Baylor’s Brittney Griner Suspended

The Punch

In a women’s college basketball game between Baylor and Texas Tech, Baylor freshman phenom Brittney Griner and Texas Tech’s Jordan Barncastle got their arms tangled up while Barncatle was trying to guard Griner in the post. Barncastle was called for a foul as she spun Griner around and tossed her aside by the arm. Griner responded by throwing a punch at a defenseless Barncastle, who wasn’t even looking at Griner at the time, hitting her square in the face and breaking her nose. Griner was ejected from the game. If you haven't seen it, here is the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtaPtQnu370

The Punishment

As a result of her punch, Griner has been suspended for two games (one by the NCAA and one by the school.) Baylor has one game left in the regular season so Griner will miss that game and Baylor’s first round game of the Big 12 tournament. This seems to be an absolute joke of a 
suspension. The argument for the two game suspension is that she let her emotions get the best of her. This should not be a legitimate excuse for winding up and punching another player in the face. Many things go on during a game and the players must keep their emotions under control. Griner should be suspended for the rest of the season because of her atrocious action on the court. Getting in a player’s face after such an altercation is one thing, pushing a player is another thing, but socking a player in the face is on a completely different level. Although this does not occur often in sports, let alone women’s basketball, in needs to be shown that this type of behavior is not going to be tolerated. Griner will be eligible to play in the women’s NCAA tournament where #14 Baylor hopes to be in contention for a National Championship.

The Explanation

The only reason I can think of for Griner getting such a light suspension is that she is one of the most exciting players to watch in women’s college basketball, and a suspension for the rest of the season would definitely cause the popularity of the sport, low as it already is, to take a hit. Griner, a 6’8”, 19 year old freshman, is well known for her ability to dunk. This only leaves me wondering, what would have happened if instead of Griner, it was just another women’s player who didn’t bring as much excitement to the game. Would the suspension be the same, or would she serve as an example to all other players that that kind of action will not be tolerated? In my opinion, the latter would be most likely.

Oregon's LeGarrette Blount

As you may recall, in early September of 2009, Boise State beat Oregon for their first game of the college football season. After the game, Boise State linebacker Byron Hout ran up to Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount and said something, presumably trash talk. Blount responded by running up to Hout and punching him across the face. As a result, Blount was suspended for the rest of the season. After missing eight games, however, he was reinstated and allowed to play in the remainder of their games. This situation isn’t much different than Griner’s. Both were provoked by opposing players and both let their emotions get the best of them, leading to a punch. Yet Blount was, at first, suspended the rest of the season and Griner is only out two games. Other than the fact that the events occurred with two different genders, there really isn’t much of a difference, the football vs. basketball fact doesn’t make much of a difference. Yes, punching occurs more often in men’s sports than women’s, but that still doesn’t make Griner’s punch any less gruesome and therefore, she should be treated just as Blount was, out for the rest of the season. Now if Baylor manages to win a few games in the NCAA tournament and possibly makes it to the Final Four, I wouldn’t be against her being reinstated, provided that she prove her remorse, for example, Blount wrote a letter that was published in the University of Oregon newspaper not only apologizing to Hout, but to his university for the shame and infamy he brought to his school. If such an event occurs, I see no reason against Griner’s reinstatement, but I reiterate, only if her team makes it to the Final Four and she serves a real suspension long enough for her to learn that that behavior is not acceptable, not the wimpy two games she somehow got. It is sad, however, that such a great college player’s on court accolades during her freshman year; she is averaging 19 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6 blocks; will be more than likely overshadowed by this one mistake.