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On Friday, the MLB placed Cubs player Addison Russell on administrative leave due to allegations of spousal abuse. Before arriving at the events of Thursday and Friday, let's remember everything that was said.
The situation has been developing for more than a year.
In 2017, Addison Russell was charged with spousal abuse when his wife, Melisa Reidy, posted a photo on Instagram and one of her friends commented on the post accusing Russell of mentally and physically abusing his wife. The league investigated the claims, and he sat out of a match or two, but after Melisa refused to participate in the investigation, no suspension was pronounced. . The investigation remained open, but the league did not comment further. Even Joe Maddon Cubs' manager did not know that he was still active.
Shortly after, she filed for divorce. Then, on September 19, Reidy posted a long blog post detailing the years of physical and emotional abuse suffered by her ex-husband.
This includes details such as emotional and verbal abuse being "a daily thing", that Russell was cheating on her with several women, how she thought something was wrong with her and that she "was losing the center completely. of life "because of depression. She added that he had put his hand on her in front of their young son and that there were times when she "could not see the light at the end of the tunnel". for night terrors to stop, not to have panic attacks three times a week, to look in the mirror and not to feel worthless.
It's a dreadful and breathtaking list of events that no one will ever have to experience.
Melisa Reidy's courage in displaying it, knowing that once again she would be heavily scrutinized, insulted and questioned, is astonishing. I am proud of his bravery and I can not understand the strength it takes to do such a thing publicly.
Russell was placed on administrative leave on September 21 and MLB said in a statement:
"Major League Baseball takes all allegations of domestic violence seriously. When the allegations against Addison Russell were made public on June 7, 2017, the Investigations Department of the Commissioner's Office immediately opened an investigation. Melisa Russell declined to participate in the investigation at that time. Our investigation of this issue has remained open and we have continued our efforts to gather information.
"With the new details revealed in today's blog post by Ms. Russell, Mr. Russell has been placed on administrative leave in accordance with the MLB-MLBPA Joint Domestic Violence Policy. We hope that this new information will allow us to complete the investigation as quickly as possible. "
Russell has also issued a statement through the Players Association, saying:
"These allegations are completely false. Last year, I said that clearly to Major League Baseball and I repeated it to the Cubs today. I am confident that any full and fair investigation will allow me to exonerate. The protection of my children is paramount in my mind, so I will have no other comment.
GM Cubs Theo Epstein circumvented the situation saying, "I would say I know him in a baseball context" when asked what Russell's character is. Cubs player Anthony Rizzo less wisely said that he had not read the message but "I guess the investigation is still going on, which is crazy because it's been over a year now, right? I guess someone does not do very well its investigative work.
As a result of these published details, the online charges included that it was not legitimate because she posted it on her. blog rather than filing a police report, the timing the post of attentionand looking for attention now that she is not married to a professional athlete. As is common in many cases of this nature, are calls at hear both sides to make sure it's an accurate report or that it's not credible because it has waited so long to come forward instead of cooperating with last year's investigation.
Here's the thing – Melisa Reidy owes no one her promptitude.
She does not need to work on a championship or team or fan base schedule to believe it. She does not need to explain to anyone if she has been slow to come forward this way because she feared for her safety or if she just needed time to properly face this. that she had lived.
But what do you know? This does not matter. It does not matter if she has published this account of her experiences the day after their event, the week she filed for divorce, five years from now. As we have unfortunately seen almost constantly in the news cycle, the time that elapses between the aggression or abuse committed by a woman and her public statements about these abuses is likely to be lacking. . Subsequent reasons are assigned. Insults are stolen.
Recovery after abuse does not work in a logical or timely manner. Melisa Reidy's stories of her marriage to Russell are horrible and heartbreaking, and they are no less so because we read them after her official departure.
The response to Reidy's demands does not allow other women to feel better in a similar situation, nor to give them the assurance that if they leave, they will be supported in the public eye. Words and reactions echo externally, are noticed by victims, and it is important to know how those in power take a stand on these claims and react. If they see such a force confronted with nothing but doubt and vitriol, it is unlikely that others will leave. It's as true in sport as in politics, in business or in a small neighborhood.
The Cubs, as an organization, have a decent face on Friday, give or take Quotes from players. The front office said all the good things … for now.
But we have to wonder if they did anything last year that contributed to Reidy's decision not to speak to the league at that time, beyond his desire to reach a resolution. fast for her and her son. Ask what they or the league could have done to support her during the investigation, whether she wanted to cooperate or not at the time. If the story of the Cubs who used and harassed domestic abusers like Aroldis Chapman (who won a global series with Chicago in 2016) contributed to Reidy's reluctance to share his experiences with the organization or the league.
One wonders if the league could have done more to assure her that she would remain with her after the conclusion of the investigation, that they would use their considerable resources to ensure that she and her son were protected and supported. It was made clear to him that they would continue to investigate Russell whether he cooperated or not (as it absolutely should) and that it was not entirely his burden to revive his trauma so that a private company can make a decision their employees.
And even if all this happened in 2017 … it does not matter.
Reidy's schedule does not matter in this situation. Because that's exactly it: his. What matters is that her words are gaining weight, that now that she has shared her experiences, Russell's so-called actions can be re-examined and fully informed decisions can be made about her future in baseball.
If Reidy is heard, and the reaction of the league and the team of the future is that even a victim of abuse feels more comfortable and supports the future, it will be a step in the right direction. direction. If only we do not revive the same small, endless steps.
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