The Skeletons on the Field

      

Football, baseball, and basketball.  These are probably the top sporting events in America that make the most money for their sponsors, owners, and participants.  At least, that's what it looks like; I have no statistics to back this up.  But really, it doesn't take a genius to realize they are probably some of the top entertainment businesses in the entire world.

Nothing is quite more American than sitting back on game day with a beer in one hand and the remote in the other, your fantasy football/baseball/basketball game card on the table with a pencil next to it, and your phone next to it ready to text your family and friends when their team gets trounced and to update every single move the players make on Facebook...like everyone else isn't watching the game already.

It also seems there's nothing quite more American than supporting businesses that promote animal abuse, sexual abuse, spousal abuse, and child abuse, and to have fun doing so.

It seems that as we move along in our world, entertainment has become more and more important.  We shape our time off work around it by DVR-ing our favorite television shows to watch later.  We take weekends off to go to local sports games.  We go stand in line for our favorite films the day they are released.

To me, it also seems that with that push for more entertainment, we're also more likely to brush aside anything bad about it.  Who wants to dwell on their favorite basketball player being accused of rape?  Who wants the fantasy to be shattered by their favorite baseball player taking enhancement drugs?  So in turn, we are seeing more and more professional sports players taking on risks and committing crimes that aren't just against the rules within their games.  They're against the rules of humanity.  Their skeletons head right out of the closet and onto the playing field without a single glance backward or any remorse whatsoever.  Let's explore what's going on.

All I did was google a simple phrase: "number of nfl players arrested."  HO-LEE-SHYT.

From USA Today: 807 arrests since 2000 Take a look at the reasons for arrest.

From The San Diego Union-Tribute: arrests of NFL players since 2000 that were more than speeding tickets Once again, check those reasons.

From Bleacher Report, August 10, 2015: Vikings Lead NFL Teams with Most Player Arrests in Last 5 Years

Yeah, I could go on, but really, do I need to?  (I'm skipping baseball and basketball, or this post would never end.)

So let's take a look at some of those fellows from the NFL who were arrested for some horrific crimes.

Ahmad Brooks - San Francisco 49ers, Linebacker

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August 26, 2015 - Indicted on Sexual Battery.  "Accused of misdemeanor sexual battery stemming from a December 2014 incident at the home of teammate Ray McDonald."
Outcome - Resolution undetermined.

What's Mr. Sexual Battery doing today?  Playing a game and being paid for it, while I imagine the woman he assaulted is probably in counseling sessions that she has to pay for herself without any compensation from the NFL or Mr. Sexual Battery.

Daryl Washington, Arizona Cardinals, Linebacker
(Great...this one's in my state.)

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May 3, 2013 - Arrested for Domestic Violence.  "Accused of assaulting ex-girlfriend, grabbing her by throat and shoving her to the ground."
Outcome - Pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, one year of supervised probation.

So Mr. Aggravated Assault is now back to playing football.  Wonder how many more people he's assaulted and they've been too afraid to say something about it since he's already gotten away with it.

Now this one...well, this one kinda takes the cake for me.

Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings, Running Back

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September 11, 2014 - Indicted on Child Abuse.  "Grand jury indicted him on felony charge of injury to a child. Accused of injuring his 4-year-old son with a tree branch while disciplining him."
Outcome - Pleaded no contest to misdemeanor reckless assault, 80 hours community service, $4,000 fine, court costs.

THIS PIECE OF SHIT BEAT HIS KID WITH A TREE BRANCH AND HE'S STILL PLAYING FOOTBALL?  FUCK YOU, NFL.

Mr. Child Abuser said this in a Twitter post (reported per this article):

"I have to live with the fact that when I disciplined my son the way I was disciplined as a child, I caused an injury that I never intended or thought would happen." 

He added: "I am not a perfect son. I am not a perfect husband. I am not a perfect parent, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser ... Regardless of what others think, however, I love my son very much and I will continue to try to become a better father and person." 

You know, Mr. Child Abuser, MOST men know that beating their son with a tree branch is definitely considered child abuse, and most men would not do this to their son.  You have a very skewed view of how to "discipline" your son, and you are a sick human being who is being rewarded for your actions solely based on the fact that the team makes money off of you.

And, of course, it will be impossible for animal lovers to ever forgive this sad excuse for a human being:

Michael Vick, Pittsburg Steelers, Quarterback

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January 17, 2007 - Indicted for Dogfighting.  "Grand jury indicted him and three others as part of criminal dogfighting enterprise."
Outcome - Pleaded guilty, 23-month jail sentence. He served 19 months. NFL suspension until 2009.

Plus, it isn't just that he funded, facilitated, promoted, and participated in dogfighting, it's that he "had engaged in hanging and drowning dogs who did not perform well."  It is also reported that in order to kill one dog, he grabbed it by its hind legs and slammed it repeatedly into the ground.

But, of course, he's a QB, so they'll sign him back on.  Never mind that there are studies done on how animal abuse leads to people abuse, about how someone this violent towards animals is not going to feel remorse or be rehabilitated by a few months in prison and a slap on the hand.  Frankly, I would not be surprised if he's back at it again and has just figured out a way not to get caught.

(Note: the laws against animal abuse in America are not as strong as they should be, so that is part of the reason why his sentence was so light.  PLEASE, contact your Congresspersons to ask for better laws against animal abuse.)

Folks, this is a problem.  We are not only allowing criminals to walk the streets, we're paying them millions to play a game run by rich people who only care about money.  We are cheering them on and pretending like their violence against others never happened.

Now to wit, I will point out that yes, money does buy power and it does buy you out of being responsible for your own actions.  But it seems like the sports industry and politics are the two places where criminals are allowed to continue to do what they've always done, and they get paid millions for it.

I mean, at least in the movie industry, if you do something wrong or stupid, you are pretty much OUT.  Click on the actor's name for more information about their wrong-doing.

Lindsay Lohan

Charlie Sheen

 

Randy Quaid

Mel Gibson

The above actors will never land a serious role--or for some of them, any role--for the rest of their lives.  NEVER.  It is somewhat fun that Sheen and Gibson can kinda make fun of themselves on screen, but that kind of glory is short lived.  Lohan truly was a good actress who could've gone the way of actresses like Amanda Seyfried or Kate Hudson and at least been a respectable person on the screen.  I also am sad that Gibson has gone batshit crazy.  The guy made good films, and I enjoyed his acting, even though he always seemed to only play angry characters.  But his Hamlet is great, and he truly liked to challenge himself.  I won't even comment on Quaid.

Paul Reubens

Hugh Grant

Russell Crowe

These actors have since been somewhat forgiven for their actions as they occurred quite a while back.  However, once again, they will never retain their former glory, although Paul Reubens has made an amazing comeback as Pee-wee Herman.  However, I think that is due more to nostalgia than anything else.  And I don't care what anyone says: Russell Crowe is STILL smokin' hot.  (Never been a big fan of Grant myself, but that's just me.)

We can also look at some actors for inspiration: Robert Downey, Jr., Mark Wahlberg, Charles S. Dutton, and Danny Trejo these four gentlemen actually came out of their criminal past clean as whistles and will probably never commit a crime again.  Dutton and Trejo actually spend time helping children stay away from drugs and crime.

Now here's the thing: for most of these actors, their problems do not involve violence against other people.  I don't give a rat's rear end what consenting adults do on their own time.  If someone wants to go watch a porno film or hire a hooker, go ahead.  If they want to drown themselves in drugs and drinking, go ahead.  I don't care.  I don't like seeing people hurt themselves, but at the same time it's not something that is as bad as the stuff we're seeing sports players get arrested for.  So for the record, I personally am on the Pee-wee Herman bandwagon because Reubens did nothing more than what hundreds of men across the country do every day.  (The child pornography claims ARE NOT substantiated--they are rumors only.  He was never charged or convicted of having any form of pornography in his possession.)

Bill Cosby

Luckily, the Hollywood industry has also shamed and shunned those who truly have abused others, the most current example being Bill Cosby.  Not only have at least 41 women stepped up to talk about the abuse, his fellow cast members have also talked about it and admitted that they knew about it.  Even if Cosby is never convicted of the crime, it's clear to anyone that he is most likely guilty.

O.J. Simpson

And of course, we can't forget former-football-star-turned-actor O.J. Simpson, who went from running through airports to being shunned by the NFL, Hollywood, and the golf community.  However, murder is a damn big crime to be accused of.  Whether or not you're found guilty, you're pretty much guilty in the eyes of the public.  (It's also hard to get a job beyond making license plates when you're in prison.)

The thing is that what really works in the world of rich people is shame.  If someone is shamed because of their wrong doing, then they do feel the bitter sting in their pocketbook, whether or not they feel remorse in their heart.  When the money goes away, it is truly punishment for them.  We as consumers do have the power to stop the influx of money that rules over the sports industry.

So all of this is intended to be something to think about as you sit back this coming Monday night or get excited about the new lineup for next year's NBA season.  Perhaps it's time to ask ourselves some serious questions.

Why are we watching these games?
Why are we continuing to buy expensive jerseys and season tickets?
Is this really the time to be lauding men who continue to break the law and get away with it?
Is it not a better choice to find a better pastime, or to focus on college sports instead?

These men do not deserve our hard-earned dollars.  Instead, they need to be shunned and shamed for the horrible crimes they've committed against others.

Oh, and one last criminal to take a look at.

Dwayne Gratz, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cornerback

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November 16, 2014, Arrested for Tresspassing.  "Accused of disorderly intoxication and trespassing after trying to buy items at a store in Miami with bubble gum instead of money."

Well, nobody ever said you have to be smart to play football, but being in the NFL is definitely an advantage if you're a criminal.