Hunting Ground

The film "Hunting Ground" is a documentary about rape on American college campuses. The movie interviews victims, and they tell their harsh tale of how the rape happened.  The movie also gives facts about how many big colleges do almost nothing about rape cases to protect the schools image. This is very shocking to me, because I would think some of the big colleges like Arizona State University, Harvard, and Tennessee would handle sexual assault cases appropriately.  In the movie it shows rape cases of big college athletes.  Since the athletes bring so much profit to their schools, colleges blow off cases with athletes as much as they can, such as making rules that police are not aloud to reach them during school hours or during their sport.  I believe that schools should treat their athletes the same as they would treat any other student on that campus.

Critics of this movie treat almost as if they were the principals at these big schools.  They are saying that the victims in the movie are using false reports, which is hard to believe because it is so emotional for all of the victims.  Critics from IMDb are saying the movie is using incorrect statistics of rape, and the movie is propaganda to increase college rape awareness.  I feel completely opposed from these critics because I believe the movie is telling the truth.  Throughout the film it gives statistics of rape through out it, and shows magazines, and other universities that have proven that stat to be true.  Critics are saying that in the odds of being raped are less likely to happen than what stated in the film, in personal belief.  In my point of view, I disagree with this statement because there are college students all around the world that are raped and are too scared or nervous to speak out to the public about their rape.

On the other hand, critics from The New York Times have called this movie the best thing that can happen for rape victims, a very emotional and stunning film.  I completely agree with these positive comments on the movie.  After watching this inspirational, powerful movie it has raised my awareness to rape victims, and makes me want to take a stand.

Derrick Rose Accused of Rape

Derrick Rose; the former NBA MVP and is known as one of the most elite point guards in the league.  Rose is now being alleged of rape to his Ex- girlfriend.  The "Ex" who's name is being identified as "Jane Doe" said she dated the Chicago Bulls star from 2011 to 2013.  She alleged Rose and two friends slipping a drug into her drink at Rose's Beverly Hills home. TMZ reported "the plaintiff says she escaped the house with a friend, but later that night, Rose and his friends broke into her apartment and gang-raped her while she was incapacitated. She said she remembers only 'flashes' of the incident but can remember the defendants forcibly raping her."  Despite all of her revoke, no criminal charges are being put on Rose because the woman feared retaliation and she did not want to see Rose faced with jail time. To this day more and more star players in the NBA are being charged with sexual assault. Which player will be the next to do so?

Sexual Assault Cases With Big Athletes

Throughout the course of the last few months the two most talked about athletes have been Peyton Manning and Kobe Bryant.  After Peyton Manning has just recently won Super Bowl 50, the rape controversy which happened with himself at the University of Tennessee has been brought up more. On the contrary, Kobe Bryant is considered to be one of the best basketball players of all time, and his final NBA season is coming to an end.  The Kobe Bryant sexual assault case began in July 2003 in Eagle, Colorado.  He was arrested for a sexual assault complaint filed by a 19 year old hotel employee (which he happened to be staying at).  These two substantial athletes' cases are being brought up again, and is having a very negative outcome on their great reputation. Both of these athletes are doing everything that they can to cover up the incident, and begin their retirement.

Beyonce Controversial Performance

During Super Bowl 50's halftime show Beyonce made a very politically controversial performance, Alongside Beyonce was also Coldplay and Bruno Mars.  She performed her new hit song "Formation". This song had various different political messages about racism and police brutality. Because of her actions the NFL is getting many allegation and protests from people around the world.  Her music video shows scenes with graffiti stating "stop shooting us" which refers to the police shootings in the United States, as well as scenes from the after math of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  Because these controversial issues are happening during the most watched game in America it becoming a huge issue around the world.  

Despite all of the criticism, Beyonce has also seen some support toward her performance. "Black Lives Matter activist Melina Abdullah praised her for being like artists who “are willing to raise social consciousness and use their artistry to advance social justice.”   But on the contrary, she is received very negative feedback from not only from the watchers of her performance but from the NFL itself.  

Super Bowl Comparison

Throughout the course of the 82 game NBA season each team has one goal.  To make it to the Finals and get a ring.  Some people would call the Finals the Super Bowl of basketball.  Through the course of the 7 game series, the hard work and dedication the players put in throughout the year is put out on the court.  But to make it to the the Finals it is a tough journey.  There are four rounds of the playoffs with 7 game series'.  Lasting from April to June, it is a long and hard journey. Like the Super Bowl there is an NBA Finals MVP announced after the series is over.  For many football fans the Super Bowl is the game to watch; while for basketball lovers The Finals series is the go to game to watch.

Introduction

I decided to blog about the NBA because I have been playing basketball all my life. Ever since a young age it been a passion to me.  I am a Freshman in High School, and getting ready for a road for a long High School career.  When I watch the NBA I always make sure I have the Cleveland Cavaliers game turned on so I can watch my favorite players like Lebron James, Kyrie Irving, and Iman Shumpert. It all started in first grade where it all began.  My first few years playing was in- town, then it advanced into a travel league, and eventually I progressed and got onto an AAU team. Nearly every weekend I go to the gym, to get a shoot around in with other players around my town. If anyone wants to be great in their sport they must put in hard work and dedication to make it to the top.

 On this blog, I will write about the different issues and big topics happening in the NBA,  including race, pay, female referee issues, and much more. The sport of basketball has a lot controversial issues, and I hope to share that with the readers on this blog.