No Hope in Sports

On February 15^th, 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 18^th, 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 25^th, 2016, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the judge’s decision and Tom Brady was suspended for four games.

On June 21^st, 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 12^th, 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.