Brittney Griner is headed home and she intends to play basketball this season

2ºVicki Vaughan we know why they do it... let me clarify the question, how is it not saying they hate America, when they hate the history of America. I see spoiledness, not wokeness. Disrespecting ALL is not the answer, its just the easier path. This false virtue is getting blown way out of proportion and very few are going to benefit from it, just those who are generating revenue for a season. I have never been racist, a bigot, or anything else, but now if I dont kneel, I am???? REALLY? And I should burn the U.S. Flag? Because I dont hate the U.S.? Really? What is this the true purpose of all this??? I am certain its not what they say it is. And all its really doing is creating even more division (and believe me there is a certain group of people that loves it, its their plan) I know many (like you probably) are afraid to be totallly honest, they dont want to be on the wrong side of this for fear of repurcussions, not truth, avoiding conflict like the plague, and they are just playing on people's vulnerabilities. Its just putting people on the side of another wrong disguised as something good, many are wealthy people doing it and they gained their wealth in this America they hate. Is it guilt? Then stop taking the money! And, lastly, how is this working out for us? JS

3ºMy goodness. Look at all the triggered people in here. I don't drink, nor do I smoke nor "do" drugs, although pot is fully legal here in Canada. Interesting behavioral science study on you all though. You might want to look into the past of Whelan. You see, when I grew up, we read books and lots of them, we have research skills, life experience and critical thinking skills, which is sadly lacking these days it seems. Now as for Paul Whelan, I'll give you a few clues, then you've got to do your very own research, ok? Paul Whelan was dishonorably discharged from the Military in 2008 for Grand Larceny, including but not limited to his stealing fellow military Social Security numbers, their money, and writing bad cheques. There you go, so off and research ok? Peace out!

4ºBrittney Griner; Dear Mrs. Griner, We hope this letter finds you in good health and we understand you are having some rough times in your life. We are a group of old Vietnam Combat Veterans from North Carolina. Our average age is around seventy years old. We call ourselves, The Bunker Boys. We spent a lot of time living in rat and snake infested holes in the ground known as Bunkers. When we were not in the bunkers we were crawling through the jungle being shot at and shooting back at little people wearing black pajamas. We must be honest and tell you that the only thing we may have in common with you, is that we too, were drafted. We noticed you were drafted number one in the WNBA draft a few years ago. Since we all were drafted we thought we might let you know what it was like when we were drafted. Unlike you, most of us had no college. The people of the United States drafted us. We consisted of all colors, religions and personal beliefs. We had no choice of which team we played for; Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines. We were sent halfway around the world to fight and kill people we didn’t know in a place we had never heard of. We were paid, we know you can relate to this, $3.00 a day and required to work 24 hours a day if needed. When we returned home many or most of us were treated very badly by our fellow Americans. We were spit on, hit by bottles and rocks as the police stood by and watched. We did not complain, we just continued on in life and made the best of it. We fought for God, family, country and of course, the Flag and the National Anthem; a poem that was written by, of all people, a lawyer. He wrote the poem as he watched bombs fall on and kill fellow Americans. Ever since that night, our nation has played that little poem before millions of social functions. For some people it’s just a little song. For a Veteran it is a reminder of how many men and women of all colors, have given their life so the rest can have the right to be free.We found in our research that you requested the National Anthem not be played at sporting events. We find it odd that now you are requesting the citizens of the United States to pay for your release from a jail in Russia. Yes, we the taxpayers are paying for all of those diplomats working on your release. Our Government told you, and all fellow Americans in Russia, to leave Russia after the invasion of the Ukraine. You play basketball in a country that is known to treat Americans badly. You fly a great deal and must know by now, all the rules of what one can bring into a country. All of us that travel know the rules for entering a foreign country. You are a guest and must go by the rules of the land. By your own admission, you were attempting to bring an illegal substance into a country that is known for its long prison sentences. You had to know this because you are making a million dollars a year to play a game and hold a college degree. At six feet nine inches tall, you know that security officers are going to focus on you from the moment you stand in the boarding pass line. We also noticed that you are now saying you placed the drugs in your luggage by accident. Please, that is something an 18 year old would say. We also found out that your net worth is somewhere around $ 5 million bucks for playing a game. For old guys like us, living on a fixed income, that’s a lot of money for just playing a game. Don’t get us wrong; we are not against you. We all went and fought so all Americans can have the freedom to make their own choices. We just hope the next time you have to endure the playing of that little poem, you will pay close attention to the, “ Land of the free,” part. Wishing you the very best,The Bunker Boys…

5ºHeidi Petty the problem with that is that standing for the anthem and putting your hand on your heart is a sign of respect for those that actually fought and died to give people the right to protest.

When others didn't want to kneel they were berated for the action of not kneeling, which made the whole thing even worse (a girl who was a walk on to play soccer, not a scholarship, was playing 88 min a game average. But when he team wanted to kneel and she didn't her coach berated her. The next game she played less than 25. The game after that, 5. Since then she had to fight for the right to sue and just recently was given the right to do so. Others have come forward and have said she was berated by the coach and he play time reduced because she didn't kneel)

When someone's sexual orientation is used as a reason they are hated, when in fact it is their actions people didn't like (as the saying goes, she had the right to protest and people had the right to protest the way she did so, but were not allowed to without being called a racist, homophobic or un-American). She also has to face the consequences of her protest. Just because one can doesn't always mean one should. That point has been made very clear when a white kid sang a song that had a word in it that shouldn't be said by anyone. Yet he sang the song in the same way the singer did. His first amendment rights where then hampered when his scholarship was taken away for singing a song with that word in it (that also happened to make millions of dollars). Again, it was protected speech but it was said that just because he could didn't mean he should and he suffered the consequences.

It is things like this that divide and make people bitter. It is the 2 sets of rules that will destroy America. The rule for the but not for me. Or the rule that says rich and famous people are more important than the normal person. It is also the ones saying they are oppressed when they are making millions of dollars in one of the greatest countries in the world (while the companies that pay them and they support and do commercials are actually using real oppressed people for labor in other countries) and then no one really notices the real oppressed people in the U.S. (Native Americans)

All of those issues divide and is what will bring down America.

You are correct. Obedience or you aren't worthy. Like how no vaccine or you can't do this or that. And everyone fell into line. Now the real truth is coming out with doctors across the nation stepping up.

Or how if you don't take a knee (or don't support those that take a knee) you aren't worthy. But now that is even backfiring. If they really want change, use the money they make (millions) and help make a difference in an impoverished neighborhood. Take a stand WITH people.

The NFL has proven that kneeling isn't a protected right in sports (as teams have already proven by telling members if they kneel they will be removed from the team. If you think kneeling is actually protected, then tell me why no one has sued the NFL teams for this? Or better yet, go to work and kneel and see if the boss says it's ok. It's only protected in certain instances where private entities are concerned)

Most people's problem wasn't the protest, it was the way it was done. Once they voiced their opnion they were called names. Their opnion counted just as much as everyone else's. That was the first steps in "obedience or your not worthy"

Most of the comments here have involved BG being set free before another person who has been there for 4 years, or the fact that a arms dealer was released to get a basketball player back, or the fact that we just told the world that Russian laws don't count and we would rather let an arms dealer go so someone who broke Russian no tolerance law wouldn't have to go through with the punishment.

Ohh, and before you mention how Paul Whelan was guilty of crimes in the U.S., I would like to remind you that would also be another problem with the whole situation. When someone else gets in trouble in the U.S. and their past is used against them, the "it shouldn't be used against them now" is used or the "they did their time and were rehabilitated" is used. That should also be said for Paul Whelan. If the next comment would be "his crimes were worse" then it should be noted that his crimes in the Corp were actually misdemeanors and BG's crimes before going to Russia were felonies. She also commited a felony taking a prohibited item on an international U.S. flight. Paul Whelan also didn't confess and no proof of his crimes have ever been given.

Which if course brings us right back to this question. Why did I mention all that? Because that has been how all these conversations go. Someone mentions Paul Whelan crimes, then someone mentions hers, then mentions her crimes in Russia and someone says "but weed isn't illegal where she got it in the U.S." which of course brings it all back to...wait for it...she wasn't in the U.S.

So see how all this actually comes about? People get tired of others defending the actions of the rich and famous, not understanding that if it was them no one would bat an eye.

6ºCarrie Deloach First off, he was a Marine, not a soldier. There's a difference. Second, I don't condone his actions of espionage either. That said, there have been several Americans imprisoned in other countries, and there have been prisoner exchanges. All countries do this on the basis of political leverage. Still, it was an uneven exchange between two countries. Trading a WNBA player in exchange for one of the biggest arms dealers in this world is a very uneven exchange. I knew from jump she was going to be released early. She was a political pawn. Still, she broke the law in that country, whether you agree the law or not. It's a sovereign country. The politics behind it is getting an equal exchange.

7ºAnita Sparks I read and know that not all the time are the news the truth. On liking her, she doesn’t matter to me. She broke the law there, and is a civilian who was wrongfully treated and housed on a military installation. I am sure if he tried that Biden could have brought more home if he had backbone, or good working brain cells. But he caved, typical, then he, the thug, and thugs wife claimed all their efforts were to being others back. And all we hear about her dunking and planning to put all her efforts to playing basketball. So much for all her efforts to bringing other detainees, who have all been there longer, back.

8ºSusan Tobocman no honey, you seem to be the idiot here. Why don’t you read a little history and maybe then you will understand why the majority of our true citizens are upset about. Oh and btw, these life time politicians didn’t like Trump because he wasn’t one of them. He was snacking the apple tree, wanted things done by our laws and to help our country by getting rid of these under the table payments they are all getting. No way they could have allowed him to run our country because 95% of them would be in jail for treason. You have to dig deeper for the facts, not just what CNN and FoxNews tells you.

9ºAnita Sparks Well put.... Fun fact, according to the Biden Administration, BG was THE only American being held there that the Kremlin was willing to negotiate over, that said being the country that we are, it was by care & compassion that our Govt. decided to get her home as we strive to do with ANY American being held in wrong or contentious imprisonment overseas.... It would have gone against our core values to simply reject the trade on the basis of "Oh, she's just a basketball player." We may NOT be a perfect country but we are a just & compassionate one. Having said that, God watch over and be with those remaining Americans that are being held in Russia & God protect our leaders.... May we vow to be better and stand strong in solidarity against injustice and division.

10ºHeidi Petty well social media is a real eye-opener to hatred, racism I could go on. Real eye-opener, and really sad and scary so many people thinks this woman should suffer because she protested against racism so they say she hates America because of this over and over again, the same narrative that this woman hates America, because she did not stand for the national anthem, because she was protesting, which was her right as an American to do so and she was protesting against racism and injustice in America but yet so many people says she should suffer because of this. It’s so obvious that they do not agree with her protest against racism so that being said they are racist themselves it’s very obvious and very sickening and very disgusting.