32. Could Rutgers Coach Mike Rice Be Arrested For Assaulting His Players?

http://www.slate.com/blogs/crime/2013/04/03/mike_rice_rutgers_could_the_basketball_coach_be_arrested_for_assault.html

On April 3rd, Justin Peters wrote for Slate Magazine, an article regarding the violent actions of Rutgers' men's basketball coach, Mike Rice. The article started with the expected firing of the coach, followed by a video that the ESPN's Outside the Lines posted a few days ago. The next paragraph described Mike's behavior "to verge on criminal assult," and this can be understood by the audience who, most likely, will have watched the video before reading on the article. Peters then, concluded the paragraph by asking, "Could Mike Rice be held criminally liable for assulting his players?" It is likely that, after having watched the video, most people would probably respond to the question with a yes. However, Peters infomed the audience about how using "violence" as a means of coaching was sometimes good because it was a "motivational technique." From personal experience, Peters recalled back to his athlete days and talked about how being unexpectedly kicked in the helmets kept him and this teammates alert and focused. Despite the fact that it is rare for coaches to be reported and arrested for aggressive or even violent coaching, the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice qualified Rice's acts to be "simple assult." However, it would be "hard to presecute Mike" because the issue would have to have started with a complaint about a recent action. In addition, the video itself would not be considered as enough proof to testify against Rice. Following this argument, Peter alluded to a February incident, in which a police officer was charged for buffeting a civilian in a parade. The judge responsible for the case concluded that the video itself was not compelling enough since, according to a forensic video analyst, "technology in most cases does not record enough images to exactly replicate reality." In the final paragraph, Peters concluded that though Rice would not be charged subject, he would most likely not be hired as a coach for some time.

The author, Justin Peters, used several strategies and rhetorical devices throughout the article to effectively achieve his purpose. His purpose was to inform his audience, most likely college athletes and coaches, whether Rice would be held responsible for his violent actions towards his players. He was effective in his use of videos, which allowed readers to witness how bad Rice's behavior was and also to understand what he meant in the following paragraph. Despite his critical and informal diction, he used a conversational tone, evident in the question and opinion in paranthesis, that engaged the reader into the article. He wrote in an unbiased stand, when he revealed both the positive and negative aspects of using violence in coaching, but his acerbic criticism of Rice's behavior (last sentence in the first paragraph), clearly revealed his opinion about the coach. Peters alluded to a variety of sources throughout his article, which included the ESPN, the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice, his personal expericence, and the February Puerto Rican Day parade case. Finally, the last paragraph added humor to the article, as Peters concluded that though Rice would not be held criminal, not getting a job as a coach was punishment enough.