Former NBA playerย Dennis Rodmanย announced his plans to visit Russiaย as he vowed to seek theย prison releaseย ofย WNBA starย Brittney Griner.
Rodman to the rescue?
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Dennis Rodman’s statement:
“I got permission to go to Russia to help that girl,” heย toldย NBC Newsย at a restaurant in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 20. “I’m trying to go this week.”ย
In 2014, Rodmanย famously called Russian Presidentย Vladimir Putin, a “cool guy” after a trip to Moscow, where he acted as an informal spokesperson for his sport.
“They don’t know about American basketball, American football,” heย toldย Fox Businessย that year, referring toย Russians. “I went over there to represent America as far as basketball is concerned.”
He added, “I’m not a politician, I’m just a basketball ambassador. That’s it.”
What happened to Brittney Griner?
Earlier this month,ย Griner wasย sentenced toย nine yearsย in a prisonย on drug charges. A Russian court found the athleteย guilty of drug possession and smuggling. In addition, they found her guilty of committing the crime deliberately. Her lawyer has sinceย filed an appeal.
Meanwhile,ย Bill Richardson recently told theย Associated Pressย he was hopeful about the chances for a prisoner swap with Russia. Bill is a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The swap intends to bring Griner and another jailed American,ย Paul Whelan, home to the U.S.
Check out this article for more info: US basketball star Brittney Griner sentenced to nine years of prison Russian court
Has Dennis Rodman displayed this behavior before?
If Rodman, 67, goes to Russia, it won’t be the first timeย the former Chicago Bulls starย hasย inserted himself into international affairs.ย
Over the last decade,ย theย Celebrity Moleย alum has raised eyebrows for his friendly relationshipย with North Korean leaderย Kim Jong Unย and has made multiple visits to his country.
That same year, then-CNN anchorย Chris Cuomoย pressed Rodman on the topic, asking if he couldn’t use his friendship with Jong-un to release then-imprisoned Americanย Kenneth Baeย from North Korea.
The athleteย famously flipped out onย the journalistย and seemed vehemently opposed to the idea of using his personal connections to help Bae.ย
He later apologized for his remarks, saying he had been drinking and wasย stressed out from his recent trip abroad. He alsoย checked in to a rehab facilityย for a reported 30 days.
When Bae was ultimately released back to the States later that year, Rodman took credit, tellingย TMZ. “No doubt, our trips helped influence Kenneth Bae’s release,” he toldย TMZ, “and I’m happy he is coming home safely.”ย
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