Spousal Abuse in Sports

I recently read this article and very much concur with its contents. It deals with the fact that Michael Vick (the U.S. football superstar who pled guilty to charges of animal abuse) will be facing jail time for his role in the dog fighting ring incident, whereas many football stars faced with charges of domestic violence (spousal abuse)get off with a slap on the wrist and never even get a suspension from the NFL. Major League Baseball isn�t any better when it did not penalize Phillies� pitcher Brett Myers when he assaulted his wife and was charged with assault and battery. Neither is the National Basketball Association when it did not penalize New Jersey Nets� Jason Kidd when he pleaded guilty to spousal abuse. The list goes on and on. It�s sad to think that a man who commits a horrendous act against a woman gets a slap on the wrist, but gets jail time committing a horrendous act against a dog. PETA had a major role in the Vick charges and his guilty plea, so I think women organizations need to step it up a notch or two for the rights of women victims who suffer at the hands of these men.

Source: http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3285/context/uncoveringgender

Sparten, what it says (pretty much) is that it's okay to beat a woman because they can still play pro, but beating a dog may cause suspension from playing. Who do you suppose they are going to get their frustrations out on? -(clue - not the dog!) Not to say that it's okay to beat a dog, but they should also get a suspension when beating women!

Yes, you are really leaving far too many variables open here. There is probably a very good reason behind the punishments given, they are just being beaten into the background, and out of context, by agenda pushers.

I think the idea that women can fight back or run away tends to be taken into account, although that is of course no justification at all...

Originally posted by Sparten Fight back? Against a 210 Cm, 130 KG  man? No way.

Originally posted by Omar al Hashim Yes, you are really leaving far too many variables open here. There is probably a very good reason behind the punishments given, they are just being beaten into the background, and out of context, by agenda pushers.

No, it is not, Omar! All too often sports leagues value their players' ability to win more than their moral behavior. These sport jocks should be role models for other young men, but instead they go around doing horrible things which are covered up by the leagues simply because they cannot win games without them. The leagues need these "bad" boys in the game or else they will LOSE! That's the only reason! Once they get injured, they are DUMPED by the leagues because they are of no further use to them! It's that simple. The only reason the Vick matter was on the front pages was because PETA got involved.

Edited by morticia - 20-Sep-2007 at 15:48