Well… I just got done watching one of the most uncomfortable press conferences I’ve ever seen.
For the first time since being arrested in an Atlantic City casino for assaulting his then fiancee (now wife), Janay Palmer, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice spoke to the media about the “incident”. The press conference was emotional, Rice choked up several times throughout, but I can’t say it’ll improve his tarnished image.
Rice started by apologizing to Steve Bisciotti, Ozzie Newsome, John Harbaugh, to his fans and “the kids”. Oddly omitted from that list: his wife.
Ray Rice: "I want to apologize to Steve Bisciotti, Ozzie Newsome, and coach Harbaugh. I also want to apologize to my fans, to the kids."
— Luke Jones (@BaltimoreLuke) May 23, 2014
#RayRice never apologizes to wife during media conference, but says they wish they could take back 30 seconds of their life.
— Jessica Kartalija (@JessicaWJZ) May 23, 2014
Rice paused several times throughout the interview, scrolling throw notes he had written in his iPhone. He had since mid-February to prepare for this press conference.
The press conference concluded with Janay apologizing for her “role” in the “incident”, which wasn’t well received by some in the national media.
Blaming the victim. For shame. “@Ravens: Janay Rice says she deeply regrets the role that she played the night of the incident.”
— keithlaw (@keithlaw) May 23, 2014
I remember when victim blaming was something we did on sandlots, for fun. Now it's all official-like and corporate. @Ravens
— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) May 23, 2014
Now Ray Rice is making his wife apologize for her "role" in the incident.
— ryan van bibber (@justRVB) May 23, 2014
Ray Rice made his wife apologize for her "role" in this: https://t.co/eu3pe0JiMC
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) May 23, 2014
He continued to say that he wasn’t a failure and will work his way back up. He thanked his friends, family and agent.
Bizarrely, Ray Rice is thanking his friends and family in an Oscar-style speech at a press conference about how he beat up his wife.
— David P. Woods (@davidpwoods) May 23, 2014
The shame of it is he’ll get a standing ovation like some kind of conquering hero who overcame adversity when he returns to the field. The Lil Fella should be ashamed of himself.
MG…it’s the double standard and me first disposition of professional athletes that society creates. We put them on a pedestal, they are powerful on the field and rich off of it. IF they do not get their way, often times they assure their will through physicality. Definitely wrong but until an owner does the right thing at the expense of the team and fan base, nothing will change.
You guys are correct , this team is a cross section of society so a large number of them will turn out to be criminals or criminal like,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Rice is a joke and should be let go , however , the salary cap will not allow it at the present time,,,,actually Steve will save a few dollars from his suspension,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
I think Rice should be put on a pedestal…at least then he might hit 5’9