My 2 Cents on the NFLs recent crisis. Domestic Violence, in fact Violence Against Women generally, is a national socio economic problem. Contrary to recent media hysteria, it is actually less prevalent in the NFL than the general population. Back in July, FiveThirtyEights Benjamin Morris tallied up the incidents in USA Todays NFL Arrests Database to discern crime rates among NFL players. He then compared those numbers to the national averages among 25-29 year olds, and found the rate of domestic violence in the NFL to be 55.4% that of the general population. And the overall crime rate was a mere 13% of the national average. So why then do 69% of Americans believe that the NFL suffers a widespread epidemic of domestic violence problems? The answer is rooted in how we think. Humans are prone to rely on examples and experiences that can be easily recalled. The idea is that if we can remember it, it must be important. This mental shortcut is termed the availability heuristic. A key drawback of the heuristic is that it leads us to overestimate the prevalence of memorable events. Here, you can legitimately blame popular media. Because plane crashes are widely covered, many erroneously view flying as more dangerous than driving. Thanks to Shark Week, people are wearier of sharks than deer. Because 91% of people have seen, read, or heard something about Ray Rices domestic violence, they overestimate the problem of domestic violence in the NFL. Thats not to say that domestic violence isnt a problem in the NFL. By type of crime, domestic violence is the closest the NFL comes to the national average. Moreover, Morris noted that NFL players do seem to commit acts of domestic violence at a higher rate than individuals with a similar socioeconomic status, though a direct comparison wasnt available. As public figures, football players must hold themselves to higher standards, and be punished appropriately when they fail to meet them. But more quintessentially, as human beings, they need to recognize that unprovoked violence against others, particularly those not able to defend themselves, is utterly reprehensible. Now heres the part that bothers me, these talking heads who are calling for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodels head. First the NFL is a business plain and simple. It is not government or educational institution. They employ young men a substantial amount of money to crash into each other at high speeds until their bodies can no longer absorb the punishment. After about 4 years on average these young men are then discarded, physically broken many with traumatic brain injuries. All for our entertainment. The NFL ignored these broken men until several lawsuits involving HUNDREDS of former players with brain damage received some publicity. The NFL under Roger Goodell made that problem go away by throwing money at it and there was no public outcry. Now due to a video going viral THREE incidents of Domestic Violence have come to the publics attention. Remember, as horrible as ALL Domestic violence is, the incidence in the NFL is LESS than the general population. Commissioner Goodell will make this go away by setting up Advisory Boards Anger Management Training. Include severe punishment in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement etc. But he will NOT lose his job. Any suggestion that he will is ridiculous. Why you ask? BECAUSE THE NFL IS A BUSINESS. The NFL is a business that has grown exponentially to nearly $10 BILLION annuallly. Thats BILLION with a B. Under Goodells supervision. He now has a plan in place to raise that to $25 BILLION annually. He has masterminded a remarkably successful business plan with an extremely prosperous future. His employers, the franchise owners, will not put these BILLIONS at risk because of the bad acts of a few players who will be replaced shortly anyway. Tens of Thousands of NFL players have come and gone but the NFL has only had THREE commissioners in over FIFTY years. They are not replacing the one who has overseen the greatest financial expansion in its history. So lets stop with the nonsense, our criminal justice system deals with Domestic Violence cases everyday. Whether the perpetrator is a professional athlete, a lawyer, a plumber etc. shouldnt make a difference. The NFL will continue to rake in our Billions and discarding their broken brain damaged players, while we continue to cheer for the new fodder they trot out for our pleasure.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Sep 2014 21:55:54 +0000
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