Thoughts on current events in the NFL
I’m not really 100% sure how to start off this post. I’m not even sure what I want to say. To be honest, I am still in somewhat of a shock from the whole Ray Rice fiasco. I can’t wrap my head around why someone would go to the lengths that Rice went to just to make his point and I don’t understand why the NFL handled the situation the way they did. It has always seemed fishy to me that they said they weren’t able to get the tape of what happened inside the elevator but as soon as the video leaked, they changed their tune. I also don’t understand why so much domestic violence, whether it’s spousal abuse or child abuse, has taken place in the NFL and there aren’t policies in place.
This past weekend, the story broke that Adrian Peterson used corporal punishment on his four year old son. A FOUR YEAR OLD. What four year old deserves to be beaten like that? And not only beat but I would go as far to say severely injured. There’s a difference between disciplining your child so they learn right from wrong and abusing your child. And what AP did was definitely abuse. Sending his son back to his mother with cuts that were still open and bleeding? That’s child abuse and no child deserves to suffer like that. I do, however, respect Adrian Peterson for completely complying with the authorities and not trying to cover up this situation. It doesn’t negate the situation at all but at least he was open and honest with what he had done. I also respect the fact that the Minnesota Vikings learned from the Ravens’ mistake and benched him for yesterday’s game. But what I still don’t understand is why the Ravens (and the NFL main office) didn’t step up to the plate the first time, and indefinitely suspend Rice, why did it have to be until after the elevator video leaked?
What I do understand though, is that the NFL is a business, a business that makes billons upon billons of dollars every year and they want to keep that up. But at what point does the greediness stop? At what point do the team owners and people in the NFL office take notice and realize that money isn’t everything? At what point, do they realize that their players, their EMPLOYEES, are role models for millions of kids across not only the United States, but across the world? I feel like the NFL is condoning that domestic violence is ok, and it’s not. What message are they sending to not only kids but adults? That it’s ok, if your child disobeys you or your significant other disagrees with you, to brutally assault an innocent person. ESPECIALLY when it’s a child. My heart hurts just thinking about it. Cris Carter, Keith Olbermann, and, probably most importantly because she is a female anchor on sportscenter, Hannah Storm made excellent points on their respective ESPN shows and I agree with all of them. Why does the worst thing have to happen in order for things to change, why can’t we be proactive instead of reactive?
Cris Carter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BFuspizMKQ
Keith Olbermann
Hannah Storm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ucthzgpEgM#t=17
Article from Jezebel talking about domestic violence, the NFL, and Cover Girl
The best way for us to spread awareness about both of these horrible acts is to keep talking about them. If you or anyone you know has suffered from domestic violence or child abuse, please please please contact local authorities. There are organizations to help as well.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
http://www.thehotline.org/
1-800-799-7233
1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
Childhelp: National Child Abuse Hotline
http://www.childhelp.org
1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453)
Until next time,
Katie
