Last week, Brittney Griner delivered a punch that was heard around the world. The problem is Griner isn't a boxer. She is a freshman on the No. 14 Baylor women's basketball team and her punch came during a game against Texas Tech.
The incident was captured on ESPN and showed repeatedly across the media spectrum. It was assumed by many that Griner would be suspended for the rest of the season, after connecting her fist to the face of the Red Raiders' Jordan Barncastle when the two players got tangled up during the Bears 69-60 victory.
Baylor, however, handed down its punishment and it wasn't as severe as many thought it should be. The 19-year old Griner will have to sit out two games.
"I let my emotions get the best of me and I am deeply sorry for my actions," Griner said in a statement. "I am committed to doing a better job of maintaining my composure in the future. I will grow from this and I am dedicated to setting an example to others of how to learn from personal mistakes."
The conference agreed with the punishment.
"Due to the severity of the act, it is appropriate that Ms. Griner is suspended for an additional game," Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe said in a statement. "Therefore, I have accepted Baylor's action and commend athletics director Ian McCaw and head coach Kim Mulkey for taking a strong stance to support good sportsmanship."
At 6-foot-8, Griner first gained national recognition for her ability to dunk a basketball, which in the women's game has become the Holy Grail. But her talents soon caught up to her notoriety as she averages 19 points, almost nine rebounds and 6 blocks a game.
Because she was ejected from the Tech game, NCAA rules automatically made her unable to play in the team's next game, which was Sunday against Texas. Mulkey added another game to make it a two-game suspension.
The Bears only will be without Griner's services for their final regular season game and the first round of the Championship tournament, which starts today in Kansas City.
To some, Griner's punishment may look like a slap on the wrist. After all, she did break Barncastle's nose. But I think it's too severe. The one-game absence would have been good enough to teach Griner a lesson. The second game is just for show.
"I don't believe this incident should define Brittney Griner -- either as a person or as a player," Mulkey said. "Anyone who has been around her knows that she's a great kid. Her actions last night were very uncharacteristic of her. Unfortunately, she let her emotions get the best of her, and that can't happen. Brittney is a special young lady, she is great for our game, and I believe she will learn from this mistake and will become a better person moving forward."
Fights take place in college athletics all the time. Emotions run wild and tempers sometimes can flare. A punch or two are often exchanged and then order is restored.
What makes this incident news worthy is that it happened in the women's game. And we are still not used to seeing women take on what are considered male tendencies, such as fighting over a basketball game.
If this had been two men on the Baylor and Texas Tech squad, this would not have received nearly this amount of attention. Sometimes a punch is just a punch, no matter who throws it.
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The punch heard around the world
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