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I'm only the Commissioner of Me.
Ray Rice plea deal
- Thread starter t-man
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I'm only the Commissioner of Me.
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...........
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COMMENTARY
Goodell's slippery Roethlisberger slope
Why hasn't he acted against Big Ben when he moved so quickly on Vick and Pacman?.....What's Up with That!
Originally Published: March 26, 2010
By Jemele Hill | ESPN.com
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said this week at the NFL owners meeting in Orlando, Fla., that he'll meet with Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who is currently under investigation for sexual assault, at the "appropriate time."
What's he waiting for? Nightly updates from Nancy Grace's show?
Certainly, I'm not making light of Roethlisberger's situation or the complicated position that Goodell finds himself in now that the quarterback for one of the NFL's most storied franchises is facing a sexual assault accusation for the second time in less than a year.
Goodell's first public comments about Roethlisberger indicate the NFL is watching the developments in the case closely. But the commissioner's words weren't as strong as they need to be. Instead of bringing the Roethlisberger controversy down to a simmer, it remains at a boil.
Roger Goodell set a precedent when he suspended Pacman Jones and Michael Vick.
In truth, Goodell should already have met with Roethlisberger, even though the investigation into whether Roethlisberger should be charged with sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman in a Milledgeville, Ga., bar remains ongoing. And once he and Big Ben are in a room alone together, Goodell should absolutely castigate the two-time Super Bowl winner for bringing such bad publicity to his lucrative league.
I'm aware Roethlisberger hasn't been charged with any crime and -- everyone say it with me -- is innocent until proven guilty. He has the right to defend himself against his accusers. We have no idea what Georgia investigators will uncover, or what will become of the civil suit filed against him last summer by a Lake Tahoe woman who accused him of raping her in 2008.
In a perfect world, there would be no pressure for the commissioner to act until Roethlisberger's situation plays out completely. But in the real world, perception is what matters.
And surely the commissioner has noticed that Roethlisberger's case is becoming a racial litmus test. Fair or not, the perception is that Goodell has been eager to punish black athletes regardless of the status of their criminal investigations; and now that a white superstar quarterback is under police investigation, a lot of people -- especially African-Americans -- are noting how patiently Goodell is behaving.
Certainly there were factors with Adam "Pacman" Jones and Michael Vick -- the most high-profile measuring sticks of how the NFL can enforce its code of conduct -- that prompted the commissioner to dole out punishments before they were convicted in a court of law. For openers, Jones had a long history of previous arrests and other run-ins and Vick had already been indicted in his dogfighting case; Roethlisberger hasn't been charged yet. But the only factor that matters to those African-Americans keeping close tabs on the Roethlisberger case is this: The commissioner didn't wait to meet with Jones and Vick when they had criminal investigations hanging over their heads. Every time a prominent black athlete is involved in a legal situation, it seems as if the long, lawful arm of Goodell is ready to react.
The commissioner announced Jones' season-long suspension in 2007 less than two months after he was allegedly involved in an altercation and shooting outside of a Las Vegas strip club -- which was two months before Jones was officially charged by Vegas police and a week after Goodell brought Jones into his office for one of his infamous sit-downs. Jones accepted a plea deal for the Vegas incident in November 2007, which resulted in a suspended one-year prison sentence, probation and community service.
Hasn't Ben Roethlisberger embarrassed the NFL, too?
The commissioner wasn't wrong for punishing Jones before he had his day in court. Given Jones' extensive brushes with the law and the seriousness of the Las Vegas incident, Jones' one-year suspension was entirely appropriate. There was little doubt his reckless behavior was undermining the league's credibility and its reputation.
Goodell, though, officially set a precedent with Jones. For the commissioner, the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence.
When Goodell suspended Jones, he wrote a letter to the troubled player that stated: "Your conduct has brought embarrassment and ridicule upon yourself, your club, and the NFL, and has damaged the reputation of players throughout the league. You have put in jeopardy an otherwise promising NFL career, and have risked both your own safety and the safety of others through your off-field actions. In each of these respects, you have engaged in conduct detrimental to the NFL and failed to live up to the standards expected of NFL players. Taken as a whole, this conduct warrants significant sanction."
Roethlisberger might not have the same track record as Jones, but being accused of sexual assault twice in less than a year is an embarrassment not only to the Steelers, but to the entire NFL. No matter what happens with the criminal investigation or the civil case, these accusations will follow Roethlisberger forever and be used to judge the character of other NFL players.
In the past, Goodell has made it clear that protecting the NFL's brand is his foremost concern. When Goodell barred Vick from training camp while dogfighting charges were pending against him, he wrote this to Vick: "While it is for the criminal justice system to determine your guilt or innocence, it is my responsibility as commissioner of the National Football League to determine whether your conduct, even if not criminal, nonetheless violated league policies, including the Personal Conduct Policy."
Given that stern position, Goodell should not only already have met with Roethlisberger, but he should already have come to the conclusion that no matter how this investigation turns out, Roethlisberger should be suspended.
When Goodell sat Jones down for a year, he wanted to send a message that irresponsible behavior could cost an NFL player his livelihood. If Goodell doesn't schedule a meeting with Roethlisberger immediately, it feeds the perception that white NFL stars under criminal investigation are treated differently and will receive more benefit of the doubt than their black counterparts.
Jemele Hill can be reached at jemeleespn@gmail.com.
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So it would seem that Ben got a harsher punishment than black players accused or convicted of worse crimes.
Are we even yet?
The animation quality isn't great but it's funny as hell when Larry King says he "wants to get some stank on my hang-low".
Are we even yet?
horrible cartoon
not one of them mauled the girl
The animation quality isn't great but it's funny as hell when Larry King says he "wants to get some stank on my hang-low".
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I wonder what Hill has written about Goodell's infinite wait time before the slap on Ray Ray's wrist...
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Down right HILARIOUS, thanks for the up m,y nose puke job, NEXT TIME, put lube on it!!!!! LOL
Salute the nation
looks like Michelle Beadle (hit) and Stephen A Smith are getting into a slap fight via Twitter
http://www.sportsonearth.com/articl...-smith-first-take-ray-rice-controvery#!bo48kP
http://deadspin.com/stephen-a-smith-responds-to-criticism-updating-1610990770
http://www.sportsonearth.com/articl...-smith-first-take-ray-rice-controvery#!bo48kP
http://deadspin.com/stephen-a-smith-responds-to-criticism-updating-1610990770
10 pages for a little short *** RB. Mods close this.
close it. and close it now.
race does play into it...sadly.
media driven, Sharpton driven,....if a white player did that to his woman? or if the white players woman was black? Holy ****...would be a **** storm going on.
but, it is the media driving the bus...
media driven, Sharpton driven,....if a white player did that to his woman? or if the white players woman was black? Holy ****...would be a **** storm going on.
but, it is the media driving the bus...
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Please spare me the reverse racism bullshit
Because we both know that if Ray Rice had struck a white female- He would have been suspended for whole freggin year
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And that is the point. He should have been suspended the whole year for striking a black female. He should have been suspended because he committed and actual crime CAUGHT ON VIDEO when Ben Roethlisberger, a white player was suspended for much longer based on a false accusation.
Stephen A. Smith suspended now from ESPN for a week for saying that women shouldn't make their man pissed off enough to hit them.
http://www.tmz.com/2014/07/29/steph...n-domestic-violence-ray-rice-michelle-beadle/
*Profanity Alert* NSFW NSFK
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He's got a point. If a woman slaps the **** out of a guy and gets popped "she doesn't deserve to get beaten". If a guy slaps the **** out of another guy and gets his teeth stomped in "he got what was coming to him". Seems as though this feminist movement wants equality except when they don't want equality. Keep your hands to yourself regardless of sex.
That being said, some of us old school "sexist" fellas know that women aren't equal to men on all fronts and should never be hit. So we were taught to walk away and never strike a woman (Rice missed that class). You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Yup, he is now a hero again, and its over, nothing to see here
http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=118&f=1666&t=13014220
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Did any of these "cheering fans" watch any Ravens games last year?
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Ray Rice punching that woman in the head is like me punching a 5 year old kid in the head. He's a professional football player for pete's sake.
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It's not reverse racism, it's just racism. It's like black men are just expected to be violent, whereas if a white guy does something like this it's a big shock. Not to mention she is being portrayed as the "angry black woman" who asked for it. Do you think if Katharine Webb got decked by A.J. McCarron anybody would be partially blaming her? Even if she slapped him first? Black women everywhere should be absolutely outraged by this.
He absolutely did the wrong thing. Stephen A. Smith was suspended for saying that women can do things to provoke a man hitting them, such as striking a man repeatedly. He has a point.
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Agreed. If a woman is smacking you across the face repeatedly and you give her a smack in return, it may not be the best response, but it's still better than balling up your fist and decking her unconscious.
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SPEAKING from experience........ I won't go into the why part (i'm the good one in this story), but I'll tell you what happened. I was being hit by a woman, her hands were made into fists. She was repeatedly swing & hitting me. after about 3-5 hits, I grabbed both wrists, using the wrists I bent her to her knees. I held her there long enough for her to realize what she was doing. I felt she was done swinging so I let go and left, I did not ever return to her. There are a lot more details, but NOT anyones business. At the time, as I do this day and age, I feel I did the right thing. It would have been easy to beat the **** out of her, but I was raised better than that. A man can protect themselves, regardless if against another man or woman. Different methods sure, but still defended. Some say if she is going to hit you, that gives you a right to hit back. I don't think so, unless she is really out to damage / kill, then its open game.
Ray Rice definitely did the wrong thing, mad or not. being hit or not, he had choices. Alcohol is a funny thing, it changes your thinking, but regardless, you are still responsible for your actions. Imagine that, a professional football player, being responsible for their actions. Even roger godel, doesn't hold them responsible, why the hell would they hold themselves?
Salute the nation
Ray Rice definitely did the wrong thing, mad or not. being hit or not, he had choices. Alcohol is a funny thing, it changes your thinking, but regardless, you are still responsible for your actions. Imagine that, a professional football player, being responsible for their actions. Even roger godel, doesn't hold them responsible, why the hell would they hold themselves?
Salute the nation
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