# Ray Rice goes Tubthumping. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 23, 2014, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126 "2014-05-23T21:03:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/21 "2014-08-01T21:22:56Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I should add, by the way, that, despite what i said above, there is also no guarantee that your wife would act in the way that you assume she would act if you did begin to abuse her. Plenty of domestic abuse victims seem, to others who know and love them, to be strong and independent people. It is not uncommon for people to be stunned that a friend or family member was a victim of abuse, and to be equally surprised that the person didn’t come forward to report the abuse. You don’t know what you’re talking about. There is EVERY guarantee my wife would react as I’ve described. If she didn’t, the first time my father-in-law saw her with a black eye, HE’D call the cops, if he didn’t try to kill me himself. ---
**Author:** ![Stringer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Stringer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringer)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/22 "2014-08-01T21:48:37Z")
This thread isn’t about your wife astorian, get out. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/23 "2014-08-01T22:03:32Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > You don’t know what you’re talking about. There is EVERY guarantee my wife would react as I’ve described. The mistake you’re making here is assuming that abuse starts with a raised fist. It starts with a long process of slowly and subtly undermining your partner’s confidence and self-worth, until you’ve convinced them that they deserve to be beaten. > [@](#): > > If she didn’t, the first time my father-in-law saw her with a black eye, HE’D call the cops, if he didn’t try to kill me himself. That’s why abusers whose partners come from good families learn to hit where it doesn’t show. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/24 "2014-08-08T15:02:05Z")
“When Ravens running Ray Rice exited the tunnel and was introduced to the home crowd, he drew a standing ovation. There were no audible boos, if any existed, for the three-time Pro Bowl runner following a rocky offseason where he was arrested for felony aggravated assault that led to a two-game NFL suspension for violating the NFL personal-conduct policy.” Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you: Ravens fans. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/25 "2014-08-08T15:20:58Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > “When Ravens running Ray Rice exited the tunnel and was introduced to the home crowd, he drew a standing ovation. There were no audible boos, if any existed, for the three-time Pro Bowl runner following a rocky offseason where he was arrested for felony aggravated assault that led to a two-game NFL suspension for violating the NFL personal-conduct policy.” > > Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you: Ravens fans. I’m a Ravens fan who is seriously considering giving up football altogether because of this (and other) incidents. I’d be willing to bet that there’s barely a fanbase in the league (especially among the diehards who go to training sessions and pre-season games) that wouldn’t have done the same thing as the Ravens fans did last night. Unfortunately, the NFL, like most incredibly popular things in the United States, counts among its fans millions of morons. If you want to engage in team-based pissing contests, go start your own thread. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/26 "2014-08-08T15:27:06Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I’d be willing to bet that there’s barely a fanbase in the league (especially among the diehards who go to training sessions and pre-season games) that wouldn’t have done the same thing as the Ravens fans did last night. Unfortunately, the NFL, like most incredibly popular things in the United States, counts among its fans millions of morons. I’m inclined to agree, and despite the obvious echoes of Ray Lewis in the case of the Ravens, I can’t entirely rule out the possibility that this kind of response would happen in another sport. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/27 "2014-08-08T15:28:23Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I’m a Ravens fan who is seriously considering giving up football altogether because of this (and other) incidents. > > I’d be willing to bet that there’s barely a fanbase in the league (especially among the diehards who go to training sessions and pre-season games) that wouldn’t have done the same thing as the Ravens fans did last night. Unfortunately, the NFL, like most incredibly popular things in the United States, counts among its fans millions of morons. It was the unanimity of the cheering that was most telling to me. Of course, every team has complete morons who are going to support someone who helped people get away with murder or beat their wife unconscious. But a standing ovation? Without boos? That tells me it’s not just a few morons, it’s a pandemic of stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/28 "2014-08-08T15:36:54Z")
It’s not exactly a representative sample of Ravens fans, though - fans who _are_ upset about the way the league and the team handled everything aren’t likely to shell out $60/ticket for a preseason game just for the privilege of booing in person. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/29 "2014-08-08T15:39:18Z")
Something that pisses me off more than any number of idiot fans is the way that ESPN is going out of its way to rehabilitate the guy. The way they have their collective tongue up his ass, i won’t be surprised if they nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Before last night’s game, of all the Ravens they could have chosen to interview, Sal Paolantonio [interviewed Ray Rice](http://deadspin.com/espn-asks-ray-rice-what-wifes-pregame-words-of-encoura-1618054553/all), and asked him, among other things, “What did your wife say to you in final words of encouragement before you took the field?” Is he fucking kidding with this? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/30 "2014-08-08T15:45:03Z")
> [@Enginerd](#): > > It’s not exactly a representative sample of Ravens fans, though - fans who _are_ upset about the way the league and the team handled everything aren’t likely to shell out $60/ticket for a preseason game just for the privilege of booing in person. Who’s saying they should buy tickets _to_ boo? The problem here is that the people who did shell out for these tickets cheered. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/31 "2014-09-08T14:15:27Z")
Everyone see the prequel that came out yesterday? > **[Ray Rice -- ELEVATOR KNOCKOUT ... Fiancee Takes Crushing Punch (Video)](https://www.tmz.com/2014/09/08/ray-rice-elevator-knockout-fiancee-takes-crushing-punch-video/)** > > This is what a two game suspension looks like -- Ray Rice delivering a vicious punch to his fiancee's face, knocking her out cold ... and TMZ Sports has the shocking video. He pounded her pretty much unprovoked. Then he dragged her around like a bag of yard clippings. I don’t know how his teammates can look him in the eye after this. I can’t imagine that Goodell saw this whole tape and still only suspended this douche for 2 games. And what’s wrong with this chick going on to marry him? $$ $$ $$? ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/32 "2014-09-08T16:16:30Z")
Yeah, the new video evidence made things even worse. Rice’s attempts to look contrite and remorseful already looked feeble, but they look even more pathetic now. This is NOT a guy who just lost his temper for a minute. He’s a genuinely vicious and sadistic creep. And yet she married him anyway. Sigh… ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/33 "2014-09-08T16:33:07Z")
I read that the NFL has already released a statement this morning that they had never seen this video before today. ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/34 "2014-09-08T16:40:07Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > I read that the NFL has already released a statement this morning that they had never seen this video before today. And there are some high-placed reporters (as in firmly in the NFL’s information feed, if not pocket) who dispute that … I’m really struggling with whether to continue following the NFL (and I’ve been struggling for several years before this, based on the NFL’s actions or inactions on a number of other issues). I’m not at all certain that even a potential release of Rice by the Ravens, or (and this is a loooong stretch) Goodell resignation will change my perception. Yesterday’s Bronco game may very well have been my last. I know they won’t miss me, but my conscience sure will feel better. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/35 "2014-09-08T16:55:08Z")
I think it was on ESPN maybe but the Ravens are saying that they never saw the video before today but that what they saw is exactly what RR described to them. I do want to point out that he hit her with his left hand. Is he left handed? If so that explains why he’s so messed up. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/36 "2014-09-08T16:56:12Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > I read that the NFL has already released a statement this morning that they had never seen this video before today. > [@Gordon\_Urquhart](#): > > And there are some high-placed reporters (as in firmly in the NFL’s information feed, if not pocket) who dispute that … [About six weeks ago, Peter King said the NFL and some Ravens officials had seen it and suggested it was a factor in the short suspension.](http://deadspin.com/has-peter-king-read-his-own-reporting-on-the-ray-rice-f-1631901579/+tcraggs22) ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/37 "2014-09-08T17:44:22Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > [About six weeks ago, Peter King said the NFL and some Ravens officials had seen it and suggested it was a factor in the short suspension.](http://deadspin.com/has-peter-king-read-his-own-reporting-on-the-ray-rice-f-1631901579/+tcraggs22) And now King says that [the NFL (says that it) didn’t actually see the tape](http://mmqb.si.com/2014/09/08/ray-rice-nfl-domestic-violence-video-peter-king/). King notes, significantly, that no one from the NFL ever disputed his reporting that the league had seen the footage. This is getting stinkier and stinkier: the league’s mouthpiece’s, like King and Adam Schefter, cannot be pleased about what this has done to their (perceived) journalistic reputation, and the NFL/Goodell/Ravens/Rice have got to be reeling. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/38 "2014-09-08T17:46:10Z")
> [@Gordon\_Urquhart](#): > > I’m really struggling with whether to continue following the NFL (and I’ve been struggling for several years before this, based on the NFL’s actions or inactions on a number of other issues). I’m not at all certain that even a potential release of Rice by the Ravens, or (and this is a loooong stretch) Goodell resignation will change my perception. Yesterday’s Bronco game may very well have been my last. > > I know they won’t miss me, but my conscience sure will feel better. I didn’t watch a single game this weekend. I dropped out of all my fantasy leagues before the start of the season. I miss football, but the NFL will need to reform itself considerably to regain my support. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/39 "2014-09-08T17:55:01Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > [About six weeks ago, Peter King said the NFL and some Ravens officials had seen it and suggested it was a factor in the short suspension.](http://deadspin.com/has-peter-king-read-his-own-reporting-on-the-ray-rice-f-1631901579/+tcraggs22) I’m not sure i understand how the video could be a factor in the short suspension. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126/40 "2014-09-08T17:59:41Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > I’m not sure i understand how the video could be a factor in the short suspension. What he means, i think, is that King, at the time, had understood that the NFL had seen it, and that the NFL had argued to King that it showed that the whole thing wasn’t as bad as expected, and therefore Rice deserved a short suspension. As Deadspin points out, one of the really interesting outcomes of all this is how willing the NFL has been to lie to a whole bunch of reporters about the issue. It seems that either they lied at the time, and had not actually seen the video before issuing the short suspension, or they had seen it, gave a short suspension despite how bad it is, and are lying now when they say that they hadn’t seen it before. At least, that’s my understanding based on a quick reading of the story. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ray-rice-goes-tubthumping/689126.md?page=3)