Griner pleads for help from president
Brittney Griner has made an appeal to President Joe Biden in a letter passed to the White House through her representatives saying she feared she might never return home and asking that he not “forget about me and the other American Detainees.”
Griner's agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas said the letter was delivered on Monday. Most of the letter's contents to President Biden remain private, though Griner's representatives shared a few lines from the hand-written note.
“…As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I'm terrified I might be here forever,” Griner wrote.
“On the 4th of July, our family normally honors the service of those who fought for our freedom, including my father who is a Vietnam War Veteran,” the Phoenix Mercury center added. “It hurts thinking about how I usually celebrate this day because freedom means something completely different to me this year.”
The two-time Olympic gold medalist is in the midst of a trial in Russia that began last week after she was arrested on Feb. 17 on charges of possessing cannabis oil while returning to play for her Russian team. The trial will resume Thursday.
Fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in U.S. courts, acquittals can be overturned.
The White House National Security Council confirmed the White House has received Griner's letter.
“We believe the Russian Federation is wrongfully detaining Brittney Griner,” NSC spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said on Monday. “President Biden has been clear about the need to see all U.S. nationals who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad released, including Brittney Griner. The U.S. government continues to work aggressively – using every available means – to bring her home.”
Griner pleaded with Biden in the letter to use his powers to ensure her return.
“Please do all you can to bring us home. I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore,” Griner said “I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home.”
Griner has been able to have sporadic communications with family, friends and WNBA players through an email account her agent set up. The emails are printed out and delivered in bunches to Griner by her lawyer after they are vetted by Russian officials. Once the lawyers get back to their office, they'll scan any responses from Griner and pass them back to the U.S. to send along.
She was supposed to have a phone call with her wife on their anniversary but it failed because of an “unfortunate mistake,” Biden administration officials said.
• The Brooklyn Nets announced the signing Monday of ACC Player of the Year Alondes Williams to a two-way contract.
The 6-foot-5 guard from Wake Forest will suit up for the Nets and their G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets. Terms were not disclosed.
Williams, 23, went undrafted last month after averaging 18.5 points on 50.7 percent shooting, 6.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 35 starts for the Demon Deacons in 2021-22.
Court: Poulter can play in Scottish Open
Ian Poulter and two other players who signed up for the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series won a stay Monday from a British court that allows them to play in the Scottish Open.
Poulter, Adrian Otaegui of Spain and Justin Harding of South Africa challenged their suspension from the Scottish Open and two other tournaments, the penalty for playing a LIV Golf event outside London without a release from the European tour.
They will be added to the field this week at The Renaissance Club for the Scottish Open, the first European tour event co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour.
The PGA Tour suspended its members who signed up for the Saudibacked series run by Greg Norman. Poulter is also a PGA Tour member.
Poulter was among 16 players who hinted at legal action over European tour penalties, though the temporary stay after a hearing before Judge Phillip Sycamore, who was appointed by Sports Resolutions (UK), applied only to the three players.
Sharks ready to name new GM
The Sharks are set to name their next general manager and early indications were that former San Jose forward Mike Grier was the front-runner for the position.
The Sharks would not confirm Grier's hire but are ready to announce their choice today at 11 a.m. If Grier, 47, is named to the post, it is believed he would be the National Hockey League's first black general manager.
Grier was the favorite for the position, Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reported.
The Sharks' search for their next GM began almost three months ago after Doug Wilson stepped down from the position on April 7 for health reasons.
The Sharks originally had a list of around 50 names for the job but recently whittled the number of GM candidates from a dozen early last month to between three and five finalists. Multiple reports indicated Grier and fellow former Shark forward Ray Whitney were among the final group.
Africa Cup is delayed until January 2024
The next African Cup of Nations will again clash with the European season and likely give rise to more club vs. country friction and disgruntlement over the release of players after organizers decided to postpone it until January 2024.
The decision was announced Sunday by the Confederation of African Football and was prompted by the weather in host nation Ivory Coast, CAF said.
The tournament was due to take place in June and July 2023 — a slot chosen to coincide with the European leagues' summer break — but Ivory Coast experiences heavy rain at that time of year and that threatened to badly affect Africa's showpiece tournament.
CAF said it had received a report from a technical group that staging the African Cup in mid-year in Ivory Coast would have “adverse” effects.
It's been a familiar problem for CAF, which had made a long-term commitment to move the African Cup from its traditional January-February slot to the middle of the year.
Swimmer Lochte selling off medals
All of Ryan Lochte's Olympic silver and bronze medals are up for auction, with the proceeds going to a charity benefitting children.
The 37-year-old swimmer earned 12 medals over four Olympics, including six gold that he plans to keep for now.
The medals are being sold in three lots by Boston-based RR Auction. The sale ends July 21.
The first lot is Lochte's first individual Olympic medal, a silver in the 200-meter individual medley from the 2004 Athens Games in which Michael Phelps won gold. It has an estimate of $10,000 or more.
The second lot is a pair of bronze medals from the 2008 Beijing Games, in which Lochte finished third in the 200 IM and 400 IM. The estimate is $12,000 or more.
The third lot features three medals from the 2012 London Games. Lochte finished second in the 200 IM, second in the 4x100 freestyle relay, and third in the 200 backstroke. The estimate is $60,000 or more.