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Jennifer Raphael
Professor Derohanessian
ENG115 MW 11am
26 November 2014
Athletes Arent So Perfect
Domestic violence is a constant problem affecting more than 4 million women and nearly
3 million men according to Domestic Violence: Statistics and Facts (Safe Horizon) and it can
happen to anyone, regardless of gender, race, or income. Professional athletes are included in
the culprits when it comes to the violence of loved ones. At times, athletes may be protected
from the media, so they will not lose their contracts with their teams, but in reality, everyone
must be punished the same way. These athletes are not just from America, but also from all
around the world. People need to take action on this problem to put a stop to the violence and
save the later generations from the hurt many people have to go though these days. We idolize
all these athletes for the way they play their game, and just brush off the domestic violence,
allowing them to get away with it and making it seem like its fine for others to do the same.
Recently, there have been incidents of domestic violence in the National Football League
and with them continuing, more and more people see it and it influences them to do it in their
own households. There has been much controversy over the Ray Rice video that was surfaced
by TMZ. The video shows Ray Rice, of the Baltimore Ravens, assaulting his fianc, at the time,
in an elevator in Atlanta. He punched her so hard she hits a railing and is knocked unconscious,
and then Rice is seen dragging her limp body out of the elevator. Sports Illustrated, had written
an article discussing Roger Goodells press conference in September and according to the
commissioner, the NFL had not seen that video before it had been brought to the publics eyes.

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In February of 2014, the video leaked of Ray Rice dragging his fianc out of the elevator, but all
that had happened was he got suspended from playing for only two games. The article Roger
Goodell Ducks and Deflects His Way through Press Conference states that, Goodell insisted
that Rices account of what happened in the elevator was ambiguous (Rosenberg). Finally,
after seven months of Rice getting away with what he had done to his fianc, the truth came out.
Honestly though, Goodell continued to claim they were unaware of the video and that it was all
just a mistake and he was trying to get it right. He dodges the actual situation going on that it
makes it hard not to believe that the video had been seen by the NFL and had been protected so
that their star running back would be able to play for the season. Another shocking truth that
comes out of Ray Rices incident is that now he and his fianc he had knocked out in the
elevator, are married. Most women may stay with a man even after they have abused them
because they are afraid of what else the man might do, but what other reason to stay with a
professional football player than his money and fame. In all seriousness, the only reason that
Ray Rice was caught for what he had done was for the fact he is a celebrity. Being a celebrity
puts all of a persons business out in the open for the whole world to see and if the NFL had done
nothing about it then it would negatively impact the network.
As of November 28th, Ray Rice has been reinstated into the NFL, meaning he is able to
sign with any team at any time and allows him to play in games, once again. This goes to show
the unfair treatment professional athletes receive. An article posted on the ESPN website
regarding Rices appeal of his indefinite suspension discusses former U.S. District Judge Barbara
S. Jones opinion. She states, any failure on the part of the League to understand the level of
violence was not due to Rice's description of the event but to the inadequacy of words to convey
the seriousness of domestic violence (ESPN). Jones clearly expresses that people are unaware

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of the real effects of domestic violence and because of that these athletes are forgiven for their
wrongful actions. Along with Ray Rice being unrightfully allowed to play football again, Roger
Goodell is shown to have only punished him in the first place because of outrage from the fans,
sponsors, and the news. Goodell had given Rice such a pathetic penalty according to ESPN.
Now Ray Rice gets the chance to be re-signed with any NFL team that decides they want him
and is married to the woman he abused, yet people do not pay more attention to the importance
of awareness of domestic violence.
Ray Rice is not the only recent case of domestic violence in the NFL, back in July 2014,
Greg Hardy of the Carolina Panthers was also found guilty. He was found guilty for assaulting
his former girlfriend and threatening to kill her. There continues to be even more incidents of
domestic violence, not only in the NFL and the United States. This is an ongoing problem all
around the world and the only way to put an end to it is for everyone to stand up for what is
wrong no matter what the consequences may be. For example, a former Manchester United
soccer player, Ravel Morrison, was accused of harassing his ex-girlfriend for four years and
threatened to throw acid in her face and have her killed. A recent article from an international
website clears the facts up saying, Morrison was initially arrested and charged with two counts
of common assault after allegedly punching and slapping his ex-girlfriend Reah Mansoor and her
mother (Lusher) and although he was arrested, at first, he continues to play soccer and is praised
by many. These types of things that the professional athletes get involved in are displayed all
throughout the media these days. Thousands of people including young adults and even children
are watching what happens. These kids are seeing some of their favorite athletes and celebrities
being abusive to their families and that changes the way they see things, and learn to believe that
if famous people are doing it then it must not be a bad thing to do. Every year more than 3

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million children witness domestic violence in their homes as well as even more seeing it all over
the television and Internet. According to statistics, boys who witness domestic violence and do
not receive help are more likely to become violent to their partners, or children, as adults and to
stop this from occurring, there needs to be more awareness of domestic violence.
Domestic violence does not only occur from the man to the woman, it could be woman to
man and in some cases something completely different. Adrian Peterson, from the Vikings, was
charged with child abuse because he was beating his son with a tree branch as a form of
punishment. He believed it was ideal due to his fathers same punishment to him; which shows
past effects of acceptable abuse spurred to repeat it. This is making it seem like it is an okay
form of punishment because Peterson went through it when he was a child, even though the laws
have changed over the years. His punishment will hurt Petersons reputation and cause violence
in his sons future. Soon after Peterson will be back on the field playing football. It is not just
the men who are doing the abusing. Hope Solo, an Olympic soccer player, assaulted her sister
and nephew in the summer of this past year, and this falls into the same category of domestic
violence similar to the other athletes. People seem to think that as a woman, they are being
strong for standing up for themselves, but domestic violence is never a right solution for
anything.
In all of these cases of the athletes involved in domestic violence, each one has been
punished in one way or another, yet they continue to be idolized by all of their fans. Their
punishments have not been severe enough and they get to play the game they are known for
furthering their career in sports. Although punished, in the end they still get to go back to their
normal lives, most of the time with the ones they hurt in the past, such as Ray Rice and his wife.

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Some people believe that once a person has received their punishment then they have
served their time, but the people they have hurt along the way still may require help. Those
people who have been hurt have to go through their life scarred, reminded of their nightmares
every time they hear a certain persons name, while the culprit gets to live his or her lives as they
always have. Everyday I see my mother have to suffer from what her ex-husband had done to
her, she has gone through so much pain and suffering to be where she is today. However, her
husband is across the country happy with a wife and kids, not having to pay child support. There
is no justice when it comes to domestic violence, one person is always more hurt than the other.
The cost of violence needs to be known and create awareness. Billions of dollars are spent a
year for legal work, medical, mental health treatment, and more, but nothing it done about it.
Professional athletes are looked at under a microscope when it comes to their personal
lives, every little detail will always be revealed no matter how much someone tries to keep it
hidden. Domestic violence is an important matter that affects so many people, but most
incidents are not reported. The victims are too afraid, or blame it on themselves, letting their
oppressor get away with it. These athletes involved in this violence are prime examples of this.
Not only do they get away with such a crime, they are setting examples for future generations to
do the same because of how much they are overly appreciated for the skills they possess. They
are just normal people and should be receiving the same treatment as others.

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Works Cited
"Domestic Violence: Statistics & Facts." Safe Horizon., 2014. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.
ESPN.com News Services. "Ray Rice Wins Appeal, Eligible To sign." ESPN. ESPN Internet
Ventures, 29 Nov. 2014. Web. 01 Dec. 2014.
Lusher, Adam. "Ravel Morrison Arrested: West Ham Footballer threatened to Throw Acid in
Ex-girlfriends Face." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 7 Aug.
2014. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
Rosenberg, Michael. "Roger Goodell Ducks and Deflects His Way through Press Conference."
SI.com., 19 Sept. 2014. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.