'He is risking his life': Russian tennis star shows what true courage looks like



Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev wrote a truly courageous message on a TV camera moments after advancing to the final at the Dubai Championships on Friday.

A video of Rublev writing “No War Please” on a TV camera just after beating Poland's Hubert Hurkacz in their semifinal match has taken Twitter by storm.


Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev writes "No war please" on the camera following his advancement to the final in Dubai.pic.twitter.com/GQe8d01rTd
— TSN (@TSN) 1645803562

"Given the threats a Russian athlete can face from its government, this is what speaking truth to power actually looks like. And this takes true courage," tweeted Outkick's Clay Travis.

Given the threats a Russian athlete can face from its government, this is what speaking truth to power actually looks like. And this takes true courage.https://twitter.com/tsn_sports/status/1497234776905842688\u00a0\u2026
— Clay Travis (@Clay Travis) 1645806651
Wow! That really truly was courageous. To do it in such a public forum is outstanding.
— LuvsDawgs (@LuvsDawgs) 1645807958

And the praise just kept coming. Here are just a few samples:

That is as brave as it comes, he is risking his life.
— Juan Martinez (@Juan Martinez) 1645806653



He's taking such a risk. I don't think people living in Western democracies appreciate his bravery and the bravery of the Russian people protesting against Putin. Unless you come from those places and can understand.
— House Velaryon is the moment. (@House Velaryon is the moment.) 1645804623


this is very brave. I don't think people realize how far these folks are sticking their neck out. thanks again for this great message
— Just under the thin line (@Just under the thin line) 1645808189
This speaks volumes beyond his win.
— Sabrina Carnevale (@Sabrina Carnevale) 1645804612
This man is taking a huge risk doing this, but incredibly brave for doing so. I just hope he finds his way to safety somehow, because we all know Putin and his allies are going to be after him.
— Anthony Matthews-Osmachenko he/him\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udc89x3\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Anthony Matthews-Osmachenko he/him\ud83d\ude37\ud83d\udc89x3\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1645811349

A few folks on Twitter couldn't help noting the contrast between Rublev's action and those of a certain American athlete who claims to care about human rights.

I wonder if @KingJames will tell China the same.
— Dre Bla (@Dre Bla) 1645809316
Take note @KingJames
— Jeff Buckalew (@Jeff Buckalew) 1645808194


Lebron would never
— pat (@pat) 1645808385

"In these moments you realize that my match is not important. It's not about my match, how it affects me. What's happening is much more terrible," Rublev said on Thursday.

"You realize how important it is to have peace in the world and to respect each other no matter what, to be united. We should take care of our earth and of each other. This is the most important thing."

Mexican TV host travels to Florida for a day to get COVID vaccine — ahead of US citizens



Americans have been inundated with stories of fellow citizens wanting to get the COVID-19 vaccination but missing out for one reason or another — whether due to long lines, a lack of supply, or priority lists that don't include them.

So imagine the feeling Florida residents experienced when a popular Mexican television host jetted up to Florida for a day to get the vaccine that most Americans have been forced to wait for.

Juan Jose Origel — who, as the New York Post reported, is known for hosting Mexican daytime shows "Ventaneando" ("Looking Out the Window"), "Hoy" ("Today") and "La Oreja" ("The Ear") — has become a hot topic in the Sunshine State after he revealed on social media over the weekend that he had trekked north to get the shot.

Origel posted a photo of himself Saturday getting a shot in his right arm while sitting in his car at what was apparently a drive-through vaccine location.

The Texas-based, Spanish-language newspaper Al Dia Dallas reported (according to a Google Translate version of the article) that Origel flew to the U.S. over the weekend to get his shot at a vaccination event in Miami.

The host celebrated getting vaccinated in the U.S. and lamented that his own country could not get its vaccination act together.

"Already vaccinated!! Thanks #usa what a shame my country couldn't grant me that security!!!" Origel tweeted in Spanish, according to a translation provided by the Post.

Ya vacunado!! Gracias #usa que tristeza que mi país no me brindó esa seguridad!!! 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️… https://t.co/ymxCArCzp6
— Juan José Origel (@Juan José Origel)1611450238.0

It remains unclear how he made the appointment considering he doesn't live in Florida and was reportedly there for just the day, especially considering that the Florida Department of Health has been clear that vaccine tourism is a no-no.

Department spokesman Jason Mahon told the Wall Street Journal this month that the agency has vowed to investigate misuse of the vaccine.

"It is absolutely not permitted for someone to come into Florida for one day to receive the vaccine and leave the next," he said. "We ask that all suspected incidents be reported to the appropriate county health department immediately."

According to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), tourists are not supposed to be prioritized — and in fact, people have been discouraged from visiting just to get the vaccine.

The governor told the Journal in early January that people who have second homes in Florida or live in the state as part-time residents are "fine" to get vaccinated, but tourists who just fly in for a brief trip to get the shot are not.

"If they have a residence and they're not just kind of flying by night for a week or two, I'm totally fine with that," DeSantis told the Journal. "That's a little bit different than somebody that's just doing tourism and trying to come here. So we're discouraging people to come to Florida just to get a vaccine."