As a former teacher, I was bothered by the lack of fairness in education. Perhaps the greatest inconsistencies involved disciplinary action. Boys often received greater punishments than girls. Before you get upset, tell me the last time you heard of any girl anywhere receiving a 180-day suspension. Bigger kids got more days than smaller kids. Older ones got more than younger ones. You get the idea. Through all of the unfairness, the system still does almost every child a disservice. Most offenses that get kids suspended from school are crimes in the real world.
Sports teams are no different. Such is the case of Brittney Griner of the Baylor University Lady Bears. Baylor played Texas Tech University Wednesday night. With a little more than nine minutes left in the game, Griner and Texas Tech forward Jordan Barncastle got tangled up under the basket. Barncastle seemed to twist away from Griner causing the Baylor center to lose her balance. Upon regaining her balance, Griner threw a punch which broke Barncastle’s nose. Griner was ejected from the game and was suspended for one game by the university. The Big 12 Conference then added an additional one-game suspension.
Well whoop-dee-doo. Griner received a two-game suspension for committing the equivalent of assault. She should have been suspended for the remainder of the season including the NCAA Tournament. This light punishment is nothing short of laughable. Baylor University and the Big 12 Conference have missed the opportunity to teach a valuable lesson. Criminal behavior has no place in sports or at our universities. Sportsmanship was lost in this incident. There was no respect for the game, its players, or its officials.
Be the example that was not present here. Teach your kids that fighting in sports is wrong. Disrespecting your opponent is wrong. Let your game fight for you. Griner had 21 points in the contest before she lost control. Her basketball skills were beating up her opponent more than her right cross ever could. Teach your kids to avoid distractions and not to become one. Teach them that respect is not so easily found once you’ve lost it. Until next time…
Be a Good Sport!
-Sol
The Sportsmanship Guy 