http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-29186682 US
footballer Adrian Peterson arrested for child abuse
In contrast to professional sports:
Judge Accused of Assaulting Wife Is Urged to Resign -
NYTimes.com
Commissioner Roger Goodell promised stiff discipline for
players, but the league’s response to domestic abuse charges has been
inconsistent.
1. Generally on Football, the NFL, and "problems"
- Football, violence and America's cultural divide. September 13, 2014 12:30 PM | ANDREW O'HEHIR
http://www.salon.com/2014/09/13/football_violence_and_americas_cultural_divide/
This article is a bit edgy - has some language in it - but I think it is a very interesting analysis of a whole string of issues that are wrapped up in football.
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To N.F.L. Fans, the Sport’s Troubles Vanish Between the Lines - NYTimes.com
- What the Numbers Show About N.F.L. Player Arrests - NYTimes.com http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/09/13/upshot/what-the-numbers-show-about-nfl-player-arrests.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&bicmp=AD&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&bicmst=1409232722000&bicmet=1419773522000&_r=1&referrer=
NYTimes: Vikings’ Adrian Peterson Booked on Charge of Child Abuse
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/14/sports/vikings-peterson-is-booked-on-charge-of-child-abuse.html?smid=nytcore-iphone-share&smprod=nytcore-iphone
Peterson, a running back, surrendered to the Montgomery County, Tex., sheriff’s office and was freed on $15,000 bond.
3. Ray Rice
We've discussed already, but some follow-up or new developments:
The links below are reposted from an earlier post. I've reorganized the blog because there is now so much regarding violence that I've made this post to capture all the facets/stories in one place
- Interesting new penalties re: domestic violence perpetrated by NFL players. What do you think about this? http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-nfl-domestic-violence-20140829-story.html
- The
Baltimore Ravens terminated Ray Rice’s contract on Monday, after a
video, posted by TMZ earlier in the day, showed him punching Janay
Palmer in a hotel elevator in Atlantic City in February.http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/09/sports/football/ray-rice-video-shows-punch-and-raises-new-questions-for-nfl.html?smid=nytcore-iphone-share&smprod=nytcore-iphone
- Video of Ray Rice punching his then-fiancée made the assault seem worse, but the facts alone should be enough in any domestic violence case.http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/09/sports/football/forget-video-the-facts-are-shocking-enough.html?smid=nytcore-iphone-share&smprod=nytcore-iphone
Being an athlete in any League is difficult to handle. Not only must you preform on the field but you must perform off the field as well. Every detail of their lives from the moment they enter the league, college for that matter, is being scrutinized. We hold all athletes to high moral standards and it is a shame that some athletes fail to stick to those moral standards, but (Playing devils advocate) we need to take a step back and look at our own lives. I am sure percentage wise that the populace of all athelets in the professional level making these mistakes is more than 70% less than what the rest of the world does. Yes these people are role models and should act as such, but the people who affect our future is the majority of the population not just one person. We all screw up. Now this does not exempt the athletes from their failings but the pressure of what they go through day in and day out is one hundred fold more than what you or me have to put up with.
ReplyDeleteNow to the videos and articles above. They just flat out sicken me. First off domestic abuse is a terrible crime as it destroys family relationships and hurts people, who those hurt people may not know how to talk about what their supposed loved ones has done to them. Any comments?
I agree with nick it is hard being an athlete, Athletes are always being watched and anything they do will be reported. they hold professional athletes to a much higher level and they are expected to be role models. The reason they are so hard on professional athletes such as Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson is because they are role models and the kids look up to them and do the things they do. now replying to the videos and articles it is shocking and eye opening that all these professional athletes abusing there women. i agree with nick that domestic abuse is horrible and i am glad the NFL is suspending athletes because they need to learn a lesson and hitting a women is never okay. I don't feel bad that Rice lost his job because he know right from wrong and he flat out knocked his wife out.
ReplyDeleteEverything professional athletes do is in the spotlight. While what Adrian Peterson and Ray Rice did was unacceptable and morally wrong, hopefully it can teach professional athletes around the world that they are in the spotlight and their actions may be on the front page if they were to mess up. I do not believe these two players or incidents represent what the other NFL players in the league are like. These two players do deserve punishment and the hope is that they learn something from this. Domestic violence is unacceptable and unfortunately will never be weeded out of society.
ReplyDeleteJake makes an excellent point here. As a professional athlete, they need to understand that everything and anything they do someone is always watching. The NFL pays these athletes millions of dollars and they still manage to do the wrong thing. I also agree with Jake when he says that some of these recent incidents that are going on do not represent what the other players are like. The players that continue to do the wrong thing need to be punished accordingly. Players also need to understand how big of an idol they are to other people in the world. I would give anything to play in the NFL and I feel like some players take it for granted.
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt that it is difficult to be an athlete, but I also do not believe that this excuses this kind of behavior. These athletes are placed under incredible scrutiny by the media and their fans and seemingly every aspect of their personal lives seems to be common knowledge. While that may represent an onus in of itself, the difficulty does not stop there: As a result of how much attention is paid to them, they have a responsibility to conduct themselves in a manner that would present a positive example for their followers to emulate. Such scrutiny and hardship hardly excuses the actions of these players: If anything, it makes such behavior further reprehensible because it presents a very negative image for their fans to imitate. Furthermore, this attention is not just an issue for athletes but really all celebrities—and so the argument that such coverage is overly onerous and should be accounted for in assessing the behavior of an athlete would have to apply well outside of the realm of sports and might cast too wide a net.
ReplyDeleteI do however agree that the poor behavior of athletes can become inflated by how much media attention is paid to such. I do not know the statistics, but I would surmise that professional athletes engage in violent behavior less often than the general public, but there is a tendency to assume otherwise by virtue of the fact that the media gives so much coverage for the actions of just a handful of individuals in comparison to the totality of all athletes.
In conclusion, though, I think that we can all agree that proper behavior off the field, court, fairway, etc. can be just as important as proper behavior on the court. Athletes are an example for their fans to follow and thus should behave accordingly.
I think that being a professional athlete would be very hard but it shouldn't mean you have to change the way you are or the way you act. I think a lot of athletes even in high school and college think they are above everyone else just because their name, accomplishments or the amount of money they have. I'm glad Ray Rice got what he deserved, I think they let athletes get away with too much and it isn't fair to the athletes that actually do what they are suppose to because a lot of people stereotype athletes and they should because the stuff that is in the news. The new rule I think should be even more strict then what they are now. It should be the first time domestic violence happens they should be suspended for the whole season, if there is enough evidence.
ReplyDeleteIt's really sad to see only a few people nowadays can ruin reputations for everyone. Most of the athletes are very respectable in the NFL, and only a few (Ray, adrian, Richie Incognito) can make everyone think the NFL is just a crime infested league. These guys definitely need to be punished, but I'm sick of the NFL acting like they're the government and doing investigations. Make a rule that if you get caught doing certian things, you will be kicked out of the League. Theres way too much gray area in the NFL's "punishments" to players who break the law.
ReplyDeleteI think it is bizarre that a bunch of grown men ca not act the way they are supposed to! I feel bad for Roger Goodell because his tile is the NFL Commissioner, not a babysitter and that is what he is having to do because of the ignorance of the athletes today. Don't get me wrong not all NFL players are like this but the number that are seems to keep growing and growing. I think that is is a result of players that have been given everything in life and have never gotten in trouble for the negative acts that they commit just because they can run a 4.4 forty and have insane athletic ability. These habits that they have created did not start when they entered the league, they started when they were in high school and college when they were allowed to get away with anything and everything!
ReplyDeleteI think the Ray Rice case was completely disgusting. What he did to his fiance was unforgivable, in my eyes. I know I am posting this blog late, but Ray Rice was just given an opportunity to get back in the league by the NFLPA. I do not agree with this. Ray Rice should be banned from the league forever, but news just came out that he can sign with any team, besides the Ravens, that wants him. The Adrian Peterson case is a different story. Yes, child punishment is not as prevalent as it has been in the past, but you can punish your kid how you choose, to an extent. Adrian Peterson chose to punish his son by hitting him. I have been spanked, my arm has been gripped to an extent of almost bruising, etc.. but I dont believe it was abuse, just a form of teaching. If Adrian Peterson didnt severely injure his kid to broken bones, lashes to the face, or a permanent damage, I believe he can do as he pleases. Just because he is an athlete though, his actions will be magnified and used as a lesson for the rest of the league.
ReplyDelete