I don't know about the rest of you but I have become absolutely nauseated at the repeated reports of professional athletes involved in domestic abuse/assault. And not long thereafter do we seem to hear a few months later that they have been cleared or all charges have been dropped. Eh, whatever. We all know what THAT latter one is about, but okay, sure - charges dropped magically. Staring us right in the face currently is Johnny Football, Mr. Manziel. Busts his girlfriends eardrum? Attends Browns camp hungover and they cover for him saying it was the result of a concussion? Are these teams SO afraid of losing their investments that covering for these thugs and abusers becomes more important than cutting strings with them immediately??
Ok, ok, this is a baseball site so I'll bring it closer to home. According to USA Today "Oh, and let’s not forget that since the domestic abuse policy was implemented in September, there have been three incidents. Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes was arrested in Hawaii for allegedly punching his wife in November, and Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig recently had an alleged altercation with his sister." The other being Mr. Aroldis Chapman of the Reds, no, wait....the Dodgers.....my bad, I mean the Yankees. You know, I was REALLY about to become a HUGE Dodger's fan when I learned that after showing interest in Chapman and his arrest coming to light they begin to back off immediately. Even the RedSox after expressing some interest but found out in November went another direction and signed Craig Kimbrell. I was like "finally, a team putting the interest, safety, and well being of females ABOVE that of a (thug) athlete!" And then here comes the good 'ole Yankees! He signs and then the next thing we here is the charges are.....GASP.....dropped! Are you kidding me?? I mean who else on earth can get away with (according to police reports) " according to the report, Chapman allegedly choked his girlfriend, shoved her against a wall, fired his handgun eight times in his garage and punched out the window of his SUV — all with their 4-month-old daughter inside the house." Would it be safe to say at this point that if it were regular ole Joe Schmo (you and me) that we'd STILL be sitting behind bars singing the blues?
I almost forgot about this one. Shame on me. It was just a year ago that the Reds traded Alfredo Simon to the Detroit Tigers, and few even blinked that he was the same guy who was cleared of involuntary manslaughter charges in a 2010 New Year’s Eve killing and was accused of rape two years ago — eventually settling a civil suit with his accuser.
And now for the cherry on top! Good ole Dusty Baker. What were his thoughts on Chapman? From USA Today "Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker, who praised Chapman’s character from his days with the Reds and was immediately ripped on the Internet and the airwaves.
"He’s a heck of a guy," Baker said. "I mean, a heck of a guy. I’ll go on record and say I wouldn’t mind having Chapman. He is a tremendous young man with a great family, mom and dad, and what he went through to get here and what his family had to go through to get here.
"There was a couple times when I had to stop him from quitting or going back to Cuba because he was lonely for his family. I got nothing but love for the young man.
And, yes, knowing Chapman, Baker found it hard to believe.
"I mean, who’s to say the allegations are true, No.1," Baker said. "And who’s to say what you would have done or what caused the problem."
Baker praised Major League Baseball’s domestic abuse policy when asked, even saying that it shouldn’t be specific to men.
"I think it’s a great thing," Baker said. "I mean, I got a buddy at home that’s being abused by his wife. So I think this policy needs to go further than the player. I think the policy should go to whoever’s involved. Sometimes abusers don’t always have pants on."
Baker’s comments titillated the Internet, and before he knew it he was Twitter’s top trending topic. He later clarified his remarks, but the damage was done.
SAY WHAT...????
This what I am about to say has NOTHING to do with being born and raised in the South. My dad raised me to NEVER hit a girl. No matter what. And as I've gotten older the thought occurred to me what possibly could ever evoke me to WANT to hit or hurt a woman AT ALL?
I realize under our infamous Justice system across this land that everyone is innocent until proven guilty (cough) but, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it's probably - a duck! These thugs should be suspended until a full investigation by authorities and (insert Professional team) has been exhausted and concluded. Quit letting money, fame, ticket sales, popularity, athleticism, et al continue to be the "Get out of Jail free" card. Immediately kick them off the team and include in their contract upon signing "if found guilty of such a charge" they forfeit every red cent owed to them. The more coddling they do with these dregs of society then the more they will feel entitled and privileged without fearing any discipline or repercussions whatsoever.
In closing, I thought I would throw in this golden gem in case you missed it a couple of years ago. Maybe this is just me throwing gasoline onto the fire. Eh, arrest me for mental abuse! lol
Aroldis Chapman arrested after police clock him going 93mph (in his car) on suspended license.
Yahoo Sports
As his lawyers no doubt will argue at trial next month, the speed at which police clocked Aroldis Chapman traveling in his Mercedes early Monday is not what matters. Any Major League Baseball player can drive 93 mph. It's all about control.
At least that's the story his defense (attorneys Franklin and Bash?) ought to be preparing after theCincinnati Reds' would-be closer was arrested in Grove City, Ohio, for driving on a suspended license with a citation for speeding. WLTW reports that:
Chapman, 24, was pulled over after he was recorded speeding in a black 2010 Mercedes S63 on Interstate 71 North near Interstate 270 about 12:42 a.m. Monday.
Chapman was arrested after the officer discovered he had a suspended Kentucky driver's license, according to a police report.
Our client must have been confused, your honor.
After all, we know the vanity license plate for Chapman's Mercedes reads "101 mph." No doubt, this stranger from the Caribbean must have thought that gave him the latitude to drive up to and including 101 mph. That's how they do it in Cuba. It's all in the Marx-Engels Reader!
