It’s been a while since I’ve written — a post-Super Bowl break became longer than intended after I had jury duty and ultimately was seated on one. So instead of a column on a single topic, I’m trying one on a bunch of different thoughts.
The Brittney Griner situation is scary and hits on a lot of things. First and foremost, it’s scary that she had been in Russian custody for three weeks before Russian state media reported it. It’s also scary that she’s an openly gay Black woman being held by a country that is, at best, unfriendly to Black people and hostile to LGBTQ rights.
Since the information on her drug possession is coming from Russian customs officials, it can’t be trusted. While it’s entirely possible Griner made a major mistake despite her years of experience traveling to the country and simply forgot to remove her vape cartridges, it also is entirely possible Russian authorities lied about what she had on her because she is a gold-medal-winning, high-profile American…