Athletistic/Hockey. American TV presenter and sports journalist Keith Olbermann has made a resounding statement. He called for the jailing of Washington Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin in the United States’ response to the arrest in Russia of American basketball player Brittney Griner.

Brittney Greiner was arrested at Sheremetyevo airport on February 17. The media wrote that the athlete tried to smuggle a banned substance into the country. That day, she was returning from the United States to Russia to join the ranks of UMMC Yekaterinburg, for which she has played since 2014.

Hearings in the case of the double Olympic champion of the American team began in Khimki on July 1.

Such a resounding event was commented on even in the Kremlin. Here is what the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said about it.

“I cannot comment on the actions of the Russian court: I have no right to do so. We never do so. I can only operate with facts. The facts show that the eminent athlete was detained with illegal drugs that contained narcotic substances. Russian legislation has such (laws) that provide penalties for such crimes, but, again, this is only a statement. This is what it with was detained and what is in our legislation,” RIA Novosti Sport quoted Peskov as saying.

The 31-year-old basketball player is one of the most successful women in sport. She won the 2016 and 2020 Olympics with Team USA and won the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) championship in 2014 with the Phoenix Mercury.

The proposal to arrest Ovechkin in the United States in response caused a heated discussion on social networks:

@IMHO1969:
What law did he break?

@WesleyWayne84:
– And really, why arrest Ovechkin?

@jshaun29:
– Arrest Keith Olbermann!

@JerrySt04573912:
Well, basically, I always knew Keith Olbermann wasn’t smart.

@SickPuppy:
– Why don’t you say it in front of Ovechkin, Albee! That would be cool !

@BubonicYersiniya:
– His feet are cold. I wouldn’t be surprised if he deletes this tweet soon.

@RealDesBowen:
– Keith, I suggest you contact the Russian government and ask if you can take Greiner’s place. Think about it, you can stay back and all kinds of Republicans won’t bother you anymore!

@rufus_rufus1:
– I wonder if the guy will one day get psychiatric help, which he clearly needs?

@ElNavaly:
– Call an ambulance!

@martytherealtor:
– Olbermann is completely mad. Please shut down the internet and never go back!

@lepton939:
– I don’t know… personally I don’t think it’s a bad idea.

@Arigator007:
– I would also suggest removing the Russians from all sports competitions until they release Greiner.

@robs_m4:
– I have a better solution. How about leaving her in Russia for what Greiner did? !

@bb1wackbag:
– That’s it! The problem is that Griner broke the law of a foreign country. And they don’t want to be held responsible for it. People just need to realize that the world outside of the United States might look a little different.

@redseat9:
– A more valuable asset for Russia at the moment is Andrey Vasilevsky. Better than him. Ovi is aging and goalkeepers are traditionally invaluable.

@BubonicYersiniya:
– Won’t help. They have Shesterkin. And Sorokin.

Recall that Ovechkin won the Stanley Cup in 2018. Triple world champion (2008, 2012, 2014).

He started his professional career at Dynamo Moscow at the age of 16. In the 2004 draft, he was selected by the “Washington” under the first general number. He spent 16 seasons in the American club, in 2010 he became its captain. In January 2008, he signed a 13-year, $124 million contract with the Washington Capitals, becoming the first hockey player to sign a contract worth over $100 million.

He made his NHL debut in the 2005/06 season, having received the award for the best newcomer – the Calder Trophy.

Ovechkin made his debut for the Russian national team at the age of 17, becoming at that time the youngest player in its history. Participated in thirteen world championships, became three-time world champion (2008, 2012, 2014), also participated in three Olympic Games (2006, 2010 and 2014).

Andrei Lipatov, Sport.Ru