Professional sports have had a nasty habit of treating women as eye candy and nothing more. They’re devalued and this archaic notion that sports are a boys club is problematic. We live in a time where rape culture is in the forefront and all we’re doing is pushing it aside with a “boys will be boys” mantra. That thought process is irresponsible and dangerous.
How dangerous?
In 2014 Roger Goodell almost lost his job due to his ineffectiveness on the Ray Rice scandal. You remember that, right? The former Ravens running back was caught on film hitting his then fiancé and dragging her out of the elevator. Before TMZ released the video Roger gave Ray a two-game suspension and went about his duties per usual. After the tape hit the public Goodell stood in front of a microphone and said that he, “didn’t get it right” and that the NFL will crack down on partner violence.
Enter their new domestic violence policy.
In December of 2014, the NFL stated that first-time offenders would receive a baseline minimum suspension of six games without pay. There is some fine writing that claims suspensions will be handed down depending on facts gathered by the legal system but all in all in was praised. It looked like the NFL had finally gotten it right.
Wrong.
On May 22, 2015, New York Giants punter Josh Brown was arrested in Washington state on a fourth-degree domestic violence charge. His former wife claimed that Brown grabbed her by the wrist while she tried to dial the phone. Police reports show that there was redness around her wrist and a small cut. Five days later the charges were dropped. This isn’t the only instance Brown was accused of domestic violence. According to reports Brown has gotten physical with his ex-wife more than twenty times.
One would think this would be the perfect opportunity for the NFL to drop the hammer and send a message that they will not tolerate domestic violence.
Wrong.
The NFL gave Brown a one-game suspension. Just to add some perspective, Tom Brady was suspended four games for allegedly deflating footballs.
Again. The NFL cares more about the PSI in footballs over the safety of women.
The kicker? On October 20, Josh Brown admitted to abusing his wife mentally, physically, and emotionally throughout their marriage.
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How did John Mara, the owner of the Giants, respond?
“I am certainly disturbed by what we read. He has admitted to us that he abused his wife in the past. I think what is a little unclear is the extent of that, but what we have read about is obviously disturbing.”
What’s unclear, John? The man literally said he treated his wife like a slave and made her fear him.
Again. The Giants are more concerned about the abuser playing a game than the well being of the woman he abused.
Why haven’t we learned our lesson? With all the information on sexual assault, domestic violence, and other issues that plague women, you’d think the culture would have changed.
The answer is a cold, hard truth: we, as a society, don’t care.
For many, sports is a safe haven. A place where someone can go get away from it all, even if it’s for a few hours. It’s a stress reliever and more.
The last thing people want is real life issues in their sports. No matter how serious that issue may be.
That’s why you can hear men scream, “stick to sports” from the mountaintop as soon as an athlete stops talking about a cover two, or how to defend the pick and roll.
Too bad we’re so focused on chastising a man fighting racism rather than players beating their spouses.
The NFL isn’t alone in this relaxed approach to abuse against women. This extends to many levels and areas of sports.
Art Briles lost his job as the head football coach of Baylor because he turned a blind eye to his players sexually assaulting women. ESPN reported that there are several instances where Baylor “either failed to investigate or adequately investigate, allegations of sexual violence.” In May 2016 it was reported that Baylor officials knew about these allegations but didn’t hand out punishment because they didn’t want players to miss time on the field.
Again. Winning was deemed more important than protecting the women on Baylor’s campus.
I’m not just picking on football; other sports carry this same point of view.
On October 19 Derrick Rose was found not liable on all counts of a civil case. The plaintiff accused Rose and two of his friends of gang rapping her in 2013.
The details of the case are chilling. At one point Rose, under oath, admits that he does not understand what consent is. Rose also alluded to the fact that they had been dating for over a year and also implied that it wasn’t rape because of that fact. Derrick also admitted to asking for group sex numerous times throughout their relationship; those requests were refused each time. He purchased a laptop for the Jane Doe and asked her to masturbate over webcam for him, another request that was denied. During the night of the alleged rape Rose, and two friends went to her place and stood outside of her apartment while she was passed out, drunk, inside. Toxicology reports revealed that Doe’s BAC was 2.5 times over the legal driving limit. The three found their way inside and proceeded with the allegations.
Throughout the trial, Rose and his team of lawyers bullied Doe and aggressively tried to have her name released.
There’s no wonder why 65% of rapes aren’t reported to the police.
If the attempt to release her name wasn’t enough, the defense also painted a picture of the plaintiff as sexually aggressive.
Of special note, Plaintiff is publicly portraying herself as sexual. The production includes photos from Plaintiff’s Instagram account that are sexual in nature. In these images, Plaintiff is dressed in provocative attire, is in sexually suggestive poses, and is in photographs indicating that she engages in sexually charged encounters with more than one man at a time. Plaintiff’s use of twitter and other forms of social media further belies her apparent desire for anonymity.
In other words, she dressed and acted like she wanted to have sex so how can it be rape? She was “asking” for it.
To top it all off there have been reports that after the trial members of the jury asked Rose to take pictures with them. The judge even joked with Rose about the upcoming season.
Do you see the pattern of enablement? Sports has a barrier in which the very foundation is built upon the mistreatment of women. The disheartening part of this entire problem is that women have had their voices ignored and silenced when they do have the courage to speak up. They’re called gold diggers, whores, sluts, they were asking for it, and they’ve slept with him before. The list is never ending.
Yes, there are cases in which women falsely accuse men of sexual assault. Does that mean every single woman’s character should be attacked if the speak up against abusers?
That’s rhetorical, by the way.
This culture just doesn’t stop on the field and in the locker room. It’s a symptom of a much bigger disease, a virus that’s infected this country’s way of thinking. Hell, we have a presidential candidate who’s on tape bragging about grabbing a woman by her genitalia. It’s an illness that can only be cured by the ones who continually deny that the sickness exists.
Men.
Tweet Me: @mattgarrett41
As always, thanks for reading.
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