Pros and Cons (42 page)

COMPARISON WITH U.S. POPULATION RATES

These estimates of assault arrest rates for the NFL population provide a basis for comparison with the arrest rates for assault in the U.S. population. To do that, we use the data in the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), published annually by the FBI. The UCR reports do not categorize arrest rates by domestic violence or non-domestic assault, but rather as “aggravated assault” (the more serious kind) and “simple (or other) assault.” In 1996, the FBI estimates that there were a total of 521,570 arrests for aggravated assault and 1,329,000 arrests for other assaults, for a total of 1,850,570 assaults. These numbers are not partitioned by age, race, or sex, but the UCR does report number of arrests recorded for each of these aspects by reporting police departments (representing about 70 percent of the U.S. population in 1996). By scaling

up these reports to represent the full U.S. population, and by taking account of the gender (80.4 percent male) and race (36.8 percent black and 63.2 percent white among the whites and blacks) distribution for all assaults, we estimate that in 1996, there were 18,816 assaults by twenty-year-old black males and 32,314 by twenty-year-old white males. Dividing these by the Census Bureau estimates that the U.S. population in 1996 had 269,199 black twenty-year-old males and 1,463,139 white twenty-year-old males, we estimate that the arrest rate for assault in the general population of twenty-year-old males is 6,990 per 100,000 for black males and 2,209 (just over 2 percent) for white males. The rates will be very similar for the other ages in the NFL sample. Thus when we compare these rates with those calculated in the previous section for the NFL sample we find that the arrest rates for assaults for blacks and whites in the NFL sample are just below half the rates of their counterparts in the general U.S. population.

DISCUSSION

The previous analysis compared the assault arrest rate for NFL players with that of young males in the U.S., controlling only for race. There must be questions about gaps in the data about very visible football players, both in their college days as well as in their professional careers. Do they attract an undue amount of taunting, leading to violent response? Do they attract greater police attention, leading to arrest? Or does their local hero status insulate them from arrest compared to the general population?

There are also questions about the appropriate comparison group. Some suggest that individuals of a similar age earning comparable income (say, an average of at least $200,000 per year) are the appropriate comparison group. But folks in this income bracket who have completed four years of college would tend to be corporate executives or professionals, undoubtedly of a very different socioeconomic status, and much more likely to be exemplars of traditional antiviolence middle-class norms. Thus, even if the data were available for such a group—which it is not—comparison with them seems less than appropriate.

There are still further questions about the appropriate level of violence. Some would suggest that NFL players should carry a strong burden of being role models for young men and guys, and should display assault rates much less than half that of their racial counterparts in the general population. This book ands these analyses provide some information for addresssing those issues.

Source Notes

Authors’ Note

Interviews with Professor Alfred Blumstein, NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello, and J.R. Mastroianni.

1

Crime Pays

“an organ donor” Interview with Sara Boyd, December 6, 1997.

“I know he heard me.” Ibid.

“Bryan Boyd was beaten” Offense/Incident Report, May 11, 1996.

assaulted him the previous year Confidentiality agreement signed June 10, 1996.

compensation for medical injuries Copy of personal check dated May 28, 1996.

“beat up last Thanksgiving?” Offense/Incident Report, May 11, 1996.

“a worse assault” Interview with Sara Boyd, January 20, 1998.

run over by a car Police photographs viewed by the authors.

“This kid is dying.” Interview with Sara Boyd, December 6, 1997.

permanent brain damage Crist, p. 2

death or serious bodily injury Indictment No. 0623388, May 11, 1996.

“run its course” Moran, p. 1

“that’s a positive” Blackistone, p. C1.

“this guy does” Ibid.

“re-enter the league” Domowitch, p. 75.

“A player has rights too.” Brubaker, “Violence Follows Some,” p. 1.

“is unusual?” Interview with Greg Aiello, February 1998.

“in the right places” Interview with William Bennett, April 24, 1998.

2

Crimes and Punishments

“Start out with a problem” Interview with Dan Reeves, February 26, 1998.

“around the apartment” Fulton County Police Report, March 19, 1997.

“not have those situations” Interview with Dan Reeves, February 26, 1998.

criminal trespass in 1989 Case No. 103,520, Galveston County, Texas, June 9, 1990.

“lives have changed” Interview with Dan Reeves, February 26, 1998.

“kill them too” Fulton County Police Report, April 16, 1997.

“their home before” Interview with Jean Nettuno, November 19, 1997.

“on our football team” Interview with Dan Reeves, February 26, 1998.

“good for him too” Ibid.

“than anything else” Interview with Ian Greengross, March 6, 1998.

“unlawful imprisonment” General Offense Report, Buffalo Police Department, May 19, 1997.

“take its course” Interview with Dan Reeves, February 26, 1998.

September 9, 1997 Transcript of Record, Docket No. 97M-18574,City Court of the County of Erie, New York, March 2, 1998.

“the latter’s consent” New York Penal Law, Sec. 130.20, p. 27.

“take any action” Interview with Dan Reeves, February 26, 1998.

“what to do” Associated Press, September 10, 1997.

“Cornelius had told me” Interview with Dan Reeves, February 26, 1998.

“by the commissioner” Associated Press, “Reeves,” September 10, 1997.

“incident was concerned” Interview with Dan Reeves, February 26, 1998.

“clothes, which I did” Supporting Deposition, Buffalo Police Department, September 4, 1997.

“deviate sexual intercourse” New York Penal Law, Sec. 130.50, p. 57.

“and the penis” Ibid., p. 58.

“asked to do so” General Offense Report, May 19, 1997.

“pain and lacerations” Information, State of New York v. Cornelius Bennett, September 4, 1997.

line drawn through them Ibid.

“following the attack” Police Case Log, attached to General Offense Report, May 19, 1997.

“that night altogether” Associated Press, “Bennett Sentenced,” February 26, 1998.

“but in Atlanta”
Daily News,
March 3, 1998.

“the same sentence” Interview with Judge Robert T. Russell, March 5, 1998.

up to the league” Interview with Dan Reeves, February 26, 1998.

two-month-old daughter
Today,
May 1, 1998.

guilty to battery Final Disposition, State of Georgia v. Patrick James Bates, Case No. 292765, April 2, 1998.

with the Oakland Raiders “Raiders Sign Free Agents,” Raiders. com., May 18, 1998.

3

Risky Business

battery against his wife Complaint, State of Kansas v. Timothy A. Barnett, Case No. K-70550, March 23, 1992.

disorderly conduct Journal Entry, State of Kansas v. Timothy A. Barnett, June 25, 1992.

Colt Python handgun Complaint, State of Kansas v. Timothy A. Barnett, Case No. 93CR1741, June 5, 1993.

wide receiver to jail Journal Entry, State of Kansas v. Timothy A. Barnett, January 4, 1994.

“the playoffs Saturday” Rizzo, p. D3.

“comfortable with that” Ibid.

“breaking the law” Ibid.

“rest of the season” Ibid.

“the toast of the town” Pulliam, “Barnett Makes Most,” p. C1O.

“Do you want any service?” Transcript from Preliminary Hearing, State of Wisconsin v. Timothy A. Barnett, Case No. F-942749, August 8, 1994.

“Aint nobody been in this?” Criminal Complaint, State of Wisconsin v. Timothy A. Barnett, July 28, 1994.

“me started hurting” Transcript from Preliminary Hearing, August 8, 1994.

“team at this time” Pulliam, “Receiver Barnett Released,” p. D7.

three years in prison Disposition and Sentencing, State of Wisconsin v. Timothy A. Barnett, August 22, 1995.

4

Born Again

“going to be a criminal” Carter, p. C1.

“records as juveniles” Interview with Linda Szymanski, February 6, 1998.

“particularly inner cities” Interview with Roger Headrick, February 16, 1996.

“each case individually” Interview with Leigh Steinberg, October 1997.

Sexually molesting her Almond, p. C10.

“sparse at best” Interview with Vicki Francies-Siedow, March 10, 1998.

“for selling narcotics” Allen, p. C1.

“That is poor information.” Archer

“needed to help him” Interview with Al Roberts, February 19, 1998.

Times
article Archer, “First Day No Picnic,” p. C1.

“push it too far” Interview with Todd Archer, February 6, 1998.

“place to be” Ibid.

“drug-related stuff lately” Interview with Al Roberts, February 19, 1998.

he pleaded guilty Statement of Defendant on Plea of Guilty, City of Seattle v. Corey James Dillon, Case No. 197842, July 11, 1994.

violating the law Criminal Complaint, City of Seattle v. Corey James Dillon, Case No. 202034, June 14, 1994.

malicious mischief First Amended Information, State of Washington v. Corey James Dillon, Case No. 92-8-05904-7.

“that’s what I thought” Letter dated June 9, 1992, contained in Superior Court criminal file.

owner of the car Order of Disposition Information, State of Washington v. Corey James Dillon, Case No. 92-8-05904-7, December 8, 1992.

between 1987 and 1992 Information accessed via computerized docket sheet listing at Juvenile Court in Seattle.

“to wit: cocaine” Information, State of Washington v. Corey James Dillon, Case No. S8236, February 13, 1989.

a rock of cocaine Certification for Determination of Probable Cause, contained in criminal case file on microfiche.

young men’s underwear Ibid.

drugs or alcohol Abstract of Court Record, January 19, 1990.

in state prison Interview with Dan Donohoe, January 15, 1998.

“serious physical injury” Information, State of Washington v. Corey James Dillon, Case No. 90-8-00227-8.

from arresting him Information, State of Washington v. Corey James Dillon, Case No. 90-8-04982-7.

“Was he around it? Yes.” Interview with Al Roberts, February 19, 1998.

a police cruiser Incident Report, Seattle Police Department, No. 94-227802, May 21, 1994.

assault and obstruction Statement of Defendant on Plea of Guilty, No. 197842, July 11, 1994.

“’hood doing this” Interview with Al Roberts, February 19, 1998.

“cool with me now” Allen, p. C1.

second-story window Interview with Al Roberts, February 19, 1998.

“an office assistant” Letter by F. James Gush contained in criminal case file located at Municipal Court in Seattle.

on March 23, 1992 Information, State of Washington v. Corey James Dillon, Case No. 92-8-03379-0.

graduate from college NCAA Report, 1995.

“prior to Corey Dillon” Interview with Al Roberts, February 19, 1998.

a suspended license Birkland, p. C1.

“whole nine yards” Queenan, p. C1.

“Dillon pleaded guilty” Associated Press, “Bengals Running Back to Serve One Day in Jail,” June 4, 1998.

5

Arrested Development

“take care of him” Freeman, p. 5

“meeting in Texas” Affidavit of Art Modell, October 9, 1997.

“Talk about brazen.” Interview with Ray Sumrow, October 29, 1997.

certainly different” Interview with Ray Sumrow, September 16, 1997.

with public appeal Interview with Joyce Trent Morgan, manager of business affairs at Disney, November 12, 1997.

checked in on March 17 Receipt from Radisson Resort dated March 17, 1996, obtained by the authors.

four-day stay Southwestern Bell Telephone Company records dated April 4, 1996, obtained by the authors.

“of such individuals?” Interview with Ray Sumrow, December 6, 1997.

without police resistance Fainaru, p. 12.

task force in the state Records titled “Drugs Seized by NADITF” provided to the authors by the drug task force.

“the Pittsburgh Steelers” Interview with Mark Spears, December 3, 1997.

“on the highway” Interview with John Davila, December 3, 1997.

“do, quite often” Interview with Ray Sumrow, September 16, 1997.

in the Super Bowl Arrest Report, Duane Julius Thomas, January 30, 1972.

“never cashed it” Interview with Ray Sumrow, September 16, 1997.

cover of
Illustrated
“A Cowboy Stampede,”
Illustrated,
January 24, 1972.

“felony in Texas” Interview with Ray Sumrow, September 16, 1997.

twenty-one days after his arrest Criminal Disposition Report, Duane Julius Thomas, Case No. 10,534.

“the Dallas Cowboys” Interview with Ray Sumrow, September 16, 1997.

“who they had stopped” Interview with Jay Ethington, October 23, 1997.

“in a man’s body” Interview with Ray Sumrow, December 6, 1997.

“in the Super Bowl” Interview with Jay Ethington, December 4, 1997.

“they’re on the inside” Interview with Ray Sumrow, December 6, 1997.

“all you found?” Interview with Mark Spears, December 3, 1997.

“the amount he had” Interview with Ray Sumrow, September 16, 1997.

immediately in jail Ibid.

“things are tough” Interview with Dan Rooney, November 6, 1997.

regular marijuana user Interview with Mark Spears, December 3, 1997.

career at Texas Tech Pre-Sentence Investigation Report on file at Rockwall County District Attorney’s Office.