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🏀 New Beginnings

🏀 New Beginnings

December 08, 2022

Happy Thursday Beyond The Press family! Brittney Griner has finally been released out of Russian custody and is heading home! There were some wild upsets last night in the NBA including the Jazz pulling off a last second upset over the Warriors and the Magic upsetting the Clippers in overtime. All in all a great night filled with a ton of NBA action. On the flip side, Google released their top searches of 2022 yesterday and yep, you guessed it, Wordle was the top search of 2022. Also shoutout to the Philadelphia Phillies for being the most searched sports team of the year! In today's rendition of BTP we dive into Brittney Griner being released, the Celtics spoiling Chris Paul's return to the Suns, and how former NFL star Andrew Luck regrets but is grateful for his tough decision to retire.

Finish the week off strong!

PRISONER SWAP

Brittney Griner has Finally Been Freed!

After months of unjust detainment in Russia, Brittney Griner has finally been released. Biden announced that Griner is “safe” and “on her way home” after being swapped for the convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.

How did we get here?

Brittney Griner, one of the top players in the WNBA, was first detained in Russia last February over wildly overblown drug smuggling charges. Griner, who was flying to Russia to play for one of their basketball teams, inadvertently packed a small amount of cannabis oil in her luggage and was sentenced to nine years in prison. Last month Griner lost her appeal and was moved to a penal colony in the Mordovia Republic.

About the Prisoner Swap

If there was ever a way to get Griner home, it wasn’t going to be through their legal system — it was going to be a prisoner swap. The United States government had previously offered Viktor Bout, a.k.a “The Merchant of Death,” in exchange for Griner and former U.S. Mar Paul Whelan, but couldn’t get a deal done. In the end, the U.S. was forced to settle for Griner or nothing.

What Happens Next?

Griner is expected to return to the U.S. within 24 hours and reunite with her wife Cherelle Griner. On behalf of the Griner family, Cherelle said that they “will remain committed to the work of getting every American home, including Paul, whose family is in our hearts today.”

SPOILED RETURN

Chris Paul's Big Return Spoiled By 40-Point Blowout

Last night was supposed to be an early look at a potential 2023 Finals matchup, but unfortunately, one team didn't get the memo. The Celtics blew the doors off the Suns in a 125-98 massacre that was actually worse than the score let on. At halftime Boston led by 27, and at one point in the third quarter, they grew their lead to an unimaginable 45 points.

The key for the Celtics wasn’t superb play from their star duo of Tatum and Brown, who both had solid 25-point nights, but rather an exceptional night across the board from Boston’s role players. Grant Williams, Malcolm Brogdon, and Blake Griffin combined for 39 points and missed just five shots between them, meanwhile, Marcus Smart and Derrick White put the clamps on Booker and Paul.

Paul missed the last 14 games as he recovered from a heel injury sustained against the 76ers but failed to make much of an impact. Paul improbably finished the game with four points, four rebounds, four assists, and four turnovers. While it was definitely an off night for CP3, the 37-year-old Point God has struggled in general this season. Through the first ten games, Paul is averaging a career low in points (9.5), FG% (36.8%), and 3-point efficiency (27.3%).

TOUGH DECISIONS

Why Andrew Luck Retired and How Others Might Follow in his Footsteps

Andrew Luck recently sat down for an ESPN profile, a rarity for the reserved and private Luck, and shed some very interesting information about his abrupt retirement over three years ago. Luck explained that he regretted the timing of his retirement as it was so close to the start of the season, but needed to step away from the game for the sake of his physical and mental health.

Luck’s injury history while under center for the Indianapolis Colts was pretty devastating. He missed a lot of time with various injuries to his shoulder, elbow, thumb, ankle, and head, but he also played through an excruciating amount of pain in his ribs and shoulder. Among the most notable injuries he sustained were a lacerated kidney and a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder that sidelined him for over a year.

Luck also explained that the massive weight of the Colts' job, and being Peyton Manning’s successor had taken a toll on him, and as a result "There were some things that when [he] looked in the mirror, [he] did not like about [himself].” Luck added: “I was self-absorbed, withdrawn, in pain, and feeling pressure."

There’s no denying that football is one of the most taxing sports on the human body and that former football players often pay the price later in life. Luck’s decision to leave, and to do so at only 29 years old and at the top of his game (he had just led the Colts back to the playoffs after throwing 39 touchdowns), was monumental in paving the way for athletes to put themselves and their health first. While there hasn’t been another player of Luck’s stature to do so, we’ve gotten close. Most recently, 31-year-old Aaron Donald, widely considered one of the best defensive players the league had ever seen, flirted with retirement this past offseason after finally winning a championship.