"Shocking Video!!!" These are the words New York Post sportswriter Phil Mushnick exclaimed in his most recent column, "Ray Rice, Ray Lewis and the Absurdity of NFL Law Breakers". By those words, any football fan or person who watches the news knows that Mushnick is referring to the recently exposed video of Ray Rice, the Baltimore Raven's renown runningback, brutally punching his at-the-time fiance. However, what's interesting about this article is that it doesn't hover over the topic of Ray Rice, a highly debated and discussed topic at this moment, but it focuses on the NFL and society's reactions to these "troublemakers". Mushnick effectively conveyed the idea to his audience, those who follow the NFL, that the NFL and society celebrates and praises its "troublemakers" to the extend that the NFL is becoming a less and less dignified organization.
Now, if Mushnick based his claim purely on Ray Rice's situation, it would be baseless because the NFL is not praising Ray Rice; in fact, the Ravens just cut him and the NFL put an indefinite suspension on him. However, for Mushnick, Rice was just the inspiration, and introduction, to his position. Mushnick seamlessly transitions into the "forgotten" past of the NFL and reminds his audience of Ray Lewis', Raven's MVP linebacker that retired last year, very similar situation. In 2000, Lewis was charged of murder of two men through stabbing. He served one year under probation and was fined 250,000.
What Mushnick thinks is absurd is that Lewis is now an ESPN commentator and that the Ravens have put a statue of Lewis in front of their stadium. It was as if the whole world forgot about his past. Also, when Lewis was talking about the Rice situation, Mushnick responded by saying, "So Ray Lewis, now with ESPN and with six children from four women, appears on national TV to provide his sage opinion on matters of social responsibility and comportment by NFL players." Mushnick lets his audience deduce that the world is somewhat backwards when those, "who should be disqualified are jumped to the front of the “qualified” line".
What makes Mushnick's delivery even more effective is his great tone and spread of sarcasm. As a sportswriter, he is ought to know much about football and the NFL, and as he speaks, its easy to hear the passion. I would compare his tone to the tone that someone has when something ridiculous happens to him and he doesn't know how to respond to it, a combination of occasional bursts of anger and occasional laughs of disbelief. This contributes to his pathos, for his audience can understand the passion that people who follow football have and how sometimes, the things the NFL does can drive one crazy.
Now, if Mushnick based his claim purely on Ray Rice's situation, it would be baseless because the NFL is not praising Ray Rice; in fact, the Ravens just cut him and the NFL put an indefinite suspension on him. However, for Mushnick, Rice was just the inspiration, and introduction, to his position. Mushnick seamlessly transitions into the "forgotten" past of the NFL and reminds his audience of Ray Lewis', Raven's MVP linebacker that retired last year, very similar situation. In 2000, Lewis was charged of murder of two men through stabbing. He served one year under probation and was fined 250,000.
What Mushnick thinks is absurd is that Lewis is now an ESPN commentator and that the Ravens have put a statue of Lewis in front of their stadium. It was as if the whole world forgot about his past. Also, when Lewis was talking about the Rice situation, Mushnick responded by saying, "So Ray Lewis, now with ESPN and with six children from four women, appears on national TV to provide his sage opinion on matters of social responsibility and comportment by NFL players." Mushnick lets his audience deduce that the world is somewhat backwards when those, "who should be disqualified are jumped to the front of the “qualified” line".
What makes Mushnick's delivery even more effective is his great tone and spread of sarcasm. As a sportswriter, he is ought to know much about football and the NFL, and as he speaks, its easy to hear the passion. I would compare his tone to the tone that someone has when something ridiculous happens to him and he doesn't know how to respond to it, a combination of occasional bursts of anger and occasional laughs of disbelief. This contributes to his pathos, for his audience can understand the passion that people who follow football have and how sometimes, the things the NFL does can drive one crazy.
the Raven's two "troublemakers"
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