Quote:
Originally posted by widgeon13
Why is it that the local DA is not filing felony assault charges, what is wrong with our syytem that precludes this from happening. I just don't understand the difference in circumstances between the stadium turf and the turf of some dark alley in some city across this country. Can someone give me an explanation of what the difference is?
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The victim has not filed a criminal complaint.
Anyway, do we really want contact sports to become criminalized? Local DAs (who can be publicity-seeking, remember) prosecuting players after hockey high-sticks, baseball brawls, football spears, NASCAR shuntings and post-race sluggings, etc?
Sure, you can say this particular incident was clearly over the line, clearly not part of the game. But then you're giving local law enforcement an invitation to decide where they'll draw "the line" and maybe you won't like where they draw it.
This kind of incident in pro sports (severe injury from deliberate attack) is pretty rare (try to come up with more than one or two incidents per year).
I think, better to pressure the leagues to handle it. Here, a five-game suspension seems like not enough - ban for the rest of the season and released from his contract should be more like it.