Competition is defined as a person or group that you are trying to succeed against. It is a word that resides at the core of some of the most iconic figures of our time. On a daily basis we hear about “Twitter Wars”. News stations compete for the breaking news. Politicians compete for public offices. Apple and Samsung compete for advantages in developing new technological gadgets. But there is probably no better depiction of competition than in the Sports Arena. It is well chronicled about how competitive Michael Jordan was and it is what drove him to become the success he is. Great athletes exemplify a will to win that can’t be measured. But that same competitive edge is what drives some of these athletes to exhibit behaviors unbecoming of a man, especially in the sport of football where for 7 seconds your job is to maul the man in the opposite jersey color on at least 100 occasions within a game.
1 Peter 3:7 states ;Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. A closer look at this scripture shows that God designed a man to be stronger, to be a leader, and to treat your wife with the care and love of the finest jewel on earth. Men are made to be the bigger, stronger beings and with that we are to support our female counterparts. Not exude of superiority and domination. Even in Boxing and MMA the participants are broken down into weight classes because the bigger participant would be physically superior.
This brings me to the question. Why would a man want to beat a woman? This issue is not one that athletes alone share but one that has been brought to the forefront by the recent video release of Ray Rice and his now wife in an Atlantic City casino elevator. Domestic disputes are shown on a daily basis on shows like “Cops”. So this is nothing new in our society, but when you see such a public figure who kids look up to and try to emulate commit such a heinous act it sounds an alarm that resonates throughout all corners of the earth.
First of all a man is competitive by nature and when he feels he is threatened, he has a natural tendency to defend his turf. Proverbs 21:9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. So as a man if you feel your wife or significant other is one who has a habit of being antagonizing or combative it is better to stray away from her than to constantly quarrel with her. These characteristics tend to lead to altercations that can sometimes become problematic for both parties involved. As men we are supposed to be the protectors, not abusers of our women. Some men have a hard time grasping this fact. Women much like kids can’t physically defeat a man of equal stature. Who among us doesn’t believe WNBA basketball player BritneyGriner wouldn’t be able to defeat a man such as Richard Simmons. Those two examples are the exceptions and not the rule but hopefully you see my point. But when you get a NFL football player who is in supreme physical condition up against an average woman, the physical disparity is even more of a pronounced.
The video of Ray Rice and the altercation between his wife is in one word is, appalling. It is something no man should be proud to see or emulate. Prior to entering the infamous elevator, it appears Mr. Rice and his now wife were sharing verbal jabs with one another. A competitive fire came over Mr. Rice which led him to viciously strike his then fiancé. I don’t know if his judgment was clouded by alcohol or by some other means, but for him to throw that punch was something unbecoming of a real man. No matter how much a woman especially a physically inferior one, insults you. You have to be the bigger person and walk away.
What Mr Rice did to his wife was indefensible and for us, the viewing public to see it play out unfortunately for him has possibly cost him not only millions of dollars but his football career. The NFL and other sports leagues have had several instances of their players being associated with domestic disputes but after receiving heat from the media over Rice's initial punishment of 2 games the NFL instituted a rule to punish their players about this particular issue. This seems to be a step in the right direction but the leniency that the league exhibited at first in this matter is disturbing. I don't know what they thought happened in the elevator, but he sure didn't read her a bed time story. So to be surprised when we saw what occurred on the new tape should not have caused them to change their stance so drastically. For them to believe 2 games was sufficient was asinine to begin with.
In lieu of this incident there has been lots of reaction from not just the sports world but from media outlets of all sorts. One response was from Floyd Mayweather , a boxer. He stated the league overreacted. Frankly I think he's been hit in the head a few too many times, but I'll leave it at that. As a father I shudder at the thought of some coward beating on my defenseless daughter. Trust me there have been times throughout my marriage relationship where me and my wife have had disagreements that were less than pleasant. But due to me holding on to my morals, striking her in a violent manner never crossed my mind. Also I realize the importance that law enforcement places on this issue. I had an instance where my wife became ill, I thought to call 911. She stated she would be okay and I promptly hung up the phone. Unbeknownst to me 15 minutes later a knock was at the door. Of course it was the cops. They talked to me and my wife separately to ensure our story matched which it did. It goes to show your intentions can be good but the authorities go the extra mile to ensure domestic violence isn't tolerated.
Going forward I pray the the Rice family can overcome this ordeal. Judging from a post by Janay Rice it seems as though this wound had all but healed completely but now it's reopened and it's causing she and the man she subsequently married, to relive this tumultuous event all over again. I imagine this has to be tough for the both of them. I would hope they have received thorough counseling before they actually got married. This is possibly their testimony and you can't have testimony without a test. For them to not just be together but be married to each other after this incident speaks volumes. Maybe this is a way for God to put his awesomeness on display. To bring two embattled young lovers with relationship issues to a place of peace is only a small sampling of what God can do. Of course an interview with Oprah or someone of her ilk would go a long way in restoring some good will for Mr. Rice and I trust that he will attempt to cleanse the immense stain on his image. 2nd Chronicles 7:14 states ,If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. So who are we to condemn him. Remember he that is without sin cast the 1st stone.
While no sin is greater than the next, restoration is possible no matter how heinous the act. While it's true domestic violence is very prevalent in today's society, we all must do our part in eradicating this epidemic. Let's pray that this incident turns out to have a positive effect on Mr Rice. Kobe Bryant, Ray Lewis and Michael Vick are 3 professional athletes that come to mind in regards to having their public images restored. So I am sure he can bounce back. But look no further than OJ Simpson to see how domestic disputes can escalate and lead to alot bigger problems down the road if you don't address them. Imagine if someone hit your wife, your daughter,your mom, or your sister. Be a MAN about it.
