Revisiting the whole Alyssa Thomas "throat punch" to Caitlin Clark

[RagnarLothbrok]

I had only watched the slowed-down version of the "incident" until today.

My god, people. Seriously?



Now, again, I don't watch the WNBA, so I will take everyone's word for it that Caitlin Clark is receiving the reverse Jackie Robinson/Michael Sam treatment. But there is no way any reasonable person can watch that "throat punch" play in real time and conclude it was intentional and dirty. And if it was, Ms. Thomas deserves an Academy Award because she disguised it about as well as anyone could.

I only bring this up because this young woman, Alyssa Thomas, has been receiving death threats for this "throat punch," and I know all the pearl-clutchers in the previous thread don't want to ever feed into a fake news, false narrative, so consider this thread your opportunity for redemption and to recant your previous outrage.

 

[AFM22]

Clark fans are an excitable bunch.

 

[AFM22]

When I watched the game I kind of missed it as it was happening. Then when they showed the replay I thought "ya, she'll probably get a suspension for that." I think between 1-3 games would have been the range of games that would not shock me. She got 1 and I think that's fine.

There is a brigade on the women's board that thinks 10 game minimum, which is crazy to me.

 

[MuscoHawk]

She also kneed her in the groin.

When bracing yourself for a fall, have you ever braced yourself with a closed fist?

It was all intentional—knee and throat punch.

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

Clark fans are an excitable bunch.

The media only showed still shots of a fist to Clark's throat or a super-slow version of it. Odd, too, how all of these images were cropped just to show the fist.

In real time, it was an ordinary loose ball play. Remember the Alvaro Folgueiras loose ball "incident" against Florida? On that play, AF clearly balls up a fist and uses it to strike (although it was clear he was trying to punch the ball out). Everyone was "outraged" at the beginning (except for Iowa fans). Then when they showed the whole play in real time it was clear there was no intent. Well, this Alyssa Thomas "throat punch" was even more innocuous than the AF non-punch. When you see the whole play, and how Thomas is focused on the ball and then trying to get a rebound, it is obvious she is not even processing that the girl on the floor is Caitlin Clark.

I can't believe I fell for this. Lol. But, hey, good ol' Dan Dakich is making a total azz of himself over this, so that makes all of this nonsense worth it to me. (Although the girl getting death threats and having racial slurs hurled at her over it probably doesn't share in my amusement.)

Just saying...

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

She also kneed her in the groin.

I re-watched it again and again. I must need to remove my Stevie Wonder glasses.

When bracing yourself for a fall, have you ever braced yourself with a closed fist?

The fist was not closed when Thomas was going after the loose ball. It closed for less than a second when she was in the process of standing up and looking at where the ball was around the perimeter.

It was all intentional—knee and throat punch.

 

[TJ8869]

If it was almost anyone else besides Alyssa Thomas or if she was making a play on the ball then I would give her the benefit of the doubt. But AT has a long history of reckless, dangerous plays on the court. And she didn’t even attempt to play the ball. Clark was flat on her back and still managed to pass the ball out to a teammate because neither Bonner nor Clark even tried to grab it even though they could have easily done so.

Given the building tension between those players in that game and the previous game, it’s kind of difficult to dismiss this as an unfortunate accident.

 

[Ktrain1969]

When I watched the game I kind of missed it as it was happening. Then when they showed the replay I thought "ya, she'll probably get a suspension for that." I think between 1-3 games would have been the range of games that would not shock me. She got 1 and I think that's fine.

There is a brigade on the women's board that thinks 10 game minimum, which is crazy to me.

That's because you have high T.

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

If it was almost anyone else besides Alyssa Thomas or if she was making a play on the ball then I would give her the benefit of the doubt. But AT has a long history of reckless, dangerous plays on the court. And she didn’t even attempt to play the ball. Clark was flat on her back and still managed to pass the ball out to a teammate because neither Bonner nor Clark even tried to grab it even though they could have easily done so.

Given the building tension between those players in that game and the previous game, it’s kind of difficult to dismiss this as an unfortunate accident.

I'm basing my opinion entirely off the actual play. I re-watched this multiple times for the purpose of trying to find evidence of something malicious and I have yet to be able to.

Now, the Thomas throat foul on Angel Reese that just came up on my feed, that one I can see as an actual dirty play.

I guess if Clark fans want to be outraged, who am I to stand in their way? lol

 

[Hawkeye54545]

My biggest takeaway from this thread is Angel Reese sucks.

 

[Ktrain1969]

My biggest takeaway from this thread is Angel Reese sucks.

Shut your blasphemous mouth.

 

[MuscoHawk]

She’s out again tonight against the Aces. I’d been looking forward to this game all day. I’m guessing the ratings hit will be massive without Clark and Wilson.

 

[AFM22]

My biggest takeaway from this thread is Angel Reese sucks.

 

[AFM22]

She’s out again tonight against the Aces. I’d been looking forward to this game all day. I’m guessing the ratings hit will be massive without Clark and Wilson.

I think she said she was going to miss it like 2 days ago. Said she’ll be back this week for the back to back

 

[Aardvark86]

Clark fans are an excitable bunch.

…who would never watch womens basketball if she had not attended u of I.

 

[Tenacious E_rivals41982]

I think she said she was going to miss it like 2 days ago. Said she’ll be back this week for the back to back

I love how they say it is truly day-to-day but she was ruled out 3 days ago.

 

[Tenacious E_rivals41982]

…who would never watch womens basketball the W if she had not attended u of I.

FIFY. Iowa women’s basketball actually has a pretty fervent - dare I say “feverish” - following. Of course Clark augmented it but they have drawn for years and will continue to do so.

 

[PalmettoTiger1]

When I watched the game I kind of missed it as it was happening. Then when they showed the replay I thought "ya, she'll probably get a suspension for that." I think between 1-3 games would have been the range of games that would not shock me. She got 1 and I think that's fine.

There is a brigade on the women's board that thinks 10 game minimum, which is crazy to me.

Fine and suspension $10,000 and 10 games That should sent a clear message to players to stop the antics and play basketball instead of rugby

 

[o_wausauhawk]

Knee to the groin, balled up fist to the neck, & proceeds to step over Clark when she gets up. Pretty sure not all of those actions were "accidental", especially given ATs history.

 

[AFM22]

I love how they say it is truly day-to-day but she was ruled out 3 days ago.

They put her day to day bc they got fined that first game she sat out bc she didn’t give enough heads up to the league. Now 3 days is too much time. People need to make up their mind

 

[AFM22]

Fine and suspension $10,000 and 10 games That should sent a clear message to players to stop the antics and play basketball instead of rugby

10 games would have been ridiculous, imo.

 

[PalmettoTiger1]

10 games would have been ridiculous, imo.

My point is they would only have to do that ONCE Problem solved

As a footnote the average player in the WNBA received salary increases this season to almost double last year's salaries paid which was credited to the Caitlin Clark effect. In addition revenues to many players rose due to more commercial advertising contracts being signed

Ms. Thomas is really needing to be choked by her fellow players as she is messing with their money.

Why do you think Blue cities are in the financial crapper, Because the leadership can't manage their way out of a wet paperbag.

 

[Moral]

10 games would have been ridiculous, imo.

She's going to kill someone.

 

[AFM22]

She's going to kill someone.

She is a blue city

 

[Tenacious E_rivals41982]

They put her day to day bc they got fined that first game she sat out bc she didn’t give enough heads up to the league. Now 3 days is too much time. People need to make up their mind

Can you read? 3 days ago they ruled her out, which by definition, is not day to day.

 

[AFM22]

Can you read? 3 days ago they ruled her out, which by definition, is not day to day.

Did I not address that in my first sentence? They have listed her day to day every day since the first time she sat out and got fined for not giving enough heads up.

CLARK said she was out 3 days ago. The team just left her day to day. Just as they said they were going to do when they first started putting her day to day.

 

[Outbackbowl2017]

…who would never watch womens basketball if she had not attended u of I.

 

[Yellowsnow51]

I'm basing my opinion entirely off the actual play. I re-watched this multiple times for the purpose of trying to find evidence of something malicious and I have yet to be able to.

Now, the Thomas throat foul on Angel Reese that just came up on my feed, that one I can see as an actual dirty play.

I guess if Clark fans want to be outraged, who am I to stand in their way? lol

Clark has 10 flagrant fouls against her in 70 games. Thats more than triple the next closest number. Allyssa is also a leader in flagrant fouls given over that time. But I guess all of that and the obvious video of it and the league review of it, and the after reaction and the deleted social media posts regarding the incident, is all just the Clark fans being outraged. lol.

 

[52317Hawk]

I'm basing my opinion entirely off the actual play. I re-watched this multiple times for the purpose of trying to find evidence of something malicious and I have yet to be able to.

Now, the Thomas throat foul on Angel Reese that just came up on my feed, that one I can see as an actual dirty play.

I guess if Clark fans want to be outraged, who am I to stand in their way? lol

White knighting for the thug AT? Outraged because of "death threats to AT"? You do you buddy, you do you.

 

[95Hawk]

Here we go…

 

[TJ8869]

…who would never watch womens basketball if she had not attended u of I.

I’m in this group. If Clark had gone to Notre Dame or UConn or anywhere other than Iowa, I wouldn’t give a rat’s *** about watching her play. I had never watched a single WNBA game before she got drafted.

 

[TJ8869]

I love how they say it is truly day-to-day but she was ruled out 3 days ago.

I’m no expert on roster management rules, especially now that they have the two extra ‘developmental’ spots. But I wonder if “day-to-day” is mostly just an indication that they don’t expect her to be out long enough that it will be necessary to temporarily replace her on the 12-player roster.

Last year teams could go with 11 players in order to help with salary cap limits. But if I’m not mistaken they have to keep 12 this year. And the developmental players can only be activated for a limited number of games before they have to be signed to a regular contract.

 

[Aardvark86]

I’m in this group. If Clark had gone to Notre Dame or UConn or anywhere other than Iowa, I wouldn’t give a rat’s *** about watching her play. I had never watched a single WNBA game before she got drafted.

It's all fine, I suppose. As a native Pennsylvanian, I'm not really in any position to mount an all-out attack on genetic hyperparochialism.

But i do try to be self aware, and I'm working on it...

 

[Tenacious E_rivals41982]

I’m no expert on roster management rules, especially now that they have the two extra ‘developmental’ spots. But I wonder if “day-to-day” is mostly just an indication that they don’t expect her to be out long enough that it will be necessary to temporarily replace her on the 12-player roster.

Last year teams could go with 11 players in order to help with salary cap limits. But if I’m not mistaken they have to keep 12 this year. And the developmental players can only be activated for a limited number of games before they have to be signed to a regular contract.

My wife and her family had it on last night and I thought I heard them say she is day to day, and that she did the shoot around yesterday or the day before to see how she is doing. I just found that curious because she was ruled out of the game several days earlier. It just seems like something is going on that is worse than we are being told.

 

[Torbee]

I had only watched the slowed-down version of the "incident" until today.

My god, people. Seriously?



Now, again, I don't watch the WNBA, so I will take everyone's word for it that Caitlin Clark is receiving the reverse Jackie Robinson/Michael Sam treatment. But there is no way any reasonable person can watch that "throat punch" play in real time and conclude it was intentional and dirty. And if it was, Ms. Thomas deserves an Academy Award because she disguised it about as well as anyone could.

I only bring this up because this young woman, Alyssa Thomas, has been receiving death threats for this "throat punch," and I know all the pearl-clutchers in the previous thread don't want to ever feed into a fake news, false narrative, so consider this thread your opportunity for redemption and to recant your previous outrage.

This is one of the few situations where the "both sides" claim is correct.

Both "sides" of this culture war battle are absolutely unhinged and full of s.hit.

The truth is Caitlin Clark is overly whiny and indeed tries to sell every contact from an opponent as an egregious foul.

The truth is Alyssa Smith plays borderline dirty and intentionally put her forearm on Clark's throat and knee in her groin.

The truth is many CC fans are closet (and some not-so-closet) racists and homophobes who view the WNBA as a freak show with only the Great White Hope Caitlin Clark being worth watching.

The truth is many of the black and lesbian "old heads" of the WNBA and their fans are resentful of straight white Clark's celebrity and popularity and go out of their way to undermine and mock her.

Like I said, both "sides" are the worst of the worst in society.

 

[Torbee]

My wife and her family had it on last night and I thought I heard them say she is day to day, and that she did the shoot around yesterday or the day before to see how she is doing. I just found that curious because she was ruled out of the game several days earlier. It just seems like something is going on that is worse than we are being told.

I don't know about "worse" but chronic back problems are a real b.itch. One day you can feel close to 100% and the very next have crippling spasms again.

I am hopeful they are just being super, super, super careful and precautionary. No reason to put a lot of wear and tear on it when they haven't even reached the All Star break yet.

Obviously, the concern is it is a more serious/lingering/chronic back issue - which would be an incredible shame.

 

[GesterHawk]

Here we go…

Ugh. Just ugh.

 

[Torbee]

(NM WRONG THREAD)

 

[LafayetteBear]

The media only showed still shots of a fist to Clark's throat or a super-slow version of it. Odd, too, how all of these images were cropped just to show the fist.

In real time, it was an ordinary loose ball play. Remember the Alvaro Folgueiras loose ball "incident" against Florida? On that play, AF clearly balls up a fist and uses it to strike (although it was clear he was trying to punch the ball out). Everyone was "outraged" at the beginning (except for Iowa fans). Then when they showed the whole play in real time it was clear there was no intent. Well, this Alyssa Thomas "throat punch" was even more innocuous than the AF non-punch. When you see the whole play, and how Thomas is focused on the ball and then trying to get a rebound, it is obvious she is not even processing that the girl on the floor is Caitlin Clark.

I can't believe I fell for this. Lol. But, hey, good ol' Dan Dakich is making a total azz of himself over this, so that makes all of this nonsense worth it to me. (Although the girl getting death threats and having racial slurs hurled at her over it probably doesn't share in my amusement.)

Just saying...

I didn't think it was a punch, but Thomas definitely had her fist balled up, and she put it on Clark's throat and put her weight down on it, albeit briefly. Calling it a punch misses the mark, but calling it way over the line does not, IMHO.