Elevator Knockout Video Ends Career of Ray Rice with Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens announced via their Twitter account that they have cut Ray Rice from the team after video of his physical assault of a woman in an elevator went public.

The #Ravens have terminated RB Ray Rice's contract this afternoon.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 8, 2014

'Villagers' may recall that Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice was suspended for two games in July following an indictment for felony aggravated assault against his then-fiancée Janay Palmer, and now TMZ has published video of the incident.



In the disturbing video, Rice and Palmer — who were married in March — are seen arguing outside of an elevator in an Atlantic City casino. They each take a swing at each other before Rice punches Palmer hard with his left fist, throwing her back into a railing and knocking her out cold. The rest of the video, parts of which surfaced in February, show Rice haphazardly dragging an unconscious Palmer out of the elevator.

Twenty-seven-year-old Rice received a two-game suspension for the incident, which many protested as far too lenient. In August, in response to the backlash, the NFL announced tougher penalties for players who commit abuse or assault: six games for a first offense, and a potential lifetime ban for a second.

As for the charges, Rice entered a pretrial intervention program instead of going to jail, and completion of the program could lead to the charge being wiped from his record completely.

This was a no-brainer once you see the video. It is unlikely that Ray Rice will ever play again in the NFL. What franchise would hire this guy? I suspect we'll see him fighting women in the WWE before long...

Happy Birthday: Chris Henry (Cincinnati Bengals)

Chris Henry would have been 31 years old today. From all accounts he was turning his life around. Unfortunately, he died in a freak accident during the 2009 NFL season.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Chris Henry played for the Bengals for five seasons. Henry played at West Virginia University and joined the Bengals as a third-round draft pick in 2005.

I'm a fan of the Cincinnati Bengals. As such, I had high hopes for Chris Henry. I'm sad that he is no longer with us. However, I suspect that his story is a cautionary tale for all young athletes ... Never take your talent for granted. Never feel that you are above the law. Mostly, I think that he reminds all of us never to do things that will embarrass ourselves or our family.

All that being said ... I'm sorry that he passed away. Our blog is honored to remember the positive aspects of him memory on his birthday. Rest in peace Chris!

Wordless Wednesday: Hey Barack ... Are You Ready for Some Football?

Wordless Wednesday: Baltimore Ravens, 2013 AFC Champions

SOURCE: Sports of All Sorts Pinterest Board

Perp Walk: Chad Johnson Arrested for Domestic Violence and Fired by Miami Dolphins

My 12-year old son has a poster of Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson on the wall of his room. We live in the greater Cincinnati area and Johnson was the star of the Cincinnati Bengals for most of the years of my son's life. As such, it is with sadness that I've watched this man lose his way. Instead of working on his craft ... he tried to become a reality TV star. In fact, he married a reality TV actress, Evelyn Lozada, about a month ago.

His life decisions have been disastrous. He was arrested over the weekend for domestic violence. Johnson has been accused by his wife Evelyn of head butting her during an argument that took place over the weekend. The incident allegedly occurred during a fight over condoms that Evelyn found in Chad’s car. Evelyn was reportedly seen running to a neighbor’s house to get away from Johnson and called police from a neighbor’s phone.

When Johnson was arrested, Lozada was taken to a local hospital and treated for serious cuts to her forehead.

Now Johnson is out of the NFL. The Miami Dolphins cut him from the team and cleaned out his locker less than 24 hours after his arrest. I guess those were some very expensive condoms, huh?

Johnson should become a life lesson for many self-centered folks in sports and other industries. Focus on your craft. Develop your skills. Let your work speak for itself.

I need to buy my son a new poster. The one with Chad Johnson is being tossed in the trash.

Wordless Wednesday: Michelle Obama Says, 'Are You Ready for Some Football?'

Rise and Grind If You Have 'More Month Than Money'

Rise and Grind! I understand the anxiety that my fellow villagers are feeling as they deal with unemployment and floundering business revenue. Some people joke about the idea of having "more month than money". It ain't no joke for many of us. We're less than halfway through the month ... and we're juggling bills and delaying purchase decisions so that we can make it to the end of the month. It's Monday morning and many villagers, including myself, realize that we need to rise, hustle and grind things out.

I'm an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs need to find new clients and retain current clients. That is easier said than done in today's economic environment. However, when the sun rises today I'll begin my grustle (hustle and grind). How about you? Are you feeling any real pain from the economy?

One thing that I'm fairly sure about ... I could give a phuque about renewing the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthy. The wealthy always do well. They were doing well back when Clinton was president. So, in my view, they can handle having the same tax rates in 2011 that they had in the Clinton Administration. The GOP wants me to believe that Obama has a "Kenyan anti-colonial world view" because he wants to let the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthy expire. Heck, if the GOP was serious about those tax cuts in the first place ... why did they put the sunset date into the law when it was originally passed. They said that the tax cuts should expire in 2010 ... so let 'em expire.  Newt Gingrich wants us to believe that President Obama is a "con-man".  I guess if Republicans can believe that our president isn't an American and that he practices Islam religion ... they may fall for Gingrich's nonsense as well.

On a personal note, I want to wish my 15-year old niece a very happy birthday. Zoe turned 15 yesterday ... and she is one of the most creative youngsters that I know. I wish her nothing but love and happiness over the course of the next year.

Finally, I give praise to the New England Patriots. They ripped the hearts out of the Cincinnati Bengals yesterday with a 38-24 victory. The Bengals need to do a gut-check this week as it gets no easier next week when the Baltimore Ravens come into town.

Baltmore Ravens vs. New York Jets tonight on Monday Night Football.   I'm hoping that New York Jets can live up to their hype by putting a beat-down on the Ravens.  Who you got in tonight's game?

Sports, Obama, Running a Business and Cleaning House

Go Blue!  It is so nice to wake up on a Sunday morning with a smile on my face from the University of Michigan football game.  There was a time that the Wolverine football team embarrased me very much due to their consistently poor play.   Today, I see that their sophomore quarterback, Denard Robinson, is a legit contender for the Heisman Trophy.  Now if we could only improve our kicking game!

Today, we find out if the Cincinnati Bengals can live up to the hype.  They go on the road to play the New England Patriots and Michigan alumni Tom Brady.  I'm looking for the Cincinnati Bengals to go all the way to the Super Bowl this year.   I also want to see Cedric Benson and Tank Johnson have great seasons.  Those are the favorite players for my two youngest 'uns.  Bengals season begins today.

Cincinnati was able to give some props to Pete Rose yesterday at the Reds baseball game.   Apparently it's been 25 years since Rose became the all-time leading hits leader in major league baseball.  Of course, Rose's personal demons and character flaws have kept him in baseball's shadows for most of the past 25 years.  I know how he feels.  I feel like I've been in the shadows for the past decade.   It is difficult to regain your footing when your character flaws cause your downfall.

President Obama shouldn't need to worry about such things.  His character is strong and positive.   I have confidence that he will lead our nation out of its current economic doldrums.  I have no confidence in the likes of an old man from Kentucky (McConnell) or a tanned golfer from Ohio (Boehner) ... just as I had no confidence in McCain or the Half-Governor when they were running for the White House back in 2008.

How soon we tend to forget the spirit of hope, change and renewal that our entire nation felt when Obama was campaigning two years ago.  He's the same man.  He is still cool, calm and collected.   I just wish that he and his team would find the magic potion to reduce the unemployment rate.

I've never been to an unemployment office.  I'm an entrepreneur trying to get my consulting business on.  I've been full-time entrepreneur since July 5, 2002.   Things haven't been fly all the time ... and right now I'm at a point that I need to get very busy in order to make ends meet.   Maintaining this blog ain't bringing home many duckets ... but, I enjoy it ... so I'll keep doing it.   However, I may need to listen to Paula Mooney or some other role models out here in the blogging world that are more successful than I've been in creating a revenue stream from their web-work.

Time will tell.  For now, I'm going to sit back and enjoy my Sunday.   Hmmm, I may need to take some time to clean up my place.  There is no longer a Mrs. Villager to ensure that it gets done.   Anyhow, I'll talk at y'all again tomorrow.

Wordless Wednesday: My Young 'Un ... He May Go All The Way!

Forget the NFL ... Here is America's Top Draft Pick!

(Th)ink by Keith Knight: Not Feeling the Rush

(Th)ink is an editorial cartoon written and drawnby cartoonist Keith Knight (the K Chronicles).

Rush Limbaugh Kicked Out of NFL Ownership Bid

Professional sports has always served to unite Americans across class, creed and race. On the other hand, Rush Limbaugh has built his career by dividing Americans precisely along those lines. Frankly, Limbaugh is a racist and a chauvinist. Limbaugh's values are diametrically opposed to the traditions the NFL and he would poison professional football as he has poisoned the culture of American political discourse.




This blog stood with former and current NFL players who urged the league to reject Limbaugh's ownership bid.

It turns out that public pressure was enough to do the job ... Limbaugh has been dropped from the ownership group. Limbaugh was to be a limited partner in a group headed by St. Louis Blues chairman Dave Checketts. Checketts said that Limbaugh's participation had become a complication in the group's efforts and the bid will move forward without him.

Are you glad that Rush was banned from NFL ownership?

Khalis Scores!

What is the point of owning your own blog if you can't puff out your chest when your children do good? The following two video clips are just a few seconds long ... but, I wanted to share them in this village for posterity.








It is amazing how invested you can get into a 4th grade football team! My thanks to a fellow Outlaw parent, Bill Kurtz, for providing me with these video clips!