New Age

Baseball took a backseat to real life at Wrigley Field yesterday after a Facebook allegation that Cubs’ shortstop Addison Russell physically abused his wife in front of their two children.  The 23-year old Russell denies any wrongdoing, and the Cubs have alerted MLB, which is now investigating.

 It pays to keep in mind that the charge against Russell is no more than an accusation.  Even if he’s charged with spousal abuse, it remains an allegation.  As ever, the challenge is to get the aggrieved party to press charges (see Aroldis Chapman and ever so many others).  Without that, there’s nothing to go on.

Even then, formal charges don’t equate with guilt.  Defensive end Josh King, until a few days ago a Michigan State football player by way of Hinsdale Central, has been charged with multiple counts of sexual assault.  In this case, the alleged victim is pursuing action, and King may have recorded himself having sex with her.  But, still, guilt can’t be presumed.  It has to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

I keep harping on this because I don’t want third parties doing the work of the legal system.  King and two co-defendants also accused of sexual assault have already been kicked off the Michigan State football team; the NCAA doesn’t care about due process.  Presumably, the MLB Players’ Association does and has negotiated a protocol to be followed during any investigation.  That said, I’m uncomfortable with baseball doing the punishing while the courts won’t.

Yes, take away their careers and lock them up; just make sure you can prove they’ve done something wrong first.  Along the way, the NCAA and all the professional sports may want to start collecting data on domestic abuse by athletes.  Is it on the rise or being reported more?  I’d say several factors have fueled a significant increase in the number of incidents.  For openers, American athletes are pampered beyond belief.  We love sports and those who play them.  That leads to the mistaken belief that physical talent translates into moral goodness, or even worse, that it merits a pass regardless the transgression.

With football, the glorification of violence seems to have affected the ability of many players to leave work at the office, so to speak.  If you get paid to hit on the field, the temptation is to do the same at home.  The Michigan State coach said his team had received lectures on proper behavior.  If so, the instruction is in serious need of revision.  Alumni and pro fans who care more about winning than morality are a major component to the problem.  Coaches look the other way because there’s so much pressure on winning.  What matters is my Saturday and Sunday, not her broken jaw.

Long story short, I want to see athletes guilty of sexual assault doing prison time.  That’s a far more meaningful message to send than any suspension.