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sports Friday 3 June 2022
Brittney Griner receiving, answering WNBA players' emails

By DOUG FEINBERG are thinking about her.
AP Basketball Writer Others send Sudoku puzzles
Brittney Griner can't play or more personal notes.
with her WNBA colleagues. "She jokes in her letters. I
She can't call them, either. don't know how she does
But she can write. it with what she's going
In one small bit of normal- through. She's an amaz-
cy, Griner has been able to ing soul," Zahui B. said. "She
receive emails and letters brings light in a situation
from WNBA players during like this. I don't think a lot of
her detainment in Russia. people could manage to
Hundreds of emails have do that."
been sent by players to an Zahui B., who jokingly ad-
account Griner's agent set mitted she tends to ramble,
up to allow them to com- sent Griner updates on her
municate with her. daily activities describing
It's not easy: The emails are such mundane things as
printed out and delivered getting her nails done or
sporadically in bunches to what she ate for lunch.
Griner by her lawyer after She wasn't extremely close
they are vetted by Rus- with Griner when they both
sian officials. Griner doesn't played in the WNBA and
have access to the email in Europe, but got to know
account; she'll either write Phoenix Mercury's Brittney Griner (42) is congratulated on a play against the Seattle Storm in the her better over time. Gri-
a response on paper and first half of the second round of the WNBA basketball playoffs Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, in Everett, ner sent a video to Zahui
her lawyers will take a pho- Wash. B,'s mom offering support
to of it or she'll dictate a re- Associated Press when she was battling
sponse if she doesn't have breast cancer and another
any paper. best friends now.'" luggage at an airport near It's not just emails being sent one for her 60th birthday a
Los Angeles Sparks for- Like so many WNBA play- Moscow. to Griner; Diana Taurasi ac- few years ago.
ward Amanda Zahui B. ers, Zahui B. wanted Griner When Zahui B. got her first tually sent a hand-written Griner, who last responded
never thought she'd hear to know she was thinking response from Griner it letter to her Mercury and to the Sparks player last
back from Griner when she about her as the two-time made her smile and she Olympic teammate. week, signed it "From 42 to
sent an email to the Phoe- Olympic gold medalist re- promised herself she would Griner's agent Lindsay 42" when Zahui B. told her
nix Mercury center a few mains, in the view of U.S. of- send more notes. And she Kagawa Colas said the let- she was switching her num-
months ago. ficials, wrongfully detained has, sending them every ters have been a way for ber to 42 in honor of the
"When she responded to in Russia. few weeks. So have many the 6-foot-9 center to stay center.
my second letter it blew me Griner has been detained other players. connected to her WNBA While writing letters has
away," Zahui B. said. "I was for 105 days after vape "We just don't want her to family. come naturally to Zahui B.,
like she responded!! In my cartridges containing oil think she's forgotten," Lib- Some players just offer other players says it is tough
third letter, I was like 'hey derived from cannabis erty center Stefanie Dolson hopes and prayers for Gri- to find the words to put pen
best friend, we are officially were allegedly found in her said. ner's release and say they to paper.q

Matsuyama disqualified for too much paint on his 3-wood

By DOUG FERGUSON long as it hasn't been used. Rintoul described the sub-
DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — Former Matsuyama said he used it stance as white-out used in
Masters champion Hideki for his opening tee shot. fixing typographical errors
Matsuyama was disquali- Rintoul said he met him on on paper.
fied Thursday when officials the fifth fairway to talk to "There was a lot of white,"
determined he had too the Japanese star and to he said. "A white-out sub-
much paint on the face of take pictures of the club. stance that was very much
his 3-wood that he was us- He then brought in the up on the face of the club,
ing for alignment. USGA and the tour's equip- which, really, it's very clear
It was the first time Mat- ment standards leader to in equipment rules that is
suyama, who won the Me- make sure, and the result not allowed."
morial in 2014 for his first was disqualification. He said he closed his yes
PGA Tour victory, had ever The alignment aid was not and rubbed his fingernail
been disqualified on the at issue, rather the sub- across the face of the club.
PGA Tour. stance used to create the In one direction he could
Chief referee Steve Rintoul lines was thick enough that feel the paint, and the oth- Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, watches his shot on the ninth
fairway during the first round of the Memorial golf tournament,
said rules officials were it could affect the flight of er direction he couldn't. Thursday, June 2, 2022, in Dublin, Ohio.
made aware of 10 small the ball. "It was thick enough you Associated Press
lines forming a circle on the Rule 4.1-a(3) states play- could pick up on where it
face of his 3-wood. Mat- ers cannot hit a shot with was on the face," he said. ago. They reached Mat- of circumstances for Hideki,
suyama had just teed off a club that has been Rintoul said someone in suyama too late to keep for sure."
at Muirfield Village and was changed "by applying any the golf industry whom he him from using the club in Matsuyama left after nine
approached on the sec- substance to the clubhead declined to identify point- competition. holes — he was 3-over par
ond hole. (other than in cleaning it) ed out pictures of Mat- "But the damage was done — without comment. His
It's OK to have a non-con- to affect how it performs in suyama's club that had on the first hole," Rintoul next tournament is the U.S.
forming club in the bag as making a stroke." been taken a few days said. "Just unfortunate set Open in two weeks.q