There are three things which amaze me more than any other: 1) Man landed on the moon, 2) How much chaos and destruction natural disasters can cause, and 3) People still watch the ESPN show First Take.
First Take is an opinion-oriented show featuring arguably two of the most disliked sports commentators in Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless. On Friday, Smith made some comments about the Ray Rice assault incident (and two-game suspension) which left many people shaking their heads in disbelief and anger. Just recently, the NFL suspended Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice two games for assaulting his ex-fiancee, Janay Palmer. With regard to the incident, Smith said this:
"Let's make sure we don't do nothing to provoke wrong actions. If we come after somebody has put their hands on you, it doesn't negate the fact that they already put their hands on you. So let's try to make sure that we can do our part in making sure that that doesn't happen."
He also added: "We also have to make sure that we learn as much as we can about the elements of provocation."
SportsNation co-host Michelle Beadle then responded with the following series of tweets:
- "So I was just forced to watch this morning's First Take. A) I'll never feel clean again B) I'm now aware that I can provoke my own beating."
- "I'm thinking about wearing a miniskirt this weekend...I'd hate to think what I'd be asking for by doing so."
She later added this:
"I was in an abusive relationship once. I'm aware that men & women can both be the abuser. To spread the message that we not 'provoke' is wrong ... Violence isn't the victim's issue. It's the abuser's. To insinuate otherwise is irresponsible and disgusting. Walk. Away."
Smith attempted to defend his remarks by writing, "What about addressing women on how they can help prevent the obvious wrong being done upon them. [I] wasn't BLAMING women for anything."
The problem with Smith's comments and defense of those comments is the fact history indicates he's made such comments before, which makes his defense appear less genuine than he'd like the public to believe.
In 2012, former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson was charged and arrested for assault and battery of his ex-wife Evelyn Lozada. In response to the incident, Smith made the following comments:
"Her actions have been completely glossed over."
and
"I am sick and tired of men constantly being vilified and accused of things and we stop there. I'm saying, 'Can we go a step further?' Since we want to dig all deeper into Chad Johnson, can we dig in deep to her?"
The mindset of Smith and others like him is a big reason why so many rape and abuse victims are reluctant on informing the police of such incidents - they're made to feel like they did something wrong, like they could have done more to have prevented the event from occurring, and perhaps even that they provoked the situation in the first place and deserved the end result. Why, so often, must we make victims feel like they deserved such awful treatment, all the while asking what provoked the attacker in the first place?
Just like SportsNation co-host Michelle Beadle stated:
"...I'm aware that men & women can both be the abuser. To spread the message that we not 'provoke' is wrong ... Violence isn't the victim's issue. It's the abuser's. To insinuate otherwise is irresponsible and disgusting..."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/stephen-smith-controversial-remarks-domestic-violence-defends-twitter-article-1.1880343
First Take is an opinion-oriented show featuring arguably two of the most disliked sports commentators in Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless. On Friday, Smith made some comments about the Ray Rice assault incident (and two-game suspension) which left many people shaking their heads in disbelief and anger. Just recently, the NFL suspended Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice two games for assaulting his ex-fiancee, Janay Palmer. With regard to the incident, Smith said this:
"Let's make sure we don't do nothing to provoke wrong actions. If we come after somebody has put their hands on you, it doesn't negate the fact that they already put their hands on you. So let's try to make sure that we can do our part in making sure that that doesn't happen."
He also added: "We also have to make sure that we learn as much as we can about the elements of provocation."
SportsNation co-host Michelle Beadle then responded with the following series of tweets:
- "So I was just forced to watch this morning's First Take. A) I'll never feel clean again B) I'm now aware that I can provoke my own beating."
- "I'm thinking about wearing a miniskirt this weekend...I'd hate to think what I'd be asking for by doing so."
She later added this:
"I was in an abusive relationship once. I'm aware that men & women can both be the abuser. To spread the message that we not 'provoke' is wrong ... Violence isn't the victim's issue. It's the abuser's. To insinuate otherwise is irresponsible and disgusting. Walk. Away."
Smith attempted to defend his remarks by writing, "What about addressing women on how they can help prevent the obvious wrong being done upon them. [I] wasn't BLAMING women for anything."
The problem with Smith's comments and defense of those comments is the fact history indicates he's made such comments before, which makes his defense appear less genuine than he'd like the public to believe.
In 2012, former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson was charged and arrested for assault and battery of his ex-wife Evelyn Lozada. In response to the incident, Smith made the following comments:
"Her actions have been completely glossed over."
and
"I am sick and tired of men constantly being vilified and accused of things and we stop there. I'm saying, 'Can we go a step further?' Since we want to dig all deeper into Chad Johnson, can we dig in deep to her?"
The mindset of Smith and others like him is a big reason why so many rape and abuse victims are reluctant on informing the police of such incidents - they're made to feel like they did something wrong, like they could have done more to have prevented the event from occurring, and perhaps even that they provoked the situation in the first place and deserved the end result. Why, so often, must we make victims feel like they deserved such awful treatment, all the while asking what provoked the attacker in the first place?
Just like SportsNation co-host Michelle Beadle stated:
"...I'm aware that men & women can both be the abuser. To spread the message that we not 'provoke' is wrong ... Violence isn't the victim's issue. It's the abuser's. To insinuate otherwise is irresponsible and disgusting..."
I couldn't have said it better myself.
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/stephen-smith-controversial-remarks-domestic-violence-defends-twitter-article-1.1880343
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