Strongside |
07-10-2018 10:32 AM |
As for the comments revolving around "Well, why stay with him if he was abusive?"...that's a common theme among abusive relationships. Both for men and women, physically and mentally.
In the case of these NFL players, I've seen it personally. A former Chiefs player, who I won't name here, and who has a great public reputation, dated my wife's best friend for 2 years. I have known this girl since she was 12. She's like a sister. Things started out great. Over time he became emotionally and mentally abusive, and eventually things got physically violent.
She would leave for a week or so, and eventually, go right back. When you come from a small town and poverty, a big shot former NFL star with a giant Leawood house that buys you handbags, jewelry, cars, and takes you on trips all over the world is hard to say no to. I think it got easy for her to justify him beating the shit out of her with thoughts like "This is my fault" and "He loves me. It's just the drugs" or "He'll change, I love him too much to let it go."
Of course I never understood this behavior and even reported him to the police myself, on three separate occasions. Nothing was ever done. She even denied the events to the police herself at one point, out of fear.
My wife and I pleaded with her to report this piece of shit to the police or to go public, but the most she ever did, in the end, was file a restraining order.
I grew up cheering for this guy, but that whole experience taught me that, when it comes to any public figure, you just never truly know a person behind closed doors. This dude was cool as shit to me. I golfed with the guy. Barbecued with the guy. Hung out at his house. Had him over for dinner. Now I get angry at the mention of his name.
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