anthem during our season, Griner told AZ Central in 2020. I would love to be an ambassador for Baylor, to show my school pride, but it's hard to do that - it's hard to stand up and say, 'Baylor is the best!' The Taliban in Afghanistan ultimately named Khairkhwa to serve as their acting minister for information and culture, Noori as acting minister of borders and tribal affairs, Wasiq as acting director of intelligence, and Fazl as deputy defense minister. He played college basketball for the Baylor Lady Bears in Waco, Texas. The US has urged Moscow to accept a deal to free basketball player Brittany Griner, who has been sentenced to nine years in Russian prison. Menu. Calls it racist and unjust. A motion filed June 29 details . Brittney Griner is an American citizen and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) star who has been detained in Russia since February of 2022 . Last week, Griner pleaded guilty to criminal drug charges related to charges of attempting to carry a vape pen with marijuana through a Moscow airport. https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/wnba/mercury/2020/07/27/mercurys-brittney-griner-will-not-be-on-court-for-national-anthem-this-season/5518399002/. Griner garnered international attention in 2022 when she was detained in Russia on a drug offense. At least, with the geminated infants, it was not Brittney in the Gulag Archipelago but her partner in the maternity ward who had to do the hard labor), There is something about these Democrats in the White House when it comes to making insane prisoner exchanges, releasing the worst of human vermin in our custody, goons who have murdered and brought about countless deaths through their confederates, in return for the best of America.. With UMMC Ekaterinburg, she reportedly earns $1 million per season, according to The Arizona Republic's Jeff Metcalfe. It will be all season long, Ill not be out there. WNBA star Brittney Griner has been one of the league's most outspoken players when it comes to protesting the national anthem, even as she makes patriotic appeals for the U.S. to arrange her release from a Russian prison sentence. On April 3, 2012, Griner led Baylor with 26 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots to win the Division I Women's Basketball Championship, 80-61 over Notre Dame. Brittney Griner. The same America that has now sacrificed so that she may come home. Its easy to spread hate on social media. Improve yourself, find your inspiration, share with friends, This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. Indeed. It was my rookie duty. I never thought a big coming out was necessary. However, despite all this, many believe that Griner is anti-American. Movies. In exchange for her, the U.S. sent back to Russia one of the worlds deadliest arms dealers who was serving 25 years for crimes including the targeting of American citizens. Brittney Griner, in full Brittney Yevette Griner, (born October 18, 1990, Houston, Texas, U.S.), American basketball player who is one of the game's leading centres, especially known for her play with the Phoenix Mercury, which she helped win a WNBA championship (2014). I think more people should be open to talking about mental health issues. According to The New York Times, Griner's arrest could be linked to a Russian effort "to create leverage for a potential prisoner exchange with the American government or a reduction in sanctions related to the [Ukraine] invasion." I'm comfortable in my body and I don't mind putting it on display. A spoiled Griner, Many NBA stars tried to call for more awareness as Russia refused to let Griner go. "I honestly feel we should not play the National Anthem during our season.". Brittney . At the height of the George Floyd protests against racism and police brutality, Griner made headlines when she called on the WNBA to stop playing the national anthem. Griner was in court on Thursday as two members of her Russian basketball club, a teammate and the general manager, vouched for her character. I stand out in the world and I love that about myself. Don't hide who you really are. May 29, 2013. In the summer of 2020, Brittney Griner . "I'm not going to be out there for the National Anthem. The anthem has a time a place to be played. In the images, Griner looked pale and derived when she was on the plane. After spending almost 10 months in prison in Russia, Griner has finally returned home. I'm definitely on the side of using that microphone for good because you can touch so many people. The price he paid for her freedom was releasing . Washington Post. But by making the national anthem the symbol of that protest, Griner painted the whole of America as the source of these abuses. I know everybody keeps talking about political pawn and politics, but I hope that that is far from this courtroom., Related:WNBA Star Brittney Griner Sentenced To 9 Years In RussianPrison, EVGENIA NOVOZHENINA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images. The 31-year-old . Article by Kate Fagan, www.espn.com. WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner stands listening to a verdict in a courtroom in Khimki, just outside Moscow, on Aug. 4, 2022. It seems like that was the only way they could secure her release after such a long time. It feels so good saying it: I am a strong, black lesbian woman. Who Is Bryn Forbes Girlfriend and What Does She Do? My dad and my mom have always told me, 'Be who you are.'. I know many Americans lack compassion due to all the chaos that happens regularly in our country., BG [Brittney Griner] is my friend and teammate and one of the kindest people I know. "I honestly feel we should not play the National Anthem during our . www.washingtonpost.com, https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/07/28/brittney-griner-brianna-turner-call-wnba-stop-playing-national-anthem-this-season/. The WNBA star has been detained in Russia since February 2022 for drug possession. People are shouting out her name in the hopes that their cries will land upon . 'Outnumbered' reacts to Brittney Griner's release from Russian prison, Charade: The COVID Lies That Crushed A Nation. Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon, who as a player spent years in Russia and won Olympic bronze for her adopted country, said it was upsetting to see a fellow member of the tight-knit women's basketball community locked up for nearly six months. Legal Statement. We were astonished at how up to date he was on Austin's case and how committed his to getting him home. Back in June of 2021, Griner said "I honestly feel we should not play the Nation Anthem during our season, I think we should take . She has mentioned that this has always prompted to keep her country at a high level. After all, she has just come out of jail, which she spent her time in, surrounded by people she had connections to. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Russia has admitted that it is in talks with the US to exchange a notorious arms dealer for basketball player Brittney Griner, a Russian diplomat said. Prior to the verdict, Griner apologized to the court and asked for leniency in an . If you want to know more or withdraw your consent to all or some of the cookies, please refer to the. "I think we should take that much of a stand. Where have we seen this before? WNBA star Brittney Griner's drug possession trial resumed on Thursday. There are plans to continue this, but only through streaming services and the brands own apps. For context, she came out and said that the United States national anthem should not be played before WNBAs games. WNBA star Brittney Griner's detention in Russia extended until May 19, Russian state news reports By Dave Sheinin Updated March 17, 2022 at 8:09 p.m. EDT | Published March 17, 2022 at 11:20 a.m. EDT So sick of this false narrative that BG hated the US, she wrote via social media. And long. It is never okay for an argument to turn physical, this will never happen again, and I take my relationship and my responsibility as a role model seriously. Brittney Griner is the center of the Venn diagram in which all these trends overlap. The 6-foot-9 Phoenix Mercury superstar now faces up to 10 years in a Russian prison for "large-scale transportation of drugs," according to The New York Times. Accessed 9 Aug. 2022. Griner (right) competes for Russian club UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA . Hello, I am Gurmeet singh , Blogger from Jammu, India. Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) December 9, 2022, Weak Joe Biden brings home anti-American Brittney Griner from Russia. Let's try. She was first detained at a Moscow-area airport after Russian . Joe Biden gave up a Russian terrorist in exchange for anti-American WNBA player, Brittney Griner. His writings have appeared in, Hunter Biden Cashed In to Fuel His Drug and Sex Habits, Targeting People With Mental Illness and Dementia for Euthanasia. My dad was in Vietnam and a law officer for 30 years. I kid I kid, because shes an anti-American jerk. https://www.quotes.net/authors/Brittney+Griner+Quotes. Detained WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner has been photographed for the first time since she was arrested at a Russian airport last month for having vape cartridges in her luggage.. star Brittney Griner. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, However, despite that, it seems like her comments from a couple of years ago have come back to haunt her. Following the news of the prisoner swap, "Brittney Griner hates America" continues to trend. Happily, she ended up marrying the fiance anyway, but not happily ever after. Rather, when Griners lesbian wife revealed that she was pregnant with twins conceived in vitro Mazal Tov! Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl. Please logout and login again. Bostons Jeff Bagwell to Houston for Larry Anderson. Her father, Raymond, was a countys deputy sheriff and a war veteran as well. or redistributed. May 29, 2013. However, there are fans who arent huge fans of that. I do have pride for my country.". (You can unsubscribe anytime), Brittney Griner Represents the Best of America, Rabbi Dov Fischer, Esq., is Vice President of the Coalition for Jewish Values (comprising over 2,000 Orthodox rabbis), was adjunct professor of law at two prominent Southern California law schools for nearly 20 years, and is Rabbi of Young Israel of Orange County, California. As expected, most did not take well to Brittney Griner's comments regarding the national anthem. This material may not be reproduced without permission. Legal Statement. Languished a whiner, With the much . I wanted to be a cop before basketball. We went 40-0 - the first men's or women's team in history to ever do that. Dec 8, 2022. Your login session has expired. Retweets. Facing the end of her line. You'll always see me outdoors - mountain biking, going to the park, going outside throwing the football. He played college basketball for the Baylor Lady Bears in Waco, Texas. Brittney Griner. I'm a different person - large feet, big hands. A Russian court announced it has extended the arrest of WNBA star Brittney Griner until May 19, according to the Russian state news agency TASS. Interview with Kate Fagan, www.espn.com. When I went to Baylor on a basketball scholarship - and when I thought about the future as a freshman - one achievement I wanted more than any individual award was a national championship. Anybody that's different, be who you are. Sure, love is love but, hey, child support is child support, especially when earning WNBA numbers. Without advising Congress first as required by law, Obama secretly released five of our Guantanamo prisoners, representing the best of Arab Islamic murderers, in return for Bergdahl. Honor and distinction? ", "I don't mean that in any disrespect to our country. That is a very real danger. I don't say that I'm the best in the country, because I always criticize myself so hard. 56 Copy quote. Some ingrate woman (whatever that word means), a basketball player, now has been described by Joe Bidens official mouthpiece, Karine Jean-Pierre another masterpiece as represent[ing] the best of America. Putins people had busted the Ingrate in February for bringing vape cartridges containing cannabis oils through a Moscow airport. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Money isn't everything; money doesn't really buy happiness. Some other exclusive quotes from Griner's book: On accusations that she skipped the 2012 Olympics to avoid gender testing: . On OAN's last day on cable, Chanel Rion called Brittney Griner "an America hating lesbian pothead. Russia-imprisoned WNBA star Brittney Griner said in 2020 that the national anthem should not be played before WNBA games and vowed to protest if it was played.. Griner was sentenced this month to nine years in a Russian prison for possession of cannabis oil. She could have rested her 6-foot-9 frame ahead of this summer's WNBA season, as her reloaded Mercury squad sets its sights on a second straight WNBA Finals appearance, and she could have spent time back home with friends and loved ones. WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is escorted from a court room ater a hearing in Khimki, just outside Moscow, on Aug. 4, 2022. Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly! Appearing on Fox News, basketball player Enes Freedom also referenced Griner's 2020 statement. I take ownership of mine, no place for that in sports, and I apologize to everybody that was there. We don't talk about things, and in certain communities we really don't talk about our feelings. When I was young, I never dreamed about winning a national championship. With the much-welcomed news that the Biden administration has secured her release from a Russian prison, in exchange for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout, it is reasonable to ask if Griner will commit to no longer protesting the anthem of the country that secured her freedom. Griner's teammate, Brianna Turner, couldn't agree more. Griner hurriedly filed for an annulment. If the league continues to want to play it, thats fine. Being able to move, pivot around and dribble better were the big things I wanted to add to my game, as well as stretching out my game so I can shoot away from the basket better. The price he paid for her freedom was releasing arms dealer Viktor Bout, one of the most dangerous men in the world. To the Editor: Let me get this straight. Also which woman reaches 69 in height? Ms Griner, a nine-year veteran of the league - is the "best of the best", said Melissa Isaacson, a sportswriter and . I don't put myself in categories. If they regard Griner as among the best of them, they thereby demonstrate that they view their constituency with the utmost contempt. After their release, four of the cutthroats rose to become Taliban leaders in Afghanistan. When I first came into the league, I didn't want the ball in my hands. Yet she continuously held her head high., I dont have the capacity to respond to every hateful message about Brittney Griner. November 4, 2013. I like extreme sports too. I grew up wanting to enlist and then go into law enforcement. Quotes.net. Brittney Griner was born in Houston, USA. The diplomat's comments marked the first . pic.twitter.com/NWqHVKmRZ1, Brianna Turner (@_Breezy_Briii) July 12, 2022, Before Griner was sentenced, the 6-foot, 9-inch WNBA star told the court she never meant to break any laws and made an honest mistake., I never meant to hurt anybody, I never meant to put in jeopardy the Russian population, I never meant to break any laws here, she said. The star enjoyed a homecoming filled with "so much joy" after nearly a year detained in Russia. But only in recent years has her payday climbed into the six-figure range. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko), President Biden speaks about the release of Olympian and WNBA player Brittney Griner from Russian custody at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Phoenix Mercury's Brittney Griner Will Not Be on Court for National Anthem This Season. Brittney Griner, the American basketball star detained in Moscow on allegations of drug smuggling, will remain in custody for at least two more months, Russian media reported Thursday. Being born in the family of literals Education and prosperity has been a sole purpose to follow, but I have chosen a different path for my life. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke on Wednesday with Cherelle Griner, the wife of the W.N.B.A. We're given this platform and this voice and this audience. This is the case even though her release was sought-after by thousands of Americans. Accessed 9 Aug. 2022. Oh our Brittney, Oh our Brittney, The president, Joe Biden announced it to the world when he said he had just spoken to the Phoenix Mercury player and she was on the way back to the US last night. One news station also used it as an opportunity to feed into the notion that "Brittney Griner hates America. The tumultuous relationship between Griner and Johnson has largely been public, with their active presence on social media. Here is a picture of him shirtless. I've heard, 'Oh, she's not a female, she's a male.'. Last month, Turner was more specific about Griners Left-wing activism, which she strongly defended. In an attempt to get her home, United States President Joe Biden has been trying to work out a swap deal for Brittney Griner with the Russian authorities. "I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates," said Biden. In July 2020, amid the George Floyd protests sweeping across the nation, WNBA star Brittney Griner vowed not to take the court during the national anthem for the entire season. This stems from a comment she made during the 2020 WNBA season. During that journey, I realized that everyone has a unique place in this world. Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney. She played college basketball for the Baylor Lady Bears in Waco, Texas. I belong to a place situated at the head of The India, The City of temples, the city of love and passion, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir. Brittany Griner is a man. In that 2020 interview with The Republic, Griner said: "I honestly feel we should not play the national anthem during our season," Griner said. Griner faces up to 10 years in jail for the charge, and prosecutors asked for 9.5 years in closing arguments. Griner and other women's basketball stars command much higher salaries overseas than in the US. Mar 5, 2022. He was Chief Articles Editor of UCLA Law Review and clerked for the Hon. Im hopeful BG and all other Americans wrongfully detained overseas can make it home asap! She did mention that she meant no disrespect to the country and highlighted that her dad was represented the countrys law system and war efforts. I don't have a soft voice. I want you to come watch my game, not the uniforms. Russia-imprisoned WNBA star Brittney Griner said in 2020 that the national anthem should not be played before WNBA games and vowed to protest if it was played. WNBA star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner holds images standing in a cage at a courtroom for a hearing in Khimki, just outside Moscow, on Aug. 4, 2022. . So I think youre going to see some really good basketball in the gold medal game. 65. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. No one's telling you what to do, nothing's planned out. Even before being detained in Russia she would receive hate from trolls [because] they didnt like her looks or what she supported, the athlete wrote. Ivan Fedotov was in the hospital, at least in fact, but for some reason Ivan Fedotov was not listed as the other patients. Complete biography of Brittney Griner . WNBA star Brittney Griner didn't want any alone time as soon as she boarded a U.S. government plane that would bring her home. Brittney Griner. On the bright side, B Griner wont have to endure our National Anthem for 9 whole years! But Griner is an American, one of our own, and as a nation we have decided that whatever the risks of releasing Bout, the priority was her freedom. Should US Marine Paul Whelan still be in a Russian prison? Fishing, hunting, hog hunting. "How Slam-Dunking, Gender-Bending WNBA Rookie Brittney Griner Is Changing the World of Sports" by Laurie Abraham, www.elle.com. I think of some of the worst trades ever: But nothing compares to an Obama-Biden trade. Market data provided by Factset. In a prison, in Mordovia, Sentenced to sit years totaling nine, Languished a whiner, A spoiled Griner, Facing the end of her line. Fellow Phoenix Mercury playerBrianna Turner on August 4, the day Griner was sentenced, defended her teammate. If you ever need a pillow, I can make you a pillow. Up-and-coming Nolan Ryan from the Mets to the Angels in return for end-of-career Jim Fregosi. I feel like more are going to probably do the same thing. I think its patriotic to hold ones country accountable for atrocious actions., BG has pride for her country, Turner added. On top of not wanting it in the WNBA, Griner believes the national anthem doesn't need to be in sports in general. "At the Olympics, I understand, you're playing for your country at that point. The Kremlin has responded that it is open to discussing the potential exchange, but that such conversations should take place out of the public eye. . Yes theres an article where we state the anthem should not be played, but she goes on to also say how she has pride for her country. Instead of holding in so much. My dad was in Vietnam and a law officer for 30 years. I'm a competitor, you know. I'm just being myself, honestly.