“Well, he was drunk.”
I had to pick my jaw up off the floor when a Mets fan explained to me how she viewed the situation.
New York Mets closer Jeurys Familia has been suspended for 15 games by Major League Baseball. He was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge that was later dismissed.
In addition to the suspension, Familia will make appearances at MLB’s rookie program and an appearance for a domestic violence group. He has already completed some counseling sessions.
So it should be okay then, right? Unfortunately, in the world of sports the answer is yes.
In a statement Familia issued this week, he said he “never physically touched, harmed or threatened his wife that evening.” His wife was found that night with a bruise and scratch on her face that she later told authorities was caused by their 1-year-old son. Of course, this doesn’t necessarily align with her initial statement on the matter.
“Rivas told authorities her husband wedged them in a door while barricading himself in a bathroom following an argument,” according to an ESPN article.
The misdemeanor assault charge was dropped after a judge “accepted a recommendation by the prosecutor that it be dismissed.” The record has also been expunged.
This was considered a “simple assault.” Following the MLB investigations and counselor’s evaluation, the Mets organization was confident in saying Familia’s case “would receive more leniency than past suspensions given for domestic violence.”
Leniency is an understatement. And that could be because this situation is different than others in the industry who have been charged with domestic violence.
But the one constant in each of these situations was the fact that no matter what the severity was, they still had a job at the end of the day.
reported, “Reyes grabbed his wife by the throat and shoved her into a sliding glass door at their Maui hotel room, resulting in injuries to her thigh, neck, and wrist.”
The Rockies ultimately released him and the Mets signed him.
Aroldis Chapman was involved in a similar scenario. The now Yankees closer received a 30-game suspension after violating MLB’s new Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse policy. He didn’t appeal the punishment. But he still managed to have a job at the end of the day, and there was certainly more evidentiary support in this scenario.
Familia got less than Chapman's 30 games for variety reasons: 1. no weapon. 2. no frantic taped call. 3. prosecutor no supporting evidence
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) March 29, 2017
As long as he continues to throw those fastballs and strikes guys out, it doesn’t matter what happens in his personal life, right?
And we also want to make sure your fantasy team is not affected by this. Because at the end of the day, a team will add these guys to their roster and so will the average fantasy player. As long as he keeps his mouth shut and doesn’t ruffle any feathers, someone will add him to their payroll.
That’s what it’s about — being quiet and producing on the field.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, “slightly more than half of intimate partner physical violence is reported to law enforcement.” The rest of those individuals involved in those incidents stay silent.
But if you’re Colin Kaepernick and stand (or kneel) for something you believe in you will be crucified and you’re left being called “a guy who can’t get a job.”
Interesting.
This is a quarterback who has not only proved himself on the field, but off-the-field as well. Currently, he is making sure he donates his time and money to make sure children don’t go hungry and to promote social justice, which is exactly what professional sports seems to be afraid of. This guy uses his hard earned money to make a difference. But nobody wants to hire him.
And there are teams in the National Football League that are reportedly showing interest in a player who is famous for passing out on a floatable swan with a bottle of champagne in his hand. And did we mention he was also accused of physical domestic violence?
But they will continue to sleep well at night knowing more than 75-percent of women aged 18-49 who are abused were previously abused by the same perpetrator. Three out of four women who have been victims of domestic violence will once again have it happen to them by the same person.
The silence continues to be deafening. Money and game-time punishments are a Band-Aid on an issue that goes deeper than just “learning your lesson.” The lesson has passed, there’s nothing left to be “learned.”
Professional sports teams need to stop covering up domestic violence. Sweeping it under the rug will only create a bigger mess. One that will be almost impossible to clean up.