By: Josh Chapman
Let this be a lesson to everyone, especially high schoolers with social media accounts and athletes everywhere: everything you do is being watched.
When the news about Ray Rice initially broke, it was shocking to say the least. Rice was, at the least, a top 15 running back in the National Football League and was easily the face of the Baltimore Ravens. When the video of him dragging his unconscious fiancée out of an Atlantic City casino surfaced, it was hard to fathom what even took place inside the elevator. Rice was hit with a two game suspension, which many deemed too light, and it seemed like that was the end of that.
Then the TMZ video of what happened INSIDE the elevator came out. All hell broke loose.
There was no way that the NFL could allow Rice to get off with only a two game suspension. After that, there was no way that the Baltimore Ravens could continue to employ him. After that, there was no way that anybody could continue to support him, at least not now.
But I do believe in second chances.
Look, I am in no way condoning what Ray Rice did to his wife. It’s completely unacceptable and has no business in the NFL or any facet of society. Striking someone when you are upset with them is wrong, no matter the situation or their sex. I wouldn’t want Rice on my team without being assured that he is a reformed man. However, we have to allow Rice to be human and admit his mistakes, which he did. I believe that there needs to be intense psychotherapy, as well as marriage counseling for Rice to even have a snowball’s chance in hell to come back to the National Football League.
But at the same time, these athletes live in a world where EVERY action is micro-analyzed. They live in a world where every time they open up their social media accounts, they’re met with detractors spewing vulgar hatred, hoping they tear their ACL or break a limb because they play for the “wrong” team. Some would argue that this is the price one must pay for fame and glory and they’d be right in this assessment. But does that make these athletes more than human? Do they not feel emotions? If cut, do they not bleed blood?
The answer is that no matter how superhuman or invincible some athletes might seem, they too are just human. As human beings, we will make mistakes. We as a society need to allow everyone, but especially athletes, a space and an opportunity for a second chance.
I hope Ray Rice learned his lesson and understands how his actions effects more than himself and his wife. But I also hope that people are forgiving and allow Rice to redeem himself. After all, he’s only human.
Let this be a lesson to everyone, especially high schoolers with social media accounts and athletes everywhere: everything you do is being watched.
When the news about Ray Rice initially broke, it was shocking to say the least. Rice was, at the least, a top 15 running back in the National Football League and was easily the face of the Baltimore Ravens. When the video of him dragging his unconscious fiancée out of an Atlantic City casino surfaced, it was hard to fathom what even took place inside the elevator. Rice was hit with a two game suspension, which many deemed too light, and it seemed like that was the end of that.
Then the TMZ video of what happened INSIDE the elevator came out. All hell broke loose.
There was no way that the NFL could allow Rice to get off with only a two game suspension. After that, there was no way that the Baltimore Ravens could continue to employ him. After that, there was no way that anybody could continue to support him, at least not now.
But I do believe in second chances.
Look, I am in no way condoning what Ray Rice did to his wife. It’s completely unacceptable and has no business in the NFL or any facet of society. Striking someone when you are upset with them is wrong, no matter the situation or their sex. I wouldn’t want Rice on my team without being assured that he is a reformed man. However, we have to allow Rice to be human and admit his mistakes, which he did. I believe that there needs to be intense psychotherapy, as well as marriage counseling for Rice to even have a snowball’s chance in hell to come back to the National Football League.
But at the same time, these athletes live in a world where EVERY action is micro-analyzed. They live in a world where every time they open up their social media accounts, they’re met with detractors spewing vulgar hatred, hoping they tear their ACL or break a limb because they play for the “wrong” team. Some would argue that this is the price one must pay for fame and glory and they’d be right in this assessment. But does that make these athletes more than human? Do they not feel emotions? If cut, do they not bleed blood?
The answer is that no matter how superhuman or invincible some athletes might seem, they too are just human. As human beings, we will make mistakes. We as a society need to allow everyone, but especially athletes, a space and an opportunity for a second chance.
I hope Ray Rice learned his lesson and understands how his actions effects more than himself and his wife. But I also hope that people are forgiving and allow Rice to redeem himself. After all, he’s only human.