Getting To Know Blake Griffin: Two Sides to the Terminator

(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Actions do speak louder than words, and Oklahoma's Blake Griffin is living proof.

His basketball talent is deafening. But put a mic in front of his face, and you'll find that his monotone voice is barely a whisper, as expressionless as his constant poker face.

Yet, Griffin's teammates insist he's more personable than he lets on.

"He's a class clown," says freshman point guard Willie Warren, adding that the first team All-American does some first class impersonations. "Blake's a totally different person that what you see in front of the cameras."

Behind the scenes in the OU locker room, Griffin will occasionally provide a glimpse of that inner comedian. Following an opening-round NCAA tournament win over Morgan State, he joined the media cluster surrounding Warren, posing as an inquisitive reporter.

Though it should be noted, he smirked and walked away before asking a question.

On the court, it's strictly business. In fact, if Griffin didn't bleed so often, he wore a sleeve to cover an elbow wound and plugged his nose with gauze in Saturday's game against Michigan, you'd doubt whether he even had a pulse.

For that very reason, Texas Tech coach Pat Knight nicknamed the sophomore "The Terminator" following a 40-point breakout performance earlier this season.

So even the Sooners were caught off-guard by the cyborg assassin's performance over the weekend. They've ceased to be amazed when he muscles past double and triple-teams, but they've never seen him flex, as he did after drawing a foul on Zack Novak and converting the bucket.

"The guns thing he did, that was new to me," Warren says with a laugh. "Usually Blake just gives 'em the stare down, but I was like, go ahead and flex those guns then big boy."

Hearing his point guard's account of the play, Griffin also offers a stifled laugh.

"I don't normally do stuff like that. I think that was just part of having fun."

Clearly, Griffin is having more fun since in the Big Dance started, perhaps sensing his days as a collegiate player are just one loss away.

But why is someone with so much charisma so reluctant to open up? Perhaps like Tiger Woods, Griffin's supreme concentration comes at the cost of shutting out all external forces, including his supporters, who wish his star power would shine through as often as his raw power.

"I think so," Griffin says, again with just a hint of a I-know-something-you-don't smile.

"When I'm on the court, it's all business. I feel like I have something to prove. People always ask why I don't smile, but I never think about it."

The inevitable No. 1 draft pick may keep his personality hidden, but he's been more than willing to show us why he's the best that college basketball has to offer. Through two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, Griffin has amassed 61 points and 30 rebounds.

As for whether those impersonations we hear so much about measure up? We'll have to take his teammates at their word.

"I've yet to meet somebody, besides a famous comedian, that's a better impersonator," says Oklahoma senior forward Taylor Griffin, Blake's older brother.

"Impersonator," confirmed guard Tony Crocker, when asked whether Griffin is better at intimidating on the court or imitating people off of it.

Warren, the lone dissenter, thought long and hard before deciding, "Basketball player. I don't think he'll go No. 1 in impersonations."

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