By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Just another day for Dennis Rodman.
Rodman, 61, revealed his intention to travel to Russia ‘to help that girl’ referring to Brittney Griner during the weekend. However, the U.S. government publicly advised him to not interfere in the case.
The Worm had mentioned he ‘got permission to go to Russia’ but did not specify the source of the permission. Apparently, it was not the government of his country.
“He would not be traveling on behalf of the U.S. government,” clarified State Department spokesperson Ned Price, “We believe that anything other than negotiating further through the established channel is likely to complicate and hinder those release efforts.”
Price, 39, also mentioned the ‘very clear guidance to American citizens’ on currently implemented travel restrictions to Russia.
The USA has officially listed Griner as wrongfully detained. The WNBA star with Phoenix Mercury and player of UMMC Ekaterinburg during the offseason was sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty on drug charges, the attempt to smuggle illegal narcotics into Russia. She admitted to indeed carrying vape cartridges with cannabis oil but denied intent.
Nearing the end of her trial in Khimki, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed discussions on a prisoner exchange involving Griner and fellow American Paul Whelan for Russian arms trafficker Victor Bout, jailed in the USA. This seems the preferable route for the Biden administration.
Rodman, apart from his documented relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, met Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2014 and described him as ‘cool’.