OT: Brittney Griner...

[cto]

There were several posts about Brittney here during basketball season. As a follow-up, I found this cover story in ESPN Magazine today to be both interesting and sad. Reading about her childhood, it is easy to understand why gay/lesbian teenagers represent a disproportionate percentage of suicide victims. Please don't turn this into a homophobic thread.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/05/brittney-griner-poses-with-giant-reptile-on-espn-magazine-cover/ There is a link to the espn article within this usa today article.

 

[PeteCalvin]

Nobody here should be talking smack about Brittney Griner. She could tomahawk dunk over any one of us.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

I was trying to come up with another athlete as controversial or polarizing as she is. She is probably a nice young lady but has not endeared herself to the general population as someone such as Skylar Diggens. At least now she can become her true self and has most likely gained more fans recently. Be interesting to see what Madison Ave does with her if anything.


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[PeteCalvin]

I was trying to come up with another athlete as controversial or polarizing as she is. She is probably a nice young lady but has not endeared herself to the general population as someone such as Skylar Diggens. At least now she can become her true self and has most likely gained more fans recently. Be interesting to see what Madison Ave does with her if anything.



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Tim Tebow.

Oh crap! I just Tebowed CTO's thread. Sorry Joyce.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Tim Tebow couldnt hold Britney Griner's jock. Oh wait, i didn't mean it like that.

 

[tee1222]

Rooting for her with every dunk. She might go down as one of the most dominating forces on the basketball court of all time. She was amazing to watch in college and I know she will get to that stage in the pros. Reminds me a little of Shaq, even Wilt as an all-imposing presence on both ends of the court.

The kid is damn good. Kindly step outta my way.
Boom!

 

[jekelish]

I don't get anyone who hates on Brittney Griner, unless they are just homophobic. She seems like a really intelligent, nice young woman who is happy to embrace who she is. You cannot possibly hate on someone for that. Plus, she's by far the best women's basketball player since at least Cheryl Miller.

 

[EastCoast2]

I think it's a joke that a plain dunk by her is the top play of the week. She's 6'8 and has a 7'0+ wingspan. I'm shorter than that and can dunk, what's the big deal.

 

[realorange]

I don't get anyone who hates on Brittney Griner, unless they are just homophobic. She seems like a really intelligent, nice young woman who is happy to embrace who she is. You cannot possibly hate on someone for that. Plus, she's by far the best women's basketball player since at least Cheryl Miller.

Amazing how people are forgetting about Delle Donne in the conversation about Griner. Griner is an extraordinary player, but Delle Donne is a great one as well with a more complete game.

 

[PoppyHart]

I don't follow women's BB in an analytical manner, so maybe it just seems to me like every 2-3 years there's a new GOAT. OTOH, and I know I'm missing a few "greats", over the last 30 years we've had Miller, Swoopes, Leslie, Holdsclaw, Bird, Taurasi, Parker, Moore, and now Griner. All of these girls were the GREATEST THING EVER at the time. This leaves out all the other very very good, but not transcendent players; i.e. the Staleys, Lobos, Catchings, Douglas's of the world.

The point being, nobody really knows how to analyze women's basketball. Probably b/c we don't care as a society and there's no money in trying to figure it out or to debate about Skip Bayless style. (CUE THE FAMILY GUY SKIT!)

Griner may turn out to be the most special of all the special ones, but who the really knows (or cares)?

 

[warrickisgod]

I still feel like that if I got a group a buddies together we could take down a WNBA team

 

[Ozcuse]

I still feel like that if I got a group a buddies together we could take down a WNBA team

Unless you and your buddies were all former Div. I men's basketball athletes (or higher) with a lot of practice together running plays, I think you would get demolished. I would put money on it.

 

[cuseincincy]

Unless you and your buddies were all former Div. I men's basketball athletes (or higher) with a lot of practice together running plays, I think you would get demolished. I would put money on it.

Wouldn't have to be D1 athletes. I used to play with several of the women on the college team I went to. One of them when she graduated was the all-time leading scorer and rebouder in MAC history. If there had been a WNBA back then she'd probably been able to play in it. She was OK playing with us in pickup games. Wouldn't have started for the boys team at my high school. The athleticism is just different particularly when height is concerned. To be totally honest I don't think Brittany Griner could start (or even play) for Lemoyne. At her height she'd be way too slow and not good enough shooter or ball handler.

 

[Eric15]

There were several posts about Brittney here during basketball season. As a follow-up, I found this cover story in ESPN Magazine today to be both interesting and sad. Reading about her childhood, it is easy to understand why gay/lesbian teenagers represent a disproportionate percentage of suicide victims. Please don't turn this into a homophobic thread.

It's heartbreaking to think about - gay/lesbian teenagers are 4 times as likely to attempt suicide as heterosexual teenagers. That's why I believe what Jason Collins did (even though he's a fringe NBA player who isn't necessarily well-known) is so important.

 

[Alsacs]

I used to go to a couple of SU women's basketball when I was a student and I got selected to do the layup, free throw, 3-pointer, midcourt contest they used to run, and when I got the ball I was shocked how smaller the women's ball was and how easy it was for to palm. My question is does the WNBA use the smaller ball or is it the same as the NBA. I think Della Donne has a Dirk Nowitzki type game. Grinner is just bigger than the other girls which is impressive, but nothing that makes me want to watch her play. I give her credit for her story and be so open and not afraid which is very commendable.

 

[Ozcuse]

Wouldn't have to be D1 athletes. I used to play with several of the women on the college team I went to. One of them when she graduated was the all-time leading scorer and rebouder in MAC history. If there had been a WNBA back then she'd probably been able to play in it. She was OK playing with us in pickup games. Wouldn't have started for the boys team at my high school. The athleticism is just different particularly when height is concerned. To be totally honest I don't think Brittany Griner could start (or even play) for Lemoyne. At her height she'd be way too slow and not good enough shooter or ball handler.

I don't want to continue taking this off on a tangent so this will be my last post on this.

It's a misconception that the WNBA does not/could not compete against men. It's not true. They scrimmage against men all the time. It's becoming the way that many WNBA franchises put together sc.out teams. Take a look.

http://www.wnba.com/storm/news/practicesquad100812.html

 

[NineOneSeven]

I don't want to continue taking this off on a tangent so this will be my last post on this.

It's a misconception that the WNBA does not/could not compete against men. It's not true. They scrimmage against men all the time. It's becoming the way that many WNBA franchises put together sc.out teams. Take a look.

http://www.wnba.com/storm/news/practicesquad100812.html

I agree with warrickisgod.

I also wouldn't call scrimmaging the same as competing

 

[NineOneSeven]

That being said, I think griner is going to own the wnba

 

[Eric15]

I don't want to continue taking this off on a tangent so this will be my last post on this.

It's a misconception that the WNBA does not/could not compete against men. It's not true. They scrimmage against men all the time. It's becoming the way that many WNBA franchises put together sc.out teams. Take a look.

http://www.wnba.com/storm/news/practicesquad100812.html

I don't want to make it seem like I'm disrespecting women or women's athletes, because that's not what I'm about at all. But in all reality, the average WNBA player is probably on par with the average Division 3 (maybe Division 2 in some instances) men's player.

The greatest women's player of all-time (Cheryl Miller) wouldn't have a chance 1 on 1 against someone like Brandon Triche.

 

[CusefanATL]

I was trying to come up with another athlete as controversial or polarizing as she is. She is probably a nice young lady but has not endeared herself to the general population as someone such as Skylar Diggens. At least now she can become her true self and has most likely gained more fans recently. Be interesting to see what Madison Ave does with her if anything.


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She is polarizing? Controversial?

I'm not the biggest womens basketball fan - but i have NEVER heard those described with Griner. Especially to the point of being the most polarizing in sports.

maybe i live under a rock.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

It's heartbreaking to think about - gay/lesbian teenagers are 4 times as likely to attempt suicide as heterosixual teenagers. That's why I believe what Jason Collins did (even though he's a fringe NBA player who isn't necessarily well-known) is so important.

One of the guys I have worked with in the past is considering giving up his current career and going back to school to focus on bullying and how to fix it/stop it. Great guy who is also gay and an SU alum.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

I don't want to make it seem like I'm disrespecting women or women's athletes, because that's not what I'm about at all. But in all reality, the average WNBA player is probably on par with the average Division 3 (maybe Division 2 in some instances) men's player.

The greatest women's player of all-time (Cheryl Miller) wouldn't have a chance 1 on 1 against someone like Brandon Triche.

I tend to agree with this, but after watching that 30 on 30 about Reggie Miller, seems like she did just fine going up against him.

 

[NKR1978]

There were several posts about Brittney here during basketball season. As a follow-up, I found this cover story in ESPN Magazine today to be both interesting and sad. Reading about her childhood, it is easy to understand why gay/lesbian teenagers represent a disproportionate percentage of suicide victims. Please don't turn this into a homophobic thread.

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2013/05/brittney-griner-poses-with-giant-reptile-on-espn-magazine-cover/ There is a link to the espn article within this usa today article.

I can't understand why she went to a place like Baylor. And the ESPN article makes Kim Mulkey look like a snake and just an awful person in general.

She really has an awesome attitude about life and I hope she does well. I imagine she can make a ton of money doing speeches and lobbying for gay/lesbian groups if was inclined to do so.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

I used to go to a couple of SU women's basketball when I was a student and I got selected to do the layup, free throw, 3-pointer, midcourt contest they used to run, and when I got the ball I was shocked how smaller the women's ball was and how easy it was for to palm. My question is does the WNBA use the smaller ball or is it the same as the NBA. I think Della Donne has a Dirk Nowitzki type game. Grinner is just bigger than the other girls which is impressive, but nothing that makes me want to watch her play. I give her credit for her story and be so open and not afraid which is very commendable.

Not sure, but I'd guess they use the smaller ball. I equate that feeling you had with the smaller ball to how a men's ball feels to guys like Lebron.

 

[longislandcuse]

She is polarizing? Controversial?

I'm not the biggest womens basketball fan - but i have NEVER heard those described with Griner. Especially to the point of being the most polarizing in sports.

maybe i live under a rock.

Agreed. I've literally never heard anything about her that was polarizing or controversial. She came out and said she was a lesbian and noone even thought twice about it. Am I missing something?