Ray Rice’s case says a lot about violence against women
Ray Rice of the Baltimore Ravens runs with the ball during an NFL game in Cincinnati, Ohio. CCTV footage of him punching and later dragging his half-conscious fiancée sent shock waves across the American sporting arena and the world at large. AFP PHOTO | ANDY LYONS
What you need to know:
- Violence against women is the most underreported crime in the world.
- Our response will play a role in how these matters are handled throughout sports.
America’s football season has begun and so has the controversy.
The revelation this week that Ray Rice, who is Baltimore Ravens’ star running back, beat his fiancee in an elevator last spring reveals a number of lessons about violence against women in America.
Rice’s actions would likely never be known except for a surveillance camera.
In the tape, Rice hooks her with a right fist and knocks her out cold.
She collapses onto the floor and is face down even as Rice drags her out of the elevator.
The controversy is over several things, but the most serious is denial.
As the Associated Press revealed this week, National Football League (NFL) officials received the damning surveillance tape from police.
The NFL has denied its offices received the tape, and has asked the former head of the FBI to lead an investigation.
What happened and when is important. NFL had given a two-game suspension to Rice before the tape became public. Now, he is suspended indefinitely.
The underlying concern is this reality.
Violence against women is the most underreported crime in the world.
Some reports say that 70 per cent of women have experienced violence in their lives.
IGNORED THEIR FAITH
There is no greater sport in America than football. So powerful teaching moments can be translated to the public from the Rice case.
Many years ago, I was told that the problem with the world was not religion. It was that most people ignored their faith.
The more that I live, the more that I find truth in that statement. NFL is expected to make, as a business, over $9 billion this year. It is reportedly more than any sport makes in the world.
The average NFL player will make nearly $2 million, according to Forbes magazine.
The head of NFL, Roger Goodell, made $44 million in the last recordable year, according to Sports Business Daily.
Ray Rice’s actions will cost him the $4 million that he was to be paid this season.
But he will get to keep $25 million of his contract because so much was paid at the beginning of his contract.
To date, the American story on Ray Rice is that the worship of money and ego seem to be much more powerful than the principles of decency.
INTEGRITY
How will America deal with the violence on the tape?
Our response will play a role in how these matters are handled throughout sports — from college to grade school.
This week, President Obama unveiled his strategy to fight another terrorist group, praising America as a leader in saving lives and setting the proper tone in the world.
Most 20-year-olds in America do not have a concept of September 11, 2001, because they were only 10 at the time.
What will be a constant in their lives is that half of us are male and half are female. We must treat each other with integrity or we will never reach our potential.
