I apologize if my venom against domestic violence offended anyone. I grew up where neighbors on either side of my house were raped. Ive heard domestic violence through the window, and seen it spill out onto our apartment playground. Close friends of mine have been hit, spat on, financially exploited, and verbally abused in relationships. When some rich jock gets a laughable slap on the wrist for this kind of conduct, it angers me. The ESPN sports anchor who then admonished millions of viewers to learn from this about provoking violence, put me over the edge. As though a certain level of wealth, or athletic skill, or importance to the media themselves, makes an abuser important enough to merit an emotional beware of dog sign, and beware to the defenseless wives, reporters or audience members who might annoy them. Its especially intolerable given this case, where it was a private, domestic dispute. And a so-called man knocked his fiance unconscious. Actually, I am the one who was provoked. As a public, I think we all ought to be. Media and sports exist because we pay for them to inform or entertain us. When they violate community standards, not to mention basic human rights, I think we should practice outrage and expunge them from their highly public and elevated venue. Celebrity does not make one a role model, but criminality should remove you from being mistaken for one. Im glad to see that ESPN has begun with a suspension of Stephen Smith. Ray Rice is still playing football. In my opinion, people should be assertive about their values, and actively pursue removing public figures who are paid for our entertainment, when they do appalling things. I was a student at Notre Dame, and can assure the sports world that there are plenty of talented althletes in the world eager to play pro ball who are not violent criminals bringing disgrace to the industry. Im reminded of great gentlemen like Reggie White. I hope NFL fans see the value in keeping football a game where men like White, men of real character dont have to share the field with woman beating cowards.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 09:07:05 +0000
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