Be forewarned – this is not a lighthearted post. Two weeks ago I was attending a game as a fan and witnessed a domestic dispute where an intoxicated couple was hitting, slapping and screaming at each other. I yelled for them to stop and immediately alerted security staff. When security (along with several police officers) approached them the man was in the process of physically dragging the woman down a flight of stairs by her shirt. He refused to stop and was immediately handcuffed and arrested. The woman, still soaking wet from the full cup of beer she had violently thrown in her face, pleaded for them to let him go. She explained that they “fought all the time and it wasn’t that big a deal.”<\/p>\n
I’ve seen disputes at sporting venues but this one really bothered me. It was a truly ugly display that highlighted the worst in people. I’ve debated on whether to write about it as it’s such a heavy subject matter. I’m a person who truly loves going to games and enjoys promoting the benefits of attending live sporting events. The original point of this blog was to keep things light and positive. With that being said, this really bothered me.<\/p>\n
It might be easy for some to immediately dismiss something like this by generalizing these people as “trash” or “idiots”. I’d overheard another fan say suggest to her boyfriend that they need to keep that stuff at home. Is that type of thing more acceptable at home? It’s ok as long as you don’t have to see it? I worry about the woman who was hit. I don’t know her but trust from her reaction that she will continue to endure her situation. Hopefully they don’t have children who will have to be subjected to, or even worse, predisposed to dysfunctional relationships of their own later in life.<\/p>\n
I hope that everyone reading this is in a happy home that is devoid of any type of violence. Unfortunately, statistically speaking, it’s pretty unlikely that’s the case. Every 9 seconds a woman in the US is assaulted or beaten. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women – more than car accidents and muggings combined. Nearly 1 in 5 teenage girls who have been in a relationship said a boyfriend threatened violence or self-harm if presented with a breakup.<\/p>\n
If you are a person who feels that they are in a situation they cannot manage my heart goes out to you. If you can muster up the courage, there are places such as Laurel House and Safe Horizon that can offer help. If you are a person who has witnessed or is aware or an occurrence of domestic violence, it is your moral obligation to report it.<\/p>\n
I apologize that I’ve gone way off track from the typical The Good Sport blog but hope you’ll allow me this one if I promise to get back to the sports next week.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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