NFL Decides Getting High is Worse Than Beating Women
Rice’s 2-game Suspension Pales in Comparison to Suspensions for Less Serious Offenses
It’s been a busy off-season for the NFL, particularly when it comes to violations of the Personal Conduct Policy. Already, 14 players have been suspended for more than 2 games in the upcoming 2014 season. (31 players were suspended for more than 2 games during the 2013 season. In 2012, a whopping 42 players received suspensions longer than two games.)
Apparently, discretions like substance abuse, ingesting performance-enhancing drugs, or a “bounty scandal” are far more serious than a 5'8", 206 pound linebacker punching his girlfriend in the face.
To get in with the girls, the NFL goes pink for October. “NFL games will feature players, coaches and referees wearing pink game apparel, on-field pink ribbon stencils, special game balls and pink coins.” Wow, they wear pink! They must care about women, right?
Yet, only 8% of these funds raised in October actually go toward cancer research.
Do men really think pandering, silly stunts can win loyalty from women? Photo opps and splashes of pink aren’t enough to convince us that we’re more than a target audience to be marketed to.
Actions speak louder than words. Actions — like handing down a measly two-game suspension to someone who was caught on video beating a woman — mean more than frilly, pink uniforms.
The Rice suspension is yet another illustration that society just doesn’t get domestic violence. Despite what ESPN’s Stephan A. Smith says, violence against women has nothing to do with emotions or provocation. It’s about an abuser trying to exert power and control over a victim.
Perhaps if more people — particularly those in power (a-hem, Commissioner Goodell) — took time to understand the causes and ramifications of domestic violence, then a man who knocked out his girlfriend would be suspended longer than the guy who smoked weed (which, by the way, isn’t even a banned substance in some states anymore). Or, better yet, talking heads with platforms and audiences could use their megaphones to start a meaningful dialogue instead of ill-informed rants.