Ray Rice: Football Star to Pariah

A year and a half ago, Ray Rice was one of the top running backs in the National Football League. Rice had it all, money, fame, and a successful career in the pros, but who knew that Rice would be capable of such a terrible act of violence. Kids all over the country looked up to him for how he played the game and even how he acted. Rice made an impact in the lives of many young people due to his signature event, Ray Rice Day, where he gave hundreds of kids instruction and encouragement, and also fun by playing football.(Ray Rice Makes Impact in Youth Community,1). Adults looked up to Rice too, due to his multiple charities that he is very active in. Rice’s persona was great until February 15, 2014. On this date, Rice and his then fiancee, Janay Palmer, got into an altercation in an elevator in the early morning after a very long night of heavy drinking. Rice and Palmer got physical and Rice knocked her out, then continued to drag her out of the elevator. The police were called, and they were both arrested on the scene and taken to jail. Ray Rice tarnished his image after being such a respected person in the NFL community and all around the world. One camera

“The fact that it [filled up] in like point zero seconds shows the type of impact that he has in our community,”(Jeff Zrebiec, 1). He helped out in his community majorly; Ray Rice Day brought in over 700 young kids where Rice mentored them and told them that they will be successful in life if they have confidence and stay smart.(Ray Rice Makes Impact in Youth Community, 1). Also, his charity for helping victims of bullying was a major success in improving people 's lives. Fellow NFL players and coaches looked up to him as a role model because of the way he acted and the way he carried himself. But everything changed after he was charged with domestic