I Do Expect Better

In his commentary: Baylor’s Griner deserves a second chance, Richard Justice said one thing that really leapt out at me:

If we’re willing to forgive all the addicts, wife beaters, cheats, juicers and perverts in sports, then we ought to be able to find it in our hearts to forgive a 19-year-old girl.

You know, I don’t just pretend that the addicts, wife beaters, cheats, juicers, and perverts in sports didn’t do what they did regardless of how important they may be for a game. Frankly (and this might be grossly unfair of me, I admit), if you are representing others and benefiting from it yourself, you have made a social contract as to your conduct. It does matter. It has ALWAYS mattered, regardless of what the apologists say.

That doesn’t mean that I don’t think people shouldn’t be allowed honest mistakes and lapses of judgment. It happens, no matter who you are. But let’s be honest here–how surprised was anyone, really, that Ms Griner took a punch at someone?  The attitude has been there. You can see it in other athletes in other sports. It might not be their personality off the field of play, but once they are engaged in “battle” you can definitely see it.

Personally, I’d have suspended Griner at least through the Big-12 tournament and possibly for the rest of the year. Harsh? Yeah. That’s sort of the point. And I’m not pointing the finger only at Griner. I’d have suspended (and in some cases expelled) a lot of players over the years for the same behavior.

I’m not saying that people can’t learn and change. I like to think that when personally motivated they will. Second chances? Sure. Youth, circumstances, heat-of-the-moment, provocation… it all makes a difference. But memories are long. Time may heal the wounds of bad choices, but the scars will remain. Let’s hope that Ms Griner learns to channel her passion into something more beneficial for her school and team–and herself.