I'm sure that you're all aware of the events surrounding the criminal actions of rapist Brock Turner. Though many would rather refer to him as "former Stanford athlete", I think rapist is the better term, since that is what he is. This situation rubs me the wrong way, and it's not the first case of the sorts. In many different ways kids and adults who are good at sports have many advantages, and they also seem to be above the law.
Most of us also remember the domestic abuse case of football quarterback Ray Rice, although he was dropped by the NFL his legal punishment was minimal, a 12 month "recovery" program. And what would have happened if Ray Rice was an ordinary man? I guarantee you that no judge would have diminished his charges then. In September of last year there were 12 active NFL players who had been arrested for domestic violence-not just accused, arrested.
It's not only the professional and college level athletes though I'm sure most of you have seen this in your high school. When a party gets busted and there's underaged drinking the star of the football just happens to get away without a minor. High School athletes are held to the same standard, they sign a liability form every season saying they will act with legal and moral integrity. Still everyday at school there are issues with hazing, which these athletes made a legal obligation to avoid. If a team captain is stealing cars, publically shaming, abandoning and ridiculing another athlete they are breaking their legal promise to their state, and their school. Yet no one will do anything about it becuase this student is skilled. Because in high school these irresponsible actions can be dismissed with excuses like "they're kids".
So where's the real issue? Is it with these athlete thinking they can get away with anything? Or is the issue with the higher powers who don't punish these athletes correctly? When Turner raped a young girl behind a dumpster? When Ray Rice hit a women? When highschoolers haze younger players? When the judge gave Brock Turner a sentence of only six months? When the judge on Ray Rice's case gave him no legal repercussions for his actions? When high school principals wave away bullying and hazing because the accused can run fast?
The answer is all of the above. There are many issues surrounding athletes, and many people are willing to turn a blind eye becuase they have skill. There is no excuse for any of these action, yet everyday they happen and no one doesn't anything. In every case there are victims, who are forever changed, and there's an athlete who is profiting,
