When Baylor University freshman Brittney Griner punched Texas Tech player Jordan Barncastle during a March 3 Lady Bears game in Lubbock, it unleashed a lot of reaction from Trib readers, who sounded off on Griner’s two-game suspension, Coach Kim Mulkey and more:

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Baylor’s star player, Brittney Griner, hits a girl during a collegiate basketball game, breaks her nose and gets a two-game suspension? If that happened on the streets of Anytown, USA, that would be considered an assault with intent to do bodily harm — a felony.

I imagine this “wrist-slap” suspension has to do with the almighty dollar, keeping Baylor’s chances alive in the upcoming NCAA basketball tournament and not angering Coach Kim. However, I am still very disappointed in Mulkey and Athletic Director Ian McCaw. Griner’s season should be over. Not only would that be something that she would never forget but Baylor would then truly be practicing what it preaches.

Keith Bass

Waco

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All of us make mistakes in life. Griner made a bad decision, but why has she taken all the blame? She was not in the confrontation by herself.

 NCAA officials are paid to control the game, and they should have been attuned to this since a confrontation had occurred earlier in the season between the two teams.

Griner should not be singled out because she has the talent and ability to play the game at a higher skill level than most women her age.

No one can say how they’ll react until they’re put in that position.

Reverand James Jackson

Waco

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Would you believe that a Trib letter-writer from Norman, Okla., would want Coach Mulkey’s highest-scoring player benched for an entire season and has the chutzpah to accuse her of placing her record over a just punishment for taking a swing at an opposing player?

The least penalty that the Big 12 would have required is a one-game suspension. Mulkey doubled the penalty to two games. What reasonable person would consider that placing her record first?

Griner’s actions were unacceptable, but Barncastle did grab Griner’s arm and attempted to sling her to the floor. Had she been successful, Griner’s injuries could have been far worse than a broken nose. It could have ended her career.

Maurice Labens

Waco

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After reading the March 6 letters, it became obvious that some readers do not know the same Coach Mulkey I do. There was a comment about her “theatrical” conduct on the floor. Watch Baylor men’s basketball coach Scott Drew sometime. He gets into the action pretty good, too!

Coach Mulkey is the most intense person I know, and she gives her all to her children and team. She has a passion for life that extends far beyond the basketball court. She is a wonderful role model, a compassionate and caring person to all. This is evidenced by the many random acts of kindness done by her team in Central Texas.

Griner’s actions were deplorable. But are they forgivable? Yes.

She has been punished. She has apologized. Let’s forgive, forget and move on.

John Fowler

Woodway

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If I had a daughter who could play basketball, I would want her to play for Coach Mulkey. I have seen many Baylor Lady Bears home games and practices. I have utmost respect for Mulkey and her staff.

Brittney Griner has had everything happen to her but being bitten. Anyone who insults this young woman should go meet her. I guarantee all will love her.

And to the letter writer in Oklahoma: Don’t they have enough trouble with their own teams? University of Oklahoma women’s basketball head coach Sherry Cole is no angel. She just wants her team to win also.

Don Lummus

Waco

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I have not seen many coaches sit in chairs quietly while their teams are playing. If the letter writer from Norman, Okla., wants to know what kind of person Kim Mulkey is, he should read her book.

She is a good Christian woman who is family-minded and puts her children above all else.

What happened in Lubbock was just a young player who was tired of getting slung around. We don’t know what was said to her before that punch. We just saw her losing it. I am not saying it was right, but how many of us have gotten so mad that we could have done the same thing?

She has learned a hard lesson and hopefully learned it well. Go Lady Bears and Coach Mulkey. Good luck in the Big 12 tournament.

Paula Jander

Gatesville

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I have coached youth basketball for the past 17 years, and I teach my players to play hard but to always play fair.

We respect our opponents, the game, the officials, and we exhibit good sportsmanship. No exceptions.

My teams consistently win championships because we play hard, and we play team basketball. We stress honor, sportsmanship and moral values.

But apparently that doesn’t matter at the college level. It’s all about the money. That is the message the NCAA, the Big 12, McCaw, Mulkey and Baylor University are sending to our youth.

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe said the two-game suspension was “a strong stance to support good sportsmanship.” Does he really think that a two-game suspension is a “strong stance?” It sets a low standard for our youth.

Griner should be suspended for the rest of the season, regardless of the impact that has on the team. This has placed a dark cloud over Baylor, which I have always believed had some of the highest moral standards of any university. Based on how this is being handled, I no longer believe that — and I’m a Baptist.

Ronnie Moore

Elgin

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Griner should not have hit Barncastle. But Barncastle should have been ejected for slinging Griner.

The officials were wrong in not managing the game better and they should be punished.

Mulkey needs to continue being who she is — an outstanding person and coach.

Don Kirkindoll

Waco

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Judging from the letters to the Trib, the Griner incident ranks right up there with Harry S. Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb.

“Dismayed” writers expressed “shock” and “horror.” I was also dismayed because none of the referees blew their whistles when Barncastle slung Griner aside before she responded with the haymaker. Barncastle’s action would have probably drawn a flag in the NFL, or at least a ref would have rushed in to stop things before it got so out of hand.

 What Griner did was wrong, and she knows that better than anyone. She should have done what very few of us can do: absorb all the jabs, elbows and shoves from three players at a time for an entire season and never get mad, even when she is tossed aside like a bag of garbage. The best response is on the scoreboard.

Joe Walker

Lorena

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What Brittney Griner did was wrong. However, after listening to two days of ranting by ESPN, PTI and other sports experts, no one has mentioned the truth.

If that official standing three feet away had called a foul when Barncastle mauled Griner, then there would never have been an incident, or this conversation.

James Koch

Lorena

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Griner: You go girl!

I don’t play basketball but I’ve seen a lot of games and a lot of obvious fouls and lots of uncalled hits, bumps and jabs that the refs “did not see.”

If I had been yanked around by another player the way she has been all season, then I think I also would have reacted somehow. Sooner or later the pot boils over!

Helen Lenart

Abbott

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We do not condone Griner’s actions, but little has been said about what led up to this incident. This season, she has been pushed, shoved, elbowed and hit in the back more than any player on the court. There have been few fouls called on opposing teams.

Why haven’t we seen more TV coverage of the rough treatment she received before she hit the Tech player?

Louise and Lucile Brady

June Stolebarger

Waco

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Anyone not wearing bifocals or hearing aids knows the kind of abuse that the Tech girls were heaping on Griner. Why haven’t I read any mention of the injury potential of the Tech girl’s violent wrenching of Griner’s arm? She could have easily broken or severely injured her arm, elbow or shoulder.

Anyone who has watched Griner interact with her team or fans can see that she is a caring, sensitive person. She has done so much more for Baylor and this community than any of her detractors.

Bobby Blain

Woodway

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Griner has been treated unfairly. It is obvious that Barncastle attacked Griner by slinging her on the court. It is apparent that the officials had adequate time to stop the game and address the personal foul and the attack on Griner before Griner defended herself.

If one is not protected by the proper authorities — which in this case are the referees — then self-defense takes over.

How much physical abuse did Griner have to take before the rules of basketball would be enforced?

Ray Streeter

Robinson

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We should all recognize that in a fight there are two guilty parties. Griner had been pushed and shoved through the previous 21 minutes of the game and Barncastle provoked the fight.

Let’s be fair: Both were guilty.

George W. Smith

West