On February 15th, 2014, Ray Rice knocked
out his fiancé in an elevator. On film. He was suspended for two games. The criminal
charges dropped. And actually won a settlement against the Ravens for an
undisclosed but likely multi-million dollar amount because of a ‘second
punishment.’
On January 18th, 2015, the NFL began
investigation on the Patriots for using deflated footballs in the AFC
Championship game. Tom Brady was suspended 4 games. A judge overturned the
suspension because Brady didn’t have enough notice. On April 25th,
2016, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the judge’s decision
and Tom Brady was suspended for four games.
On June 21st, 2014, Hope Solo assaulted
her 17-year-old nephew while intoxicated, punching him, tackling him, ripping
his shirt, scratching his arm, and causing his ear to bleed. She also
threatened a police officer by saying, ‘You're such a b----. You're scared of
me because you know that if the handcuffs were off, I'd kick your ass.’ No
action was taken by the U.S. Women’s National Team.
On August 12th, 2016, the U.S. Women’s
National Team lost to Sweden and Hope Solo says ‘we played a bunch of cowards… I
don't think they're going to make it far in the tournament. I think it was very
cowardly.’ For her comments, Hope Solo was suspended for 6 months.
Now, I’m sure there are details to these stories
that I either missed or don’t care about, but these are the highlights, and
they are the facts. I could do more research, but this is a blog, not the NYT.
I’ve already come to grips with the fact that
celebrities are treated differently than civilians. If my recent binge-watching
of Ray Donovan has taught me anything, there are plenty of people in the world
that leverage, punish, or generally cover up anyone or anything that might
damage an image, and that this kind of activity not only happens everywhere,
but often, for those that can afford it. Fine. To be fair, I can’t think of
anything in my life that would require Ray or Aví or Lena to help out. Sure, I’ve
chalked up a few on the embarrassing stories scoreboard, but nothing that would
keep me out of running for office, a profession I would never consider.
The only explanation on how Ray Rice and an
angry-drunk Hope Solo received a lesser penalty for their actions than Tom
Brady and a sharp-tongued Hope Solo is that the NFL and the U.S. Women’s
National Team care more about the ‘integrity’ of their sport than the integrity
of the people participating.
In simpler terms, the game matters more than life.
The billion dollar industry of the NFL – at least
I understand that it’s all about the money, and you can’t have players cheating
and expect people to watch. Except that players already cheat, across the
league, top of roster to bottom, just in non-visible ways. But the U.S. Women’s
National Team, an organization that you would hope supports victims in a far
greater way than any of the major leagues – that one really doesn’t make sense.
Leagues or teams tend to pucker up when someone criticizes management,
officials, or the league higher-ups, which to some extent makes sense. But
calling another team cowards seems like a pretty normal thing to say. Stupid,
petty, and based in frustration, but really not too bad, except that it paints
the team in a bad light.
So if you do anything – and I mean anything – that
hurts or injures the team or the game, that’s more severe than if you do
something that hurts or injures a person.
I don’t know a lot, but I know this: LIFE is more important
than entertainment.
What possible message could they be sending into
the world? It doesn’t matter what laws you break in the real world, once you’re
inside the Coliseum, you’re rinsed of your sins and reborn again? As long as
you feel bad for what you say, then strap on your gear and get ready to
compete? It’s asinine and shameful.
I’m sorry, I have to get back to this. Hope Solo
punched her 17-year-old nephew and verbally assaulted a police officer and
nothing happens. Hope Solo calls the Sweden team cowards for having a
conservative game plan and loses half a year of playing. Sticks and stones.
I probably don’t have to go through meandering
sentences and long-winded theories on why I feel so strongly about this particular
juxtaposition, because I don’t know anyone that would disagree with me. I’m
sure I’ll never understand the pressure and spotlight of being an international
superstar, and that my life couldn’t possibly compare to the monumental entertainers
that captivate worldwide audiences, but I know that life is more important than
work. Every time. Every single time. I struggle to comprehend anything else.
