It seems like it has become the new norm for professional athletes to break the rules of the game or laws of the land, whether intentionally or by accident. For whatever reason however, when it comes to paying the piper, the debt to society paid by the athlete seems to be far less severe then the actions would require. In some cases breaking the rules almost turns out better for these athletes.
For example let's take a look at Melky Cabrera and Jhonny Peralta, both Major League Baseball players. Both Cabrera and Peralta where caught using performance-enhancing substances, and received 50 game suspensions for their actions. Seems like a pretty fair punishment, right? The thing that doesn't make a lot of sense, at least to me, is both Cabrera and Peralta (known cheaters) were reward with hefty contract the following seasons after they were exposed. Cabrera was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays for two years and $16 million, while Peralta struck gold with the St. Louis Cardinals signing a four-year $53 million dollar contract. What are the owners saying about performance enhancing drug use in baseball by signing these players to huge contracts? That the players are above the law, that's what. That's the perception of professional athletes today is that they can do whatever they want with the only punishment being a symbolic slap on the wrist, meant to appease the "Gods" of sports.
Recently a new incident became public involving NFL running back Ray Rice. The Baltimore Raven was exposed dragging his unconscious fiance out of an elevator at an Atlantic City Casino. The video of what actually occurred in the elevator was apparently never released and after an investigation by the NFL and law enforcement Rice dodged jail time and probably won't receive conviction, as well as a two game joke of a suspension for the NFL. There was a stern discussion on whether the punishment fit the crime or not.
After the dust settled a little, the video of what happened inside the elevator was released. One of the most appalling events I've ever seen flashed across the screen as Rice struck his fiancee with a closed fist right in the head. The blow caused Janay Palmer (Rice's fiancee) to be rendered unconscious and fall to the ground, whacking her head off the side of the elevator on the way. Ray Rice is lucky that he did not kill her. Following the release of this video, Rice's contract with the Baltimore Ravens was terminated and Rice received a indefinite suspension from the NFL. Finally a high-profile athlete got what he deserved, maybe not in the sense of the law, but at least in the sports world justice had been served.
I tweeted how I was proud of the Baltimore Ravens for doing the "right thing" by cutting ties with rice, but a tweet from one of my professors made me reconsider that thought. It the NFL had really conducted a "full-scale" investigation of the matter, wouldn't they have see the video of Rice accosting his fiancee? Wouldn't that be enough evidence not only to suspend Rice more than two games, but warrant legal charges be pressed against him? I also question myself. I had blindly accepted what I had heard on ESPN and read online about the incident before the second video was released as what had happened and didn't take the time to contemplate what occurred inside the elevator.
Did I or anyone else honestly think that anything but what actually occurred could have happened in that elevator? Did I honestly think for one second that Ray Rice didn't lay hands on his fiancee and the whole event was just a causal accident. Do I honestly believe that the NFL didn't have access to that video until TMZ released it? I should be ashamed of myself for letting an issue of this nature just pass on by without taking a moment to seriously consider what Ray Rice had just done.
What does this cover up say about the NFL's stance on domestic violence and women? It isn't good, that's for sure. Everyone involved (Ray Rice, the Baltimore Ravens, the NFL, etc) thought that they could get away with letting one of their superstars blatantly beating his fiance. I think the entire situation is a complete joke and I'm not the only one.
So what does all of this mean? I, the average joe, fan can complain and harp until I'm red in the face and resemble a lobster more than a person, but what will that change anything? I know that I and many people across the country were raised knowing that the behavior exhibited by Ray Rice is unacceptable, period. Does it matter that we feel that way? It definitely should.
So at the end of the day do I still think that the Baltimore Ravens or the NFL did the right thing? Absolutely not. If Ray Rice hadn't been a professional athlete his butt would be in jail attempting to punch fellow inmates in the head who wouldn't put up with his punk behavior. However, because of his "prestigious" position as a running back in the NFL he will get slapped on the wrist and eventually make his way back to football. That's not the right thing, and I don't appreciate the NFL telling me that any behavior can be excused as long as you have the money to cover up the evidence. Justice is what is right. Ray Rice should be punished to the full extent of the law.
I respect a lot of professional athletes out there and I'll tip my cap to many of them, but Ray Rice will never receive a tip of the cap from me.
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