The San Jose Sharks made history by hiring former hockey player Mike Grier, who became the first ever Black General Manager in the NHL while the Maple Leafs elevated Hayley Wickenheiser to Assistant General Manager. The Dallas Cowboys drew criticism after announcing a new corporate partnership with a firearm-themed coffee company less than 24 hours after a series of gun violence incidents, including a mass shooting in which seven people were killed. The White House says President Joe Biden has read a heartbreaking, handwritten letter penned by Brittney Griner, the U.S. citizen and basketball star who has been unlawfully imprisoned in Russia for 139 days.

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Video Transcript

MIKE GRIER: Hi, Sharks fans. It's Mike Grier. I'm your new GM. Really excited to get to work and be back in the Bay Area.

[WHOOSH]

JARED QUAY: Congratulations are in order for Mike Grier, who just landed a new job as the general manager of the San Jose Sharks.

- Mazel tov!

JARED QUAY: Greer has a lengthy NHL resume as a player, coach, scout, and member of the front office, but no doubt he's got his work cut out for him with the NHL draft later this week and the task of trying to lift the Sharks out of their sinking ways.

MIKE GRIER: I know there's been lots of ups and downs, but I'm ready to work hard, and get at it, and get this thing back on the tracks.

JARED QUAY: This isn't just any old GM job, though. Grier is the first Black general manager in the NHL's history.

- Ever?

JARED QUAY: Yep! First one in 105 years! It's

- About damn time.

JARED QUAY: Meanwhile in Toronto, four-time Olympic gold medalist Haley Wickenheiser was promoted to assistant general manager of the Maple Leafs, becoming the fourth female assistant GM in the league right now.

- [INAUDIBLE]

JARED QUAY: Not every sport had something worth celebrating yesterday, though. On Tuesday, July 5, the Dallas Cowboys announced a corporate sponsorship with Black Rifle Coffee.

- I see where you're going with this.

JARED QUAY: Less than 24 hours after multiple fans were hit by gunfire at an Oakland A's game, two cops were shot at a Philadelphia 4th of July event, and 7 people were murdered in a mass shooting during an Independence Day parade in Illinois. The Dallas Cowboys publicly launched a partnership with a company that's entire schtick is about guns!

- This is a big joke, right?

JARED QUAY: No. The company sells products called Coffee or Die Roast, AK-47 Espresso Blend, and Silencer Smooth Roast. You can't even make this stuff, it is so absurd! These are the same Dallas Cowboys who donated $400,000 to victims and survivors of the mass shootings at Uvalde Elementary School just a couple weeks ago. How does nobody in the Cowboys organization pump the brakes on partnering with a gun-obsessed coffee brand?

Connect the dots, Cowboys! Looks to me like the Cowboys are clueless on and off the field. So do better, Dallas.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Here at "The Rush," we want to do better too by bringing awareness to Brittany Griner's unlawful imprisonment in Russia. The basketball great sent President Joe Biden a heartbreaking handwritten letter which said in part, quote, "I realize you are dealing with so much, but please do not forget about me and other American detainees. Please do all you can to bring us home."

Last night, the White House sent word that President Biden had read Griner's letter and that securing Griner's release is a top priority. We here at "The Rush" sure hope that's the case, Mr. President. It's been 139 days. Let's bring BG home.

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