Why is the Ray Rice scandal still so important?
by National Sports Ethics and Business Ethics Keynote Speaker Chuck Gallagher
Remember Ray Rice? He was the Baltimore Ravens running back who beat his girlfriend (later his wife) unconscious in a hotel elevator. He became symbolic for all that was wrong with the NFL. Indeed, thousands of social media posts, podcasts, blogs and sports-talk talking-head time was devoted to him. Amid great hand-wringing, Commissioner Roger Goodell and his minions promised us the NFL would institute a tough stance on any kind of domestic violence. Some people were almost tempted to believe him.
Now, we have Zac Stacy, another ex-running back who attacked his pregnant girlfriend. Her name is easily accessible but why victimize her any more than she has been victimized.
Stacy was first charged in November 2021 with battery and criminal behavior. Now he is facing five additional charges (February 23, 2022). As with Ray Rice, Stacy (who has just turned 30), was recorded on video. This time it was a home video. He not only beat her, tossing her into a big-screen television and then slapping her around, he did this in front of their 5-month-old son. I am not a child psychologist; I don’t know if the child will remember this, but no one watching it, will forget it.
Following Arrest
Following his arrest, Stacy allegedly told the police that his girlfriend had “set him up” after she (in August) asked him for rent money. Yes, he said that. He beat the crap out of her because she wanted him to pitch-in and pay the bills. When the charges were finally filed she said:
“He has bullied me for so long that, at one point, I believed it was my fault. It’s disturbing and disgusting to see things people have said online about what did I do. I did nothing. I never did anything to deserve something like this – no one could do anything to deserve something like this.”
As with Ray Rice, “fans” blamed the victim. The first time the woman was beat-up, was in May 2021. She didn’t report it, rather she forgave him because she wanted her baby to have a father present in her life. I use the word “father” loosely. He impregnated her, that is true, but he has remained a child. If I use the word “father” with that much latitude, anyone defending him who believes they are a football fan, friend or even an ethical adult is delusional.
And, please spare me the “cover story” that he was somehow trapped by a greedy woman. Even if it was a remotely true story, he had the option to not abuse her the way that he did. He had many options save beating her the way that he did. He failed to take any of those options.
Keep them Dumb, Keep them Unethical
The NFL has put out so much hype and for so long, they have begun to believe their own press releases. The league refuses to choose ethics over athleticism. No, I am not delusional. I understand the incredible physical talents these young men bring to the field. BUT, in no way does ethical behavior negate any of it.
The NFL went crazy after Ray Rice, and then lets the Zac Stacy’s of the league go forward with their madness. Zac Stacy of course, is not alone. Rice committed his assault in 2014. Virtually every year since then, multiple times each year since then, the domestic abuse continues.
To make it to the NFL, to make it in the league, might not require a degree in rocket science, but it does not mean these are stupid men capable of intellect and reasoning. While I don’t expect every player to leave the sport and become financial geniuses or surgeons, they clearly have. Why does the league, teams and ownership groups strive to keep them stupid?
I say that because there is no ethical lesson, I could teach that is beyond any athlete’s intellectual capacities. There is an entire professional entourage surrounding each athlete. Why not a trainer who could ask ethical questions and serve as an ethical sounding board? What would be the harm? The NFL must decide what it wants its league to be, for unlike 2014 and earlier, the tides of sentiment have shifted.
It is time for the NFL to guide its players as ethical beings.
Notes from Sports Ethics and Business Ethics Keynote Speaker Chuck Gallagher: When I wrote this blog in February 2022, the full extent of Deshaun Watson’s perpetration of sexual abuse was not known. The NFL has still not addressed the issue of off-the-field violence. Unless there is ethical intervention throughout the league, I am fearful this will continue. There are serial sexual abusers in sports settings but as a business ethics speaker as well, I know there are similar patterns in many corporations where certain leaders or managers conduct themselves without regard to consequences. Ethical expectations must start from the “C-suite” on down.
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