Deadspin posted a highlight reel of ESPN’s various anchors and analysts defending the NFL’s iron fist coming down on Ray Rice and suspending him two games. Not among those anchors was Michelle Beadle of SportsNation, who stood up and finally said what every sane person was thinking.
Today has been disgusting. It’s been disgusting since the moment I woke up and saw the news. It’s been disgusting since I’ve seen the people reacting to it. ‘Well, they made up.’ ‘Well, she seems to have gotten over it.’ ‘They got married.’ I don’t know her, I don’t need to know her. I hope they’re not raising a little girl together, that’s the number one thing I want to say about it. Whether they got married or not, the bottom line is that she doesn’t work for the NFL. He works for the NFL. And that punishment, when I know that this other kid is out for a season, another guy is out for four games because he took some sort of fertility drug that his doctor approved of, we’ve got to talk about Michael Sam for two days because some idiot said something stupid about that. And this guy gets off with what I saw coming out of that elevator for two games. What a joke.
Beadle also took to Twitter to criticize comments that Stephen A. Smith made on First Take.
So I was just forced to watch this morning's First Take. A) I'll never feel clean again B) I'm now aware that I can provoke my own beating.
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) July 25, 2014
I'm thinking about wearing a miniskirt this weekend…I'd hate to think what I'd be asking for by doing so @stephenasmith. #dontprovoke
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) July 25, 2014
I was in an abusive relationship once. I'm aware that men & women can both be the abuser. To spread a message that we not 'provoke' is wrong
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) July 25, 2014
Violence isn't the victim's issue. It's the abuser's. To insinuate otherwise is irresponsible and disgusting. Walk. Away.
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) July 25, 2014
Yesterday, Ravens play-by-play voice Gerry Sandusky tweeted about the “mixed reviews” that Rice’s suspension received.
Rice suspension getting mixed reviews. Keep in mind Rice and his wife Janay both met with NFL commissioner before he decided on suspension.
— Gerry Sandusky (@GerrySandusky) July 24, 2014
At the time, most thought that Sandusky was the only person seeing any reviews that weren’t entirely negative. I guess we were all wrong.
What a freaking joke! Guy beats the shit out of his, then, girlfriend and gets a 2 game suspension! Should have been a year at least!
Can’t wait for the Ravens fans, of which I am a diehard one, come out and stand up for Rice.
No man should hit a woman, even if it’s Rosie O’Donnell…
Agreed 100% Ravens2488. Absolutely no reason to ever hit a woman. Rice’s punk ass needs to not only stay off the field, but needs to be placed in a jailcell so someone bigger than he is can beat his ass. Like the little touch of “even if it’s Rosie O’Donnell…” thanks for that laugh! But in all seriousness, you are right- No reason for it ever!
Ray, what a MAN you are.