Connect with us

Connecticut

Mercury, Sun show pregame ‘solidarity’ for Griner

Published

on

Mercury, Sun show pregame ‘solidarity’ for Griner


Members of the Phoenix Mercury and Connecticut Solar stood arm-in-arm in a circle at halfcourt earlier than Thursday night time’s WNBA sport at Mohegan Solar Area to watch “a 42-second second of solidarity” for Mercury middle Brittney Griner.

A Russian courtroom sentenced Griner to 9 years in jail earlier Thursday after she was discovered responsible of drug trafficking. She was arrested Feb. 17 for bringing hashish into the nation, the place she has lengthy competed throughout the WNBA’s low season.

Many gamers on each groups wiped away tears throughout the emotional pregame ceremony, which referred to as for the discharge of Griner and different Individuals being detained in Russia.

Advertisement

Because the gamers locked arms at halfcourt, the Solar’s public deal with announcer stated the groups hoped “to acknowledge the gravity of the second and collectively ship [Griner] power.”

“We’re impressed on a regular basis by BG’s power, and we’re steadfastly dedicated to protecting her high of thoughts publicly till she is safely again on American soil,” the PA announcer stated. “We invite all of you right here tonight to face and hyperlink arms in solidarity with us. Bringing Brittney and all different detainees house is the only real goal. We’re and can stay centered and unified in bringing them dwelling safely.”

Griner is lacking her first WNBA season this 12 months since being drafted by Phoenix with the No. 1 choose in 2013.

The Mercury, who have been with out guard Diana Taurasi (quad damage) Thursday, misplaced 77-64. Afterward, Phoenix guard Skylar Diggins-Smith stated the ambiance across the sport was heavy.

“It isn’t something we’re politicizing,” Diggins-Smith stated after the sport. “It is a human being and our real-life pal and real-life sister. I do not anticipate everyone to offer a rattling. However we actually do.

Advertisement

“And we come out right here and we’re nonetheless imagined to play this f—ing sport. No person needed to even play at this time. How are you imagined to method the sport with a transparent thoughts, and the entire group is crying earlier than the sport? Since you attempt to honor her and also you attempt to come out and nonetheless play laborious for her.”

On Thursday morning, Mercury gamers have been preparing for his or her shootaround in Uncasville, Connecticut, when Griner’s verdict was introduced. They have been watching on their cellphones, Phoenix coach Vanessa Nygaard stated.

“None of our robust days are as robust as any of the BG’s days, proper?” Nygaard stated earlier than the sport. “So we all the time hold that in thoughts, and we have carried this with us for the season day-after-day. However at this time is basically, actually robust.

“We had the gamers within the locker room watching the decision as we have been making ready to do our shootaround. After which simply to go on the market and do basketball … basketball simply does not look like the factor at this time. It simply does not appear super-important. After all, we’re ready. The gamers are very skilled, got here out did what they wanted to do, and we ready for the sport.

“However going again and listening to her phrases at this time, seeing how she’s handled in Russia, listening to her apologies … it is simply heartbreaking.”

Advertisement

Thursday’s verdict was anticipated, and the Mercury have been ready for it. Nonetheless, seeing Griner locked in a courtroom cell listening to the decision deeply upset the Mercury and different gamers throughout the WNBA.

“I used to be actually amazed by her braveness and her power as I used to be listening to it at this time,” Nygaard stated. “I could not think about being in that scenario, and she or he was so brave. She confirmed nice power and nice humility.”

It’s anticipated Griner’s finest probability at a faster return to america is that if a prisoner trade is negotiated with Russia.

“We weren’t hanging our hopes on the Russian justice system,” Nygaard stated. “We all know that the Biden administration and all of our authorities officers are going to work laborious to deliver her dwelling and that is the trail she’s going to come back dwelling.

“And so we’re assured that — although it is laborious to listen to this information at this time and we all know she’s wrongfully imprisoned; she’s been declared that by our authorities — we all know she can be returning dwelling with their laborious work.”

Advertisement

Nygaard, a former WNBA participant in her first season as Phoenix’s coach, stated different detained Individuals are a serious concern, too, for the Mercury.

“I feel we have seen super response by the Biden administration and simply even the provide of the commerce already that is occurred, there’s been a lot groundswell of assist for BG,” Nygaard stated. “It is an uncommon scenario for certain. What I do know is that our authorities has actually put themselves behind BG and are working actually laborious to deliver her and all different Individuals [home].

“We’re studying much more about wrongly detained Individuals than we ever have from this example. And I do know there are lots of different households experiencing this sense, too, however we’re hopeful that quickly this can be resolved.”



Source link

Advertisement

Connecticut

Connecticut couple charged in alleged Lululemon theft spree that netted up to $1 million

Published

on

Connecticut couple charged in alleged Lululemon theft spree that netted up to  million


A Connecticut couple has been charged in connection with an elaborate two-month theft spree at Lululemon stores across the country that an investigator with the retailer estimates netted about $1 million worth of product.

Jadion Richards, 44, and Akwele Lawes-Richards, 45, were arrested on Nov. 14 in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota suburb of Woodbury. The couple, from Danbury, Connecticut, were charged with organized retail theft after a Lululemon retail crime investigator contacted local authorities in Minnesota.

But Lululemon’s investigator said evidence shows their crimes go back to September and took place in states like Utah, Colorado, New York and Connecticut, according to the criminal complaint.

Attorneys representing Richards and Lawes-Richards did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment Thursday.

Advertisement

Richards claimed he was racially profiled, complaint says

Richards and Lawes-Richards were stopped after exiting the Lululemon store in Roseville, Minnesota, on Nov. 14 when the security alarm went off, according to the criminal complaint. Richards allegedly claimed store employees racially profiled him and the two were allowed to leave afterward.

The Lululemon investigator later alleged the two visited the store the day before on Nov. 13 with an unidentified man and stole 45 item valued at nearly $5,000. That same day, the pair had allegedly conducted four other thefts in Minneapolis, Edina and Minnetonka.

Officers arrested the couple at the Lululemon in Woodbury. The two denied any involvement in the theft, with Lawes-Richards allegedly claiming they were staying with her aunt and had only been in Minnesota for a day.

Officers found several credit and debit cards on the couple, as well as an access card to a Marriott hotel room. Using a search warrant, officers found 12 suitcases in their room, including three filled with Lululemon clothing with tags attached worth over $50,000, according to the complaint.

Advertisement

In all, the company investigator estimated the couple has taken up to $1 million in stolen product, according to the complaint, which does not detail how he arrived at the high figure.

Couple blocked cameras among other tactics: Investigator

The Lululemon investigator said one of the couple’s alleged tactics was for one of them to distract associates while another stuffed product in the clothes they were wearing, according to the complaint.

Another technique involved the two strategically exiting the store, with one of them holding a cheap item they had bought and the other carrying more expensive products that had sensors, according to the complaint. When the alarm would sound off, only the person with the cheap, purchased item would stay behind and show a receipt, while the other would keep walking with the stolen product, the complaint says.

The pair are accused in eight Colorado theft incidents between Oct. 29 and 30, and seven thefts in Utah on Nov. 6 and 7, according to the complaint.

Advertisement

The pair are currently being held at the Ramsey County jail in Minnesota, court records show. Their next court appearance is set for Dec. 16.



Source link

Continue Reading

Connecticut

Connecticut readers get the shaft from newspaper’s vulgar Jets headline blunder

Published

on

Connecticut readers get the shaft from newspaper’s vulgar Jets headline blunder


Ouch!

A newspaper in Connecticut had an unfortunate typo involving Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley’s herniated disc on Monday.

This past Monday, The Chronicle, a newspaper covering Eastern Connecticut, published an AP story on the front page of its sports section in the print edition that referred to Mosley’s “herniated d–k.”

Mosley has missed the Jets’ four games with the injury — the one in his neck, that is.

Advertisement
Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley speaks with the media before practice in Florham Park, NJ. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

In the copy, Mosley’s injury was not shafted, getting described correctly in the nut graph.

The unfortunate phallacy did not go unnoticed: in an extra twist, the error went viral when it was posted on the X account of David Coverdale, the 73-year-old singer of Whitesnake.

An editor for The Chronicle told The Post that the newspaper would be issuing a correction in the paper.

Last week, prior to the Jets’ loss to the Colts, Mosley spoke about how he hoped to return after the Jets’ bye, when they host the Seahawks on Dec. 1.

Advertisement

“That’s definitely the goal,” he said. “I’m in a position where I’ve played a lot of football. Me missing this time won’t hurt me as much as another guy that might need this opportunity. It’s about safety at the end of the day. When I go home, I’m Clint Mosley. I’m C.J. I’m not the football player.”

Mosley said the birth of his daughter, who arrived the week after his injury, put things in perspective for him.

“I had a full week of having a normal neck and ever since then every time I’m looking down, my neck’s hurting,” Mosley said. “It puts things in perspective. There’s a lot of life after football. When I’m done playing, I want to make sure I’m 100 percent.”

From head to toe and everywhere in between.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Connecticut

Another Earthquake Hits CT: Did You Feel It?: CT News

Published

on

Another Earthquake Hits CT: Did You Feel It?: CT News


Patch AM CT brings you the breaking and trending news stories from all across Connecticut each weekday morning. At any point, you can find your local Patch and catch up on those stories here.


A second earthquake hit Connecticut this week, and this one was a higher magnitude earthquake than the previous one, according to the United States Geological Survey.>>>Read More.


A collision between a car and tractor-trailer on the highway turned fatal, state police said.>>>Read More.


A suspected drunken driver was corralled by an alert citizen and state police, officials said.>>>Read More.

Advertisement

Here are the latest updates on Thursday’s storm for Connecticut, including some changes for Friday.>>>Read More.


In Connecticut, there are a few exceptions to what has been a trend since 2019 for retail stores to close on Thanksgiving Day.>>>Read More.


The holidays are coming in hot: One glance at CT’s events calendar would make you think we were already waist-deep in garland and tinsel.>>>Read More.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending