If I were to see a man strike his wife, my immediate reaction would be to support the woman and hold the man accountable. Professional sports leagues and some of their fans seem to disagree.

Growing up with two older brothers who spent their summers at baseball boot camps turned me into a New York Yankees fan. But when I became more invested in the sport, I quickly learned of one pitcher’s — Aroldis Chapman’s — dark history. Then, one pitcher became two (Domingo Germàn's story), baseball became football, and, soon enough, I was immersed in a whole different side of professional sports — the side that brushes allegations of domestic abuse under the rug. 

In 2015, Aroldis Chapman’s girlfriend, Cristina Barnea, claimed that Chapman choked her during an argument and then fired eight gun shots in his garage. The Yankees acquired Chapman shortly after this incident ruined his chance of becoming an L.A. Dodger, and he was suspended for just 30 games, which is not enough time for a person to truly change. He had no trouble continuing his career; up until last year, Chapman was widely seen as one of the best relievers in the MLB. But after the 2022 season, it seems Yankee managers and fans are no longer pleased with him. He has been traded to the Kansas City Royals, but not because of his abusive tendencies. Rather, it is more important that his pitching skill has declined and his attitude has become unsatisfactory. Perhaps missing playoff practice is more indicative of an attitude problem than choking your girlfriend is. 

In the words of Hal Steinbrenner, who co-owns the Yankees, fans should "forget" about incidents like Chapman's, because talent speaks for itself, right? Wrong. While the major leagues have business interests in training gifted athletes, they should have moral interests in training respectable athletes. Young kids, like my brothers, grow up glued to the T.V. watching their idols make amazing plays. Future generations shouldn’t learn that, as long as you score some points, it’s okay to punch your girlfriend or choke your wife or do something else that should be exactly what we teach children not to do. So, every time I hear Chapman’s name or read about his pitching statistics, I will remember Cristina Barnea. And I urge others to do the same. 

The issue of abuse from athletes is not limited to the MLB. Most notably, over 130 NFL players have been arrested for incidents of domestic violence since 2000. It’s a horrible trend, yet not much is being done to let players know there will be serious repercussions for abusing women. The Violence Against Women journal concluded that arrests for domestic violence do not, in the long run, harm a player’s career, especially if that player is seen as above average. With facts like these being released, it can seem hopeless to continue to fight for abused women to be remembered in the world of men’s sports. But it is not, and maybe now it is more important than ever to stand up and be loud. 

Attempts to hold abusive athletes accountable are not always fruitless. Most famously, Ray Rice's case showed the significance of public persistence. After sources revealed that Rice (a former running back for the Baltimore Ravens) assaulted his then-fiancèe, Janay Palmer, the Ravens faced intense criticism for only issuing a two game suspension. Public disapproval rose when TMZ leaked the full video of a particularly terrible incident and viewers saw Rice punch Palmer twice, knocking her unconscious. The Ravens reacted to the backlash accordingly and suspended Rice indefinitely. He hasn’t played in an NFL game since. Rice’s punishment is not the standard, but his situation does show how fans have a say in reprimanding players. 

It is not only a fan’s responsibility to hold these athletes accountable; major sports leagues have to try to stop trends of abuse from continuing. Scientific research has pointed to possible explanations for why domestic abuse and professional sports are so closely connected. Specifically, football players often take blows to their heads, which put them at risk for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) — possibly increasing their aggressive tendencies. More generally, the culture of professional men’s sports carries a history of applauding aggression and shaming healthy emotions. If players are taught that being aggressive on the field is essential to being a good team member, it’s reasonable to question how they will be able to suppress this aggression off the field. This is why team leaders and managers need to consistently check in on their players and make sure everyone is aware of how important it is to properly express emotions, not just through helmet slaps and harsh screams. Clubhouses and locker rooms need to become more open environments, where players who suffer the most serious body contact are watched the most closely. All of these steps combined will help sever the connection between professional sports and domestic abuse. 

In the last decade, increased media coverage of sports has prompted many important discussions about abusive athletes. In some cases, leagues have responded by creating new policies, partnerships, and programs to seemingly stand with women and all domestic abuse victims. Whether or not these steps toward change are enough is still a question, one that many women would likely answer “no” to. So, if we want professional sports to be an honorable industry, more fans need to take a step back from the enticing world of fouls and penalties to ask, “Has my favorite athlete ever punched a girl?”