Kamis, 15 Mei 2014

The NFL's Continuing Diminished Image

For the longest time, people believed the NBA had an image issue. A great deal of it had to do with racial undertones and code words which many people didn't really understand at the time. Also Allen Iverson was the star of the league which made a ton of suburbanites uncomfortable. Fast forward to 2014, some people still have a ridiculous view of the NBA from the early 2000's days, but really where they should be riding the crusade is with the National Football League. They are the most powerful league in all of sports, but they are also the league with the biggest issues concerning their image even if their issues fall on deaf ears. 

Today, Aaron Hernandez, the former New England Patriots tight end, was indicted on a double murder charge in 2012 stemming from an incident that happened over the summer. This means Hernandez played the entire 2012 season with potentially killing two men and thinking nothing of it.  Hernandez currently has another pending murder case in the murder of Odin Lloyd in 2013. Three possible murders in two years. He was also one of the most notable players on one of the most public teams in the NFL with New England. This guy hung out in the locker room, played football, did things in the community all while it's believed he murdered two men. This is straight out of a Law & Order plot we would see for a Season Finale.

Hernandez coming back into the headlines is an absolute headache for the NFL. The double murder where it looks even more so like Hernandez did it as the evidence is building up against him is a nightmare for the NFL. While they had no idea what Hernandez did in 2012, the fact he was on an NFL roster is all needed to hurt the shield. No professional sports team or league has a former player charged with murder right now. There have been murderers in different leagues, but this is looking like one of the worst humans to play sports since the days of Rae Carruth. In 2014, it is a lot harder to avoid these things with the ever growing media and the 24/7 news cycle including the mainstream media desire to dip their toes into sports stories more so than ever before. 

Hernandez's double murder charge continues the bad week for the NFL. Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy was charged with assault and asked to attend Alcoholics Anonymous after a woman claimed Hardy dragged her through the house throwing her on a couch filled with 25-30 assault rifles and threatening to kill her if she spoke to the media. Hardy's attorney claims she was the attacker and wouldn't leave Hardy's residence. Before we discuss the ramifications against Hardy, let's remember he became one of the more public players on Carolina. A fan favorite if you will with his whole KRAKEN campaign and playing his ass off in the 2013 season. This isn't like a no-name scrub doing something potentially despicable.  

If the case against Hardy holds true, he should be suspended for his behavior. Hardy did some miserable shit if her story becomes true and apparently news today about Hardy having an issue with her former relationship with Nelly. The story might become a bit clearer as the courts required Hardy to turn over any guns he had in his possession. Therefore if there were 25-30 guns like the accuser claimed, we might get an insight as to what's really going on in this story.

 Further if this story becomes a reality, we will have two notable NFL players this offseason beat the hell out of their significant others. Notice how the Ray Rice story has virtually disappeared? No one is talking about Rice being suspended or the pending trial. It's hilarious how much power the NFL yields and how much they don't care about domestic assault.  Grown men that wear pink to support Breast Cancer in October to show their love to women also beat them.  Good message from the shield if you ask me. 

As for Hardy's guns given the Hernandez cases, I don't have an issue with a player having a gun or two. The fact of the matter is given what happened with Sean Taylor, I could understand players having an issue feeling unprotected. But it would be alarming to find out if Hardy did indeed have 25-30 heavy artillery weapons. Were they collectors items for him?  Why on earth would he need that many guns and why ones that you would see a Grand Theft Auto character use on a consistent basis. This is a story to follow in the coming week.  

To think, people believe PED's in baseball is a problem. Ha. 

Charlie.   

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