Athletes: Too good to get arrested? (Editorial)
More stories from David Delp
With the rise in crime in major league and college sports, it will be no surprise to see more athletes suspended.
The major league sports industry has recently been plagued by criminal actions. These actions range from assault and domestic violence to shoplifting, leading to players being suspended from multiple games and even entire seasons. These crimes are majorly ruining America’s sports.
Ray Rice, a well respected player for the Baltimore Ravens has been charged with assault. In February of 2014, Rice was dragging his fiancée’s body out of an elevator after he knocked her out. His punishment was being suspended from the NFL for two games. After the video was released of him punching his fiancée, his NFL position was dropped indefinitely. Recently however, Rice has been reinstated after appealing his termination, though he does not currently have a position on a team.
Ray McDonald, a standout defensive end from the San Francisco 49ers, has also been accused of crimes. In August of 2014, police were called to the McDonald residence. McDonald’s fiancée showed the police multiple bruises on her neck and arms. McDonald was arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse. The charges were eventually dropped, and he continues to play.
In college football, Jameis Winston, a college football and baseball player at Florida State University, has multiple allegations against him. He was accused of sexual assault in 2012 but continued to play and no charges were filed. He later brought a BB gun onto Florida State Campus and started to shoot at squirrels. He was arrested and let go right away when the police realized it was only a BB gun. Later in 2013 he was caught shoplifting. He shoplifted soda from a Burger King, and kept continuing after he was told to stop. He got suspended from the first half of a game against Clemson for yelling obscene comments in the school cafeteria. Yet despite all of this, he continues to play and even won the Heisman Trophy last year.
I think regardless of the offence or who commits it, they should be arrested and their scholarship or career terminated. It just seems that police go easier on athletes then normal people who commit crimes.
Disclaimer: Articles designated as “Editorial” represent the views and opinions of the author, not the 2014-2015 Periscope staff, CHS Administration, or the CHS student body.
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This is David Delp’s first year on the Periscope staff. He will be a sports writer this year in Periscope. In his free time he enjoys watching football,...
Dean Zagorica • Jan 20, 2015 at 11:53 pm
Crime is clearly wrong, and justice should be served in every situation. However, people must understand the position of these athletes. They play their sports in some of the highest levels possible. It is easy to become “arrogant” when you are surrounded by all the fame, wealth, and attention. They have every right to be cocky because they are the best of the best, and have worked hard to get where they are. This does not mean that they are invincible. The punishment should always fit the crime.
Kimberly Nickle • Jan 20, 2015 at 2:12 pm
The rise in crime for major league sports is a huge issue in the sports communities today. It is sad to see the number of people being arrested and suspended from their teams because they couldn’t just follow the rules. Some athletes believe that with fame and money they can get away with anything but they really can’t. Being famous doesn’t mean you don’t have to follow the law.
Gary Pariseau • Jan 20, 2015 at 12:56 pm
I definitely see where this is coming from as far as atheletes feeling superior to law, however they are not invincible and do face worst consequences in my opinion due to people knowing who they are.
Devin Stossmeister • Dec 2, 2014 at 2:31 pm
Some people think they are invincible because they got some money and a hottie next to them at all times. But that is not fair. We are all the same type of people under the law and these punks need to get a big fat paycheck from justice for their crimes.