Condoleezza_Rice__2530330b.jpg


Calls grow for Condoleezza Rice to rescue NFL Photo: AP

High powered backing for former Secretary of State to rescue America’s most popular sport

Support is growing for a campaign to draft Condoleezza Rice as Commissioner for the troubled National Football League (NFL).

American football, the country’s most popular sport and a bastion of macho male culture, has suffered one of the worst weeks in its history with three high-profile stars facing accusations of domestic violence.

The crisis has led to calls for Ms Rice, a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan, to step in replace the beleaguered Roger Goodell as Commissioner.

As far back as 2002 Ms Rice described becoming NFL Commissioner as her dream job.

Now she is getting serious backing, including from former members of the Bush administration, for taking on the task of rescuing a sport whose image has taken a severe battering over the last seven days.

Earlier this week the Washington Post carried a piece by a member of its editorial board calling for Ms Rice, 59, to take over from Mr Goodell, who has come under fire over his handling of the domestic violence scandal which has engulfed the sport.

Politicians and women’s groups were enraged by the NFL’s decision to impose what they regarded as an inadequate two match ban on Ray Rice, the Baltimore Ravens’ running back who knocked his fiancée out cold in the lift of a New Jersey casino.

He belatedly received an indefinite ban after footage of the incident was released by TMZ, a gossip website.

Mr Goodell insisted NFL officials had not seen the incriminating tape when the original ban was imposed.

This has now been disputed and several senators have called for him to step down.

“If he lied to the American people, he has to step down,” said Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat senator for New York.

The Mr Goodell’s plight was worsened when the indefinite ban was attacked by Rice’s wife – the victim of the original assault – who took to the social media to back her husband.

The Washington Post did not mince its words in condemning Mr Goodell and backing Ms Rice.

“Roger Goodell has made a mess of it. Time for the former Secretary of State with an intense love of the game to step in and save the NFL,” the Washington Post wrote.

Click here to read more.

SOURCE: Telegraph
David Millward

Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

Prince Malachi is the founder of The Oracle Network and the Streetwear brand Y.A.H. Apparel

You need to be a member of The Oracle Mag to add comments!

Join The Oracle Mag