Griner talks about her injury and USA decision

[pap49cba]

Two weeks ago Griner fractured her right wrist while longboarding. She quickly points out she did not break her arm and said the injury will have no impact on the upcoming season.

"I was being a kid," Griner said laughing. "I'm a big kid."

"I didn't break it. My arm's not broke. I'm healing. I should be out of (cast) when I go back. Just a little fracture in the wrist."

In fact Griner said she will be in a soft case by the time she returns to summer school at the end of May.

Griner said Baylor coach Kim Mulkey, who went into "momma mode" when the injury occurred, has asked her to protect her body when she resumes her hobby of longboarding.

"She told me I have to be careful," Griner said. "She didn't ban it, but definitely have some rules now. Knee pads, elbow pads, helmet, wrist guard, probably wants me (to use) a mouthpiece too."

Griner announced last month she would not take part in the upcoming Olympic games because she wants to graduate next May.

"I want to graduate on time," Griner said. "First one in my family to go to college."
"It means a lot to me, my mom, my dad, just my whole family."

Griner said she will take a break from her studies to pull for Team USA.
"Definitely," Griner said. "I'll be wearing my USA gear, sitting right in front of the TV rooting."

LINK

 

[MilfordHusky]

"I want to graduate on time," Griner said. "First one in my family to go to college. It means a lot to me, my mom, my dad, just my whole family."

Props to Britney!

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

"I want to graduate on time," Griner said. "First one in my family to go to college. It means a lot to me, my mom, my dad, just my whole family."

Props to Britney!

Many athletes that complete a four year degree take an extra semester or more to do so. It is interesting that BG turned down a possible Olympic experience to save a semester.

 

[Icebear]

Many athletes that complete a four year degree take an extra semester or more to do so. It is interesting that BG turned down a possible Olympic experience to save a semester.

Especially given she would likely, also, be the first person AND only person in her family with an Olympic medal, too.

 

[sarals24]

She seems like such a great kid. She probably knows she has a long international career ahead of her, and wants to enjoy college as much as possible. Plus, if she got hurt during the Olympics it would ruin her senior year...

 

[UcMiami]

She will probably get another chance at the Olympic Gold. I like the focus on academics - we don't see enough of it on the men's side so lets celebrate all the women in general and this one in particular. It would have been a lot harder for her to go back and pick up the missing credits once her professional career gets going. Case in point, how many years did it take Diana to get those last credits (and banned from Uconn until she did per Geno's rules.)

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

She seems like such a great kid. She probably knows she has a long international career ahead of her, and wants to enjoy college as much as possible. Plus, if she got hurt during the Olympics it would ruin her senior year...

Probably better off skateboarding...wait...

 

[Icebear]

She will probably get another chance at the Olympic Gold. I like the focus on academics - we don't see enough of it on the men's side so lets celebrate all the women in general and this one in particular. It would have been a lot harder for her to go back and pick up the missing credits once her professional career gets going. Case in point, how many years did it take Diana to get those last credits (and banned from Uconn until she did per Geno's rules.)

Of course, she may, BUT one never knows what will happen in life. She could get hurt long boarding. Nah, that would never happen.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

She will probably get another chance at the Olympic Gold. I like the focus on academics - we don't see enough of it on the men's side so lets celebrate all the women in general and this one in particular. It would have been a lot harder for her to go back and pick up the missing credits once her professional career gets going. Case in point, how many years did it take Diana to get those last credits (and banned from Uconn until she did per Geno's rules.)

After advising literally hundreds of college students, I must say that if a student came to me and said they had an opportunity to participate in the Olympics, but also was concerned about academics, I would suggest…,”It does not have to be one or the other…let’s find a way to do both, IF that is what you want to do”.

 

[easttexastrash]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a player who enjoys her college experience more than BG. Chances are she will win a gold medal down the line. We, as adults, have a very different view of what "should" be important. Griner's dad has always been very protective so who is to say that this decision was not heavily influenced by him.

BG is a great representative for Baylor and she seems to be very content with that role at this point. I suspect that she will have many years to represent the US in the future. With her height and athleticism she should be able to compete through her 30s, barring injury. Even if she loses a step or two at some point her steps will still be bigger than just about anyone else's.

 

[RealHusky]

I thought that BG removed her name from consideration based on an issue with her mother's health. Perhaps the graduation date impact was simply a contributing factor and not the dominant one in her decision.

 

[easttexastrash]

I am surprised that all of the rules that were discussed as now being in place for the longboarding were not in place from the very beginning. I would suggest a bubble-wrap suit, as well.

 

[EricLA]

good for BG for making the decision that was best for her and her family, no matter what the peripheral reasons. And she has plenty of time to make the next Olympic team and probably get a gold medal then. in fact, she's about 20 now? i'd say she should be on at least the next 2, and possibly 3, Olympic teams.

Am I the only UCONN fan who's selfishly glad she's not going to be on the team? all the experience and practice against the best would only make her that much better her senior year. Anything that would make her even harder to defend and score against would make it harder for UCONN to beat Baylor, and ultimately win a NC.

Don't get me wrong - if having her on the Olympic team meant they would win the gold and NOT having her means they don't, then of course i'd want her on team USA. but when matching that to the upcoming season, anything that gives UCONN a better chance to beat them makes it easier to possibly win the NC next year...

 

[HuskyNan]

After advising literally hundreds of college students, I must say that if a student came to me and said they had an opportunity to participate in the Olympics, but also was concerned about academics, I would suggest…,”It does not have to be one or the other…let’s find a way to do both, IF that is what you want to do”.

Maybe she's not ready to leave home in Texas and travel all the way to Europe without her family. Some kids embrace growing up and leaving the nest, others move at their own pace. My oldest kid is like that -it's a maturity thing for both him and possibly it's the same for Brittany. And to clarify for ETT, I don't mean that in a negative sense.

 

[easttexastrash]

Maybe she's not ready to leave home in Texas and travel all the way to Europe without her family. Some kids embrace growing up and leaving the nest, others move at their own pace. My oldest kid is like that -it's a maturity thing for both him and possibly it's the same for Brittany. And to clarify for ETT, I don't mean that in a negative sense.

LOL...I didn't read it in a negative sense at all. It is very true.

 

[Husky WBB Fan]

I'm pleased with, and proud of, her motivation to graduate on time. She is still a kid (ok, young adult), although it is hard to think of her that way when she is dominating a basketball game. I am hoping the best for her and the family in terms of the possible medical complication. I respect and accept her decision and hope she is spared a lot of scrutiny regarding her decisions and what adults think she shoulda, woulda, coulda done...

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

I'm pleased with, and proud of, her motivation to graduate on time. She is still a kid (ok, young adult), although it is hard to think of her that way when she is dominating a basketball game. I am hoping the best for her and the family in terms of the possible medical complication. I respect and accept her decision and hope she is spared a lot of scrutiny regarding her decisions and what adults think she shoulda, woulda, coulda done...

Frankly, I don't care what she does...it is her life. She gets to call the tune, and she gets to pay the piper.

As for adults, believe it or not, sometimes they are right.

 

[Husky WBB Fan]

Frankly, I don't care what she does...it is her life. She gets to call the tune, and she gets to pay the piper.

As for adults, believe it or not, sometimes they are right.

So why are you wasting your time reading this thread, if she makes no difference to you one way or the other?

I understand that adults can be right, and I would like to think I have been right a few times. However, telling kids what to do all the time is not known to be particularly successful either. I wonder (rhetorically speaking) how that is/will/did work out for you.

Hmm - may be time to change the statement under your avatar/name?

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

So why are you wasting your time reading this thread, if she makes no difference to you one way or the other?

I understand that adults can be right, and I would like to think I have been right a few times. However, telling kids what to do all the time is not known to be particularly successful either. I wonder (rhetorically speaking) how that is/will/did work out for you.

Hmm - may be time to change the statement under your avatar/name?

Sorry, did not mean to promote that response. It has now become too personal, so I will sign out on the topic.

As for my avatar description, I am not responsible for that. Mods wrote it.