There’s no easy way to talk about domestic violence. Especially when it mixes with the NFL, America’s most watched sport.
Like many people, I saw the footage of Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice striking his then-fiance, now wife.
As someone who is a husband, a sports fan and a journalist, I often think about sports and the role it has in our society. When those lines blur, I often wear multiple hats to get my thoughts in order.
Many fans, including devout followers of the Bears, were outraged that Rice got only a two-game suspension.
I ask those same fans to consider what they are willing to forgive when a player with a checkered past lines up for the Bears. Brandon Marshall had a litany of problems before he played in Chicago. He’s been arrested for DUI and on suspicion of domestic violence, among other things.
He talked about it briefly in his role as an analyst on Showtime’s “Inside the NFL” last week:
“For me, it’s a very personal perspective. I come from an environment where it wasn’t the family that prayed together, stayed together. It was the family that fought against each other, stayed together.”
Marshall is well-aware that the questions about his past will never go away despite the fact he’s turned his life around and stayed away from trouble since he’s been with the Bears.
Like many football fans, I’m in a fantasy football league. Coincidentally, the team I’m up against this week features Marshall and the San Francisco defense. Ray McDonald, a 49ers defensive end, recently was arrested for allegedly punching his pregnant wife.
As I wrote this column, I saw the NFL website is selling a Ray Rice Baltimore Ravens women’s T-shirt for $59.95.
As sports fans, how do we handle all this? Do we throw our jerseys away and stop supporting our favorite team and/or the NFL?
Also, the league is denying it was aware of the newly leaked Rice footage before Monday.
I hope the league doesn’t think we’re that dumb. Maybe it’s time to show them otherwise.
As for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, if he has any morals, he will do the right thing and resign.
Between this, mishandling the concussion issue and dragging his feet with the Washington team nickname, it’s been one disaster after another.
As consumers, we have to take this seriously. We’re well beyond the tipping point. If the footage didn’t serve as such for the NFL, it ought to for us.
Evan F. Moore is a RedEye special contributor.
