Fifa World Cup Protest

Missouri Protest

Current Event: Greg Hardy

Greg Hardy, former Carolina Panther and current Dallas Cowboy, has brought up a lot of controversy this past week.  Back in the month of May, 2014, Hardy had severely beaten and threat to kill his ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder.  Holder was pressing charges on Hardy until Hardy paid her off and the charges were dropped.  This past week, pictures of Hardy's ex-girlfriend, bruised and beaten, had emerged.  Although the charges took place more than a year ago, the pictures have sparked up the controversy.  Hardy had only ever received a 10 game suspension of the 2015 NFL season, which was then reduced to 4 games after an appeal.

The NFL seems to be refusing to ban Hardy for life.  They act as if what he did is not horrific and terrible but a freak accident or something that can be overlooked.  The fact that this man is still playing football and not in prison is a question that can not be responded with a solid answer.  Its hard to understand the difference between Ray Rice and Greg Hardy's cases.  They were both charged with domestic violence but only Hardy is playing football.

I think that if Greg Hardy is to continue playing football the Dallas Cowboys should make him go through therapy.  They need to teach not only him, but the NFL fan base that what he did is unacceptable.  It would also make a good example out of him. Not only would going through therapy be embarrassing and humiliating, but it could teach him how to be a good boyfriend, future husband, and future father.  Most likely, a kid will be being raised by him one day and I don't think he is fit for that as of now.  Domestic violence is not something that should be messed around with and should be taken a whole lot more serious.

Artificial turf fields - Crumb Rubber harmful?

Athletes from all sports are familiar with turf fields.  At this day in age, I have even played on a turf baseball field.  These turf fields are made of crumb rubber.  Crumb rubber is car and truck tires shredded down to fill in the space between the artificial grass and the surface of the field.  There is many health concerns with these new turf fields.  One of them is heat.  On a hot summer day, the crumb rubber spread all over the field can absorb and reflect heat.  Temperatures taken 3-4 feet above the surface of the field have been measured to be, on some days, 130-140 degrees Fahrenheit.  That is right at the height of a child that may be playing on the field.  This heat is not only harmful to a full grown person, but to a kid it could be deadly.

Another health hazard that comes from these fields is the risk of cancer.  There is a direct link between soccer goalies and cancer.  The small black pebbles we call crumb rubber is to blame for the cancer patients.  As a soccer goalie, you are rolling around and sliding on the turf the most.  I know from my very little experience as a soccer goalie, that when playing on turf, the turf crumb gets everywhere.  I can remember getting in the car after a game and while getting out seeing all the crumb that has been stuck to me left behind.  Although there is no real scientific evidence that suggest that turf crumb causes cancer, there is a direct link between soccer goalies playing on turf and cancer.  Cancer is not something that should be messed around with.  Athletes need to open their eyes and realize these beautiful fields are causing them harm.

If you are interested into looking into this more:
Health Hazards of Artificial Turf Crumb Rubber Playing Fields

Does Artificial Turf CRUMB RUBBER Cause CANCER? - Lawrence O’Donnell