"Your not missing school" Griner wont play in Mickey D's All-American Game

[Bballwatcher]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/basketball/womens/news/story?id=3946509

Seems like the principal said "NO" and the father and Griner are cool with it.

As a parent I probably would let my daughter miss that 1 week of school. She a senior, she worked hard, she already going to college and I don't have to pay. Hell she can get that 1 week vacation. But hey thats just me. Any one else wanna say there opinion on this situation??

[aaubballmom]

we know the full story. Schools generally have rules about how many days you can be absent without automatically failing a class. Perhaps she was ill and was close to the maximum already such that 5 days away would put her over. I can't imagine that the principal doesn't understand the implications of not allowing her to attend, but then again stranger things have happened. Regardless, it's between the Griners and the school, and she'll still be listed forever as a McDonald's All-American.

[pgcop]

I don't know but this is the 2nd red flag.

[Youngco]

I don't know but this is the 2nd red flag.

What was the 1st red flag??

[pgcop]

There was an issue last year with her participating in the Nike Skills Academy. It's her perogative to decline to participate in any event she doesn't want to for what ever reason. For selfish reasons of my own entertainment I want to see her go and do her thing. I beleive she holds the key to wbb marketing and her presence would eventually drive interest which in turn will increase the revenue in wbb. This if it happens the way I forsee it is a win-win for everyone in the sport. So even though she is not obligated to anyone to do anything she doesn't want to, I do feel there is somewhat of a moral responsibility to the game for her to continue to improve and show her skills for her fans in front of the cameras. Don't get it twisted I'm not saying that she has any control over whether she plays or not, but my concerns that it may set a presedence for the future. We can't afford for our future to be like that of the men who seem to decline to do anything unless certain criteria is met. I heard somewher that with great power comes great responsibilty. I just informed a friend today, and now he is in the process of selling his tickets, he may not be the only one that feels that way.

[aaubballmom]

Here's the link to the attendance policy for her school: http://schools.aldine.k12.tx.us/webs/005/attendance_information.htm. Absence for the McDonald's game would have to be granted under the "approved by the principal in advance" in order to be excused, since it really doesn't fit any of the other criteria for an excused absence. Only 10 excused absences per year and 4 unexcused, or you get a "no grade" for the class and either have to repeat the class or do lots of extra work, no matter what grade you have in the class at the time. As a senior, you clearly don't want to have to come back next year in order to repeat a class or to spend the summer in class.

I guess for some reason the principal wouldn't or couldn't grant the days. I wouldn't be so quick to blame the kid. Maybe her choice was take the days and get a NG or don't go. If so, it's not much of a choice. She has to graduate. It's a shame, because my understanding is that she's a very good student who probably would have no issue with keeping up with the work. On the other hand, rules are rules and I suspect the principal was in a tough position as well. Again, it's between the Griners and the school.

I think folks who sell their tickets just because she won't be there are really selling the other young ladies who were selected short. It will still be a great game.

[pgcop]

Yeah when you are not a die hard GBB fan, you may be going just to be a part of history, I know that if the presidential election would have turned out differently there was no way I would have been standing out there for 12 hours.

[Rodder08]

This is the third Red Flag but it is not the student-athlete, it is the controlling adults. No one is larger than the team and no team is bigger than the game but I think some parents and adults forget that. Her father decided she was not going to attend the X-mas tournament so in turn the school decided not to send the team. That is unbelievable to me. Selling your ticket allows individual people to continue to think they are bigger than the game. She is a very good player but their are other very good players that will participate in the game. The true sign will be when she gets to Baylor. Ask DellaDon about being a premadonna. No one player is bigger than the game.

[pgcop]

oh yeah, Rodder08 I forgot about the holida tourney.

[glenn]

There was an issue last year with her participating in the Nike Skills Academy. It's her perogative to decline to participate in any event she doesn't want to for what ever reason. For selfish reasons of my own entertainment I want to see her go and do her thing. I beleive she holds the key to wbb marketing and her presence would eventually drive interest which in turn will increase the revenue in wbb. This if it happens the way I forsee it is a win-win for everyone in the sport. So even though she is not obligated to anyone to do anything she doesn't want to, I do feel there is somewhat of a moral responsibility to the game for her to continue to improve and show her skills for her fans in front of the cameras. Don't get it twisted I'm not saying that she has any control over whether she plays or not, but my concerns that it may set a presedence for the future. We can't afford for our future to be like that of the men who seem to decline to do anything unless certain criteria is met. I heard somewher that with great power comes great responsibilty. I just informed a friend today, and now he is in the process of selling his tickets, he may not be the only one that feels that way.

Just to clarify: Griner participated in both the Regional Skills Academy in Houston and the National Skills Academy in Beaverton, Ore.

[pgcop]

Glen I know she ended up going to the Academy, just like she may end up playing in the McD game. We are depending on you to make it happen.