MLB can show other leagues how to deal with domestic violence

The last two years have not been positive for athletes or professional leagues with domestic violence issues.

Ray Rice, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens, has not played a single down of football since he knocked his wife out in a casino elevator. People have criticized the NFL for the bungling manner in which it dealt with Rice’s case. The league seemed more concerned with making money than it did with sending the right message to its membership and its fans about domestic violence.

Now, less than two years after Rice’s incident, pictures have come out allegedly showing the marks left on the body of Greg Hardy’s former girlfriend. Hardy, of the Dallas Cowboys, has denied any wrongdoing. The court threw the case out after his accuser refused to show up to a hearing. It appears that the accuser was paid off to skip court so that Hardy could leave his legal troubles behind him.

U.S. Soccer Women’s National Team goalkeeper Hope Solo also faced domestic violence charges after slamming her nephew’s head against the concrete and attacking her half-sister. The case was dropped due to procedural problems.

All three cases have something in common. A professional athlete was charged with domestic violence. There was enough evidence in all three cases to take the athletes to court. The NFL and U.S. Soccer both had a chance to take a stand against domestic violence, and both failed miserably.

The Ravens released Rice, but his initial suspension from the NFL looked like community service in comparison to other suspensions that the league regularly doles out for things like using banned substances and wearing unsanctioned apparel. Hardy’s suspension was reduced from ten games to four, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was all too eager to add the troubled player to his roster. U.S. Soccer, showing us all that they placed more emphasis on winning than on doing the right thing, allowed Solo to play the entire Women’s World Cup.

Domestic violence is a real problem both inside the athletics world and out, but leagues so far have been lacking in their effort to curb the problem. Just this week, news broke that Colorado Rockies shortstop Jose Reyes was arrested and charged with allegedly assaulting his wife in their hotel room during a vacation to Hawaii. We have yet another incident on our hands.

The difference between the previous issues and this one is that Major League Baseball has a chance to show the NFL, U.S. Soccer, and the other sports governing bodies across the country how to respond to domestic violence. The Rockies owe Reyes $22 million per year over the next three years, but the organization can take a stand by suspending him and then terminating his contract if found guilty. The MLB can also do the same.

I’m calling out Major League Baseball. Commit to showing the sporting world that you are serious about domestic violence. Suspend Jose Reyes indefinitely until his trial is concluded. If he is found guilty, ban him from the league. You banned Pete Rose from the sport for gambling because it was “bad for the image of the league and the game.”

Domestic violence is worse for your image than gambling, which is at least legal in some parts of the country. Do the right thing.

— Tristan Boyce is a senior majoring in Spanish or something. He loves the Rockies, even though they continually break his heart. He is praying that they finally do something to make him proud. Contact him via Twitter @Tristan_Boyce1 or at tristan.boyce@aggiemail.usu.edu.