Griner Play

[pap49cba]

I am all for the refs letting them play, but if they don't start enforcing some of the rules that are already on the books, it is going to get really ugly.

I'm afraid we may already have moved past the tipping point. The game more and more resembles the men's game where big, strong players beat the crap out of each other and the last man standing wins. I'm afraid nothing is going to change unless and until someone is seriously injured. I hope I'm wrong but I fear I'm correct.

And by the by, I hate the phrase "letting them play" (this is not directed at you ScarlettB). If that's what people want, just play the game with no officials.... Playground rules.

 

[01Neaggrad02]

I just want to point out that Dolsen and Griner exchanged a hug in the handshake line.

Dolson has manners. She would not sit there and say "" to Griner in the line. However, Dolson is too much of a class act. Pulling people to the ground on the other hand.... shows limited class.

 

[schmendrick]

And the NCAA should remove the refs for the UCONN-Baylor game from any further NCAA employment.

Perhaps they can be transferred to Turkey. Or China. Full benefits. Just far, far away from the NCAA.

 

[pinotbear]

I'm afraid we may already have moved past the tipping point. The game more and more resembles the men's game where big, strong players beat the crap out of each other and the last man standing wins. I'm afraid nothing is going to change unless and until someone is seriously injured. I hope I'm wrong but I fear I'm correct.

And by the by, I hate the phrase "letting them play" (this is not directed at you ScarlettB). If that's what people want, just play the game with no officials.... Playground rules.

The thing about "playground rules" is, the second incident wouldn't have happened. It wouldn't have happened, because somebody would have taken BG's legs out from under her, or bulldozed her into the backboard support, or, in some way, sent the message "knock it off!". I was a lousy basketball player, but quite proficient at this sort of task.

 

[msf22b]

Pinot
I had the same experience in the Army at an intramural soft-ball game in which the proficiency you note was required of me. Unfortunately the brawl that ensued resulted in an article 15 and being busted down to E-4 for 3 months along with lots of KP.

 

[OneTrickPony]

The thing about "playground rules" is, the second incident wouldn't have happened. It wouldn't have happened, because somebody would have taken BG's legs out from under her, or bulldozed her into the backboard support, or, in some way, sent the message "knock it off!". I was a lousy basketball player, but quite proficient at this sort of task.

Too true...but Geno wisely won't permit it (although Wooden would've had Sven Nater in the game immediately). If Brittany doesn't get herself in hand...the European Leagues will be a nightmare for her...and not just because of the reaction from the players...the fans can be even weirder.

 

[Icebear]

The thing about "playground rules" is, the second incident wouldn't have happened. It wouldn't have happened, because somebody would have taken BG's legs out from under her, or bulldozed her into the backboard support, or, in some way, sent the message "knock it off!". I was a lousy basketball player, but quite proficient at this sort of task.

A task for which bears are well suited. More than one bear has delivered a message spikes high a second or body rolling through the base. I punished my share of players at home blocking plate when a sweeping tag would have sufficed, a technique I prefer for seals. The old defensive linemen in me enjoyed the contact.

 

[RoyDodger]

I just want to point out that Dolsen and Griner exchanged a hug in the handshake line.

There is no question in my mind that Dolsen was one of the toughest challenges she faced, and, sans takedowns, probably gave as good as she got. Griner unfortunately is going to throw folks down if she exerts herself, so if she isn't playing under control, play becomes dangerous. I'm not as stirred up by the 2nd "non-foul", but thought the 1st was simply one of the stupidest things I ever saw a player do. Just grab an arm and yank down with no ball in sight? Automatic.

Up until Monday night's game I had never thought of Brittney Griner in the sense of being a dirty, rough or overly aggressive physical player. But what she did to Stefanie Dolson threw new light on my impression of Griner. No matter what pushing or shoving may have occurred previously in the game between the two post players, pulling a player's arm and throwing them to the ground, and then later pushing the same player to the floor, is not what we should be seeing in women's college basketball. That the referees essentially looked the other way on the second event is also not surprising as it is unfortunately well established in many sports that big stars often get favored treatment. How many times have you seen a star pitcher in baseball get called strikes on low outside pitches when a non-star would get only "balls" called for the same pitches?

And speaking of pushing or pulling a player to the floor, has anyone ever seen Griner on the floor? I don't recall ever seeing her being pushed down or slipping while shooting, but then again I've only seen a handful of Baylor games.

 

[CTHUSKY74]

I didn't post yesterday because I thought I might sound too much liker a homer. The second throw-down should have been called and Griner should have been ejected. The replay was very clear about what she had done and if they had used it they would have got this right. Probably they were unwilling to have BG ejected in a close game. I am all for them letting the bigs play and not calling the ticky-tack fouls because this helps to keep the game moving, but this is not physical play - it's assault! We don't let players us their hands to prevent movement of other players or prevent them from scoring. When they use the hands(or arms) it's a foul. And when they are not going for the ball and are going after the player themselves it's something more than that. Throwing another player to the deck is unacceptable even if that player is able to defend against that. If the refs truly missed that in the game, then it's up to the conferences and/or NCAA to deal with this. Stef could have been seriously hurt on that play and it's lucky she wasn't!! It's BS if they don't follow up on this.

 

[Kevin G]

I think you're showing your bias and maybe I'm showing mine but there was a lot of grabbing and physical play under the basket last night. It wasn't like Dolson was an innocent bystander in the first incident. Griner was grabbed, pushed and hacked plenty last night but she's just so strong and athletic. Dolson, on the other hand, hit the floor several times. I believe there was a timeout for the second "incident" because it was the under 8:00 timeout.

There probably is some bias between the both of us; however it is hard to argue when an athlete grabs another's arm and blatantly throws them down. That is hard to argue.

 

[Kevin G]

Dee Kantner & Co. charter members of the BGPS (that's the Brittney Griner Protection Society for those who don't know).

Anyone who expected a well called game with Kantner as the lead official needs a swift reality check.

LMAO!!!

 

[CCinCT]

I didn't post yesterday because I thought I might sound too much liker a homer. The second throw-down should have been called and Griner should have been ejected. The replay was very clear about what she had done and if they had used it they would have got this right. Probably they were unwilling to have BG ejected in a close game. I am all for them letting the bigs play and not calling the ticky-tack fouls because this helps to keep the game moving, but this is not physical play - it's assault! We don't let players us their hands to prevent movement of other players or prevent them from scoring. When they use the hands(or arms) it's a foul. And when they are not going for the ball and are going after the player themselves it's something more than that. Throwing another player to the deck is unacceptable even if that player is able to defend against that. If the refs truly missed that in the game, then it's up to the conferences and/or NCAA to deal with this. Stef could have been seriously hurt on that play and it's lucky she wasn't!! It's BS if they don't follow up on this.

Took another look at the replay http://scores.espn.go.com/ncw/recap?gameId=330490041 @ 1:28 and I can't see any refs facing Griner and Dolson - the ONLY possible excuse for not calling at least a foul. If that is correct - then where the hell are the refs ??? These refs should be barred from the NCAA tournament, but then Dee Kantner is the best WCBB has to offer isn't she ???

 

[cohenzone]

THERE is an honest answer. The way I saw it on the replay it could have been called an off-ball foul on Dolson. She used her left arm to hold Griner away from the basket. I'm not saying it wouldn't have been right to make that call at that time in the game. The refs should allow them to tussle some. I think too many people, including Doris Burke, were and are making way too much of this. Dolson held, Griner pushed back, Dolson lost her balance. Simple as that. It was no throw down.

You think we are biased?

 

[hoopfan515]

Would we even be talking about this if we had an Enforcer that Geno could have put in to send Griner a message. Anyone else miss Bam Bam!!!

 

[FairView]

I wou

Would we even be talking about this if we had an Enforcer that Geno could have put in to send Griner a message. Anyone else miss Bam Bam!!!

l would hope that UConn would not stoop to that level. Stacy was tough and she was physical, but she didn't take cheap shots. There's a big difference there.

 

[Icebear]

I wou
l would hope that UConn would not stoop to that level. Stacy was tough and she was physical, but she didn't take cheap shots. There's a big difference there.

Being an enforcer did not mean taking cheap shots. Granted that is much easier on the ice than on a basketball court.

 

[cohenzone]

Being an enforcer did not mean taking cheap shots. Granted that is much easier on the ice than on a basketball court.

You are clearly ice biased.

 

[Icebear]

You are clearly ice biased.

Plus bears like contact. I love going down to Hershey for games.

 

[GoUconn7961]

I think you could name a slew of former players that wouldn't have taken Griner's antics - Hansmeyer, Jones, Williams, Turner, Taurasi, Lobo, Elliot....I could go on....

 

[msf22b]

No one has mentioned Geno's non-reaction to the 2nd put down.
Did he not see it?
He was pretty calm after the first one as well.

 

[Icebear]

No one has mentioned Geno's non-reaction to the 2nd put down.
Did he not see it?
He was pretty calm after the first one as well.

He couldn't see it. Wrong end of the court and from behind.

 

[Kibitzer]

A very brief summary of reactions to Griner's actions when (flagrantly) fouling Dolson:

Doris Burke: OMG!

Boneyarders: WTF!

Dee Kantner: LOL

 

[msf22b]

I did notice that Griner put her hands up to a ref in the gesture so familiar from football, I didn't do nuttin...

 

[Vowelguy]

He couldn't see it. Wrong end of the court and from behind.

He sees things at the other end of the floor all the time.
How do you know what he could/couldnt see?

 

[Icebear]

He sees things at the other end of the floor all the time.
How do you know what he could/couldnt see?

Because there was no possible way without xray vision to see how Griner had wrapped up Stef's arm. If you mean he saw Stef go to the ground sure he could have seen that but not the way Griner one arm curled under and one over Stef's arm to throw her.