The Russian detainment of American basketball star Brittney Griner has been making headlines over the last three months. On this episode of Crisis Communications in Sports, we discuss the often complex and critically important media tactics being utilized by Griner's supporters, with Kimberly St. Julian-Varnon whose work focuses on the African American experience in the Soviet Union, Ukraine and Russia. St. Julian-Varnon speaks about how she advised the WNBA Players Association and the shift in approach that led to a more vocal public campaign (06:44). Hosts Jim Rocco and Cris Bruce open the show with a discussion about how and why a controversial story involving the Tampa Bay Rays managed to not spiral out of control and escalate to the level it potentially could have (01:16).