Last week, WNBA star Brittney Griner was given the honor of “Arizonan of the Year” by the Arizona Republic as a result of her prevalence in the news following a drug conviction and a shocking nine-year prison sentence in a Russian penal colony before she was finally released as part of a highly-controversial prisoner swap.
Not everyone has been supportive of the attention Griner has received, given that the United States failed to bring home former Marine Paul Whelan, who was also imprisoned in Russia. And recently, it was revealed that the Arizonan of the Year Award Griner received was the same award given to the legendary Pat Tillman, a former Arizona Cardinals player who was tragically killed in the line of duty after he gave up on his NFL dreams to join the United States Army.
Some people were not happy about this news.
The Arizona Republic seriously just awarded Brittney Griner their ‘Arizonian of the Year’ award.
The award had previously gone to people like late hero Pat Tillman. https://t.co/iH0D63TEd9
— Media Research Center (@theMRC) January 4, 2023
“The Arizona Republic seriously just awarded Brittney Griner their ‘Arizonian of the Year’ award. The award had previously gone to people like late hero Pat Tillman,” The Media Research Center said on Twitter.
The Arizona Republic just awarded Brittney Griner their ‘Arizonian of the Year’ award.
The award had previously gone to people like late hero Pat Tillman. What a mess we are in….— Richard (@Richard83547647) January 3, 2023
“The Arizona Republic just awarded Brittney Griner their ‘Arizonian of the Year’ award. The award had previously gone to people like late hero Pat Tillman. What a mess we are in….” one Twitter user said in a tweet.
Brittney Griner just won the Pat Tillman award….. one left the NFL to go defend the country and the other got locked up abroad for breaking the law. #GreatChoice
— NorCal Rising | Lo Be Ballin (@LoBeBallin_) January 8, 2023
“Brittney Griner just won the Pat Tillman award….. one left the NFL to go defend the country and the other got locked up abroad for breaking the law. #GreatChoice,” another Twitter user said in a tweet.
They really gave the criminal Brittney Griner the same award that American hero Pat Tillman (an Army Ranger) received. Y’all are woke and stupid. How pathetic.
— Marna (@marnalsk) January 6, 2023
“They really gave the criminal Brittney Griner the same award that American hero Pat Tillman (an Army Ranger) received. Y’all are woke and stupid. How pathetic,” another critical tweet said.
The release of Griner has been met with some heavy criticism lately, and this certainly won’t stop it.
