“There is a certain criminal element in every aspect of society. Apparently, we have it in the NFL, too.” said coach Steelers coach Chuck Noll to the media In the 1976 season opener. George Atkinson, the defensive back for the Oakland Raiders, had delivered a concussive hit that resulted in a concussion to Lynn Swann, the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ receiver. NFL, like many other games, occasionally veers towards violence within the structural framework of a rulebook.

A recent incident of unreasonable violence that occurred in Atlanta has gained much ground, attracting outrage from millions. Former defensive end and popular television host, Marcellus Wiley shares his view on the same on his social media handle, chancing numerous fan reactions. 

“Abuse of Power”: The Atlanta high school case

A video of a coach shouting and alternatively hitting a player went viral during Saturday’s football game between Benjamin E. Mays High School and Douglas County High School in Atlanta. The football match was being aired live on a local station, Peachtree TV, and the broadcast captured a Benjamin E. Mays ‘lay coach’, hitting one of his players in the stomach on the sideline. The player seemed to recoil post-impact. 

The ‘lay coach’ or community coach, who is neither employed at the school nor holds any certification, was later identified as Carl Sledge. He was later arrested on battery charges as a result of the physical altercation. 

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Atlanta Public Schools informed USA Today that, “a lay coach for Mays High School, who is not a classroom instructor, was taken into police custody after an incident that occurred on the sideline during the school’s game Saturday afternoon against Douglas County High School,” after the live broadcast of the game showed him, “ physically assaulting a player.”

The incident took place towards the end of the first quarter where Benjamin E. Mays High School was leading 12-0 over Douglas County. Benjamin E. Mays High School, however, lost to Douglas County 48-42.

“We had way worse done to us”: Millions share similar reactions

The video has been doing its rounds on social media ever since it was first captured. Millions of people, celebrities included have reposted the same or shared their response, Marcellus Wiley included. The former defensive end popular sports television host reposted the video on his Instagram captioning it, “Is thissss what we’re doing now?!?”

Two-time Super Bowl champ James Harrison commented, “Where the other headline? Dad arrest for assault on high school coach?”

Chicago Bears tight end Marcedes Lewis commented, “Trust it’ll be 21 jump st after that.” American sports journalist Jemele J. Hill said, ”What struck me most about this other than the obvious, is the viciousness — the intent to not just physically punish but to humiliate. The other kids didn’t even react, which leads me to believe that he’s done just or bad or worse when fewer people are around.”

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Others reacted by calling out the coach’s abuse of power, “Idc if coaches punched players back in the day, it should never be ok for a grown man to do that,” while someone said, “That’s all he did? We had way worse done to us.” drawing attention to how this had been a normative behavior amongst coaches: “Coaches must teach, educate and instruct… do less yelling… but damn son suck it up,” a user said.

It is interesting to see the condemnation of an act that attracts billions of viewers if carried out by authorized individuals within the framework of rules on a court, as pointed out rightly by a fan, “ …talking about how vicious a gut punch is in a violent sport.”

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