Major Sports Need Major Overhaul In Domestic Violence Policies

So for the last couple of weeks we have seen the issue of domestic violence come into the forefront of major sports and its athletes. The NFL of course taking most of the attention with the Ray Rice turmoil. MLB has also been put into the spotlight when its commissioner Bud Selig was asked about the issue during his farewell tour in San Francisco. Here is part of what he had to say on the subject:

“We haven’t had any cases I’m happy to say for a long, long time. I can’t remember when the last time was,” Selig said. “I’m grateful for that. But we deal with situations as they occur. The only thing I want to say, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, we are a social institution and I’m proud of our record in dealing with a myriad of subjects, and we deal with them, I think, quite effectively.”

Really Bud? That is once again a very ignorant statement made by another major sport commissioner.

Everth Cabrera was charged with domestic violence in 2012. I bold the word charged because that to me makes a difference. A person can be arrested and investigated for anything, but when they are charged with the crime that means that something is usually there. The charges were dropped however, on Cabrera.

Francisco Rodriguez was arrested and charged in 2012, with charges eventually being dismissed.

Manny Ramirez was arrested and charged in 2012 with charges dismissed when his wife was “uncooperative” with the investigation.

Bobby Cox was just inducted to the baseball Hall of Fame two months ago and he was arrested and charged back in 1995 for striking his wife. Charges later dropped after his wife said that she was not struck by Bobby.

Indeed, there is a long and lamentable list of domestic violence incidents — some of them very serious — in recent baseball history. Also, no league suspension was taken in ANY of these cases. Baseball needs to wake up and stop ignoring the issue. They need to get a serious policy on this right away.

My policy for any sport would be an immediate release from current team and indefinite suspension (minimum being one year) for the first offense. The player would only be able to comeback after he has successfully completed an intensive and prolonged treatment program. No timetable would be set for return. He would also have to complete 1,000 hours of community service with the local domestic violence groups before he can be reinstated. If reinstated, the player would only be able to sign for the league minimum salary for 5 years.

Second offense: Banishment for life.

Here is my personal take on domestic violence:

Domestic violence is a very serious matter in the world today but it seems that it has taken a backseat in the minds of a lot of people.

If you are a man who strikes a woman in any way, for any reason, you are a gutless, lowlife coward who needs to be jailed and should have to seek treatment immediately after that. That treatment should be very intensive and have no timetable to end. I'm talking years. Nobody is miraculously cured or fixed in months.

This also goes for women who strike men. Just because you are a woman does not give you the golden ticket to beat up on a man. You too are a coward and you should be jailed and seek treatment if you instigate the violence. Also, if you are a person who goes back to an abusive situation you are in desperate need of help.

The most disturbing issue to me involving domestic violence is that a lot of it happens in the presence of children or worse, the children get physically hurt in the altercation. In some cases it is the children who call the police. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that it is a very traumatic experience for a child. They remember it forever.

If anyone feels an argument starting to escalate the smart thing would be to leave, get out of the situation before it gets worse. If you feel you are going to get physically violent with a person just leave, no matter how it is done. Call someone, take a car, bike, or walk. Take any proactive measures necessary to alleviate the potentially dangerous situation before it gets to the point of no return. Because in the end, it is not worth it to get violent. Nothing gets accomplished. No one wins and everyone loses. There is absolutely NO EXCUSE for violence by anyone. There is always other options.

If you need help, don't deny it or hesitate. Call these numbers and they will get you the help you need:

Nationally: 1-800-799-7233

Carson City: Advocates To End Domestic Violence: 883-7654

Gardnerville: Family Support Council: 720-0377

Reno: Safe Embrace: 322-3466