For Every Ray Rice, There’s At Least One Jim Kelly [opinion]

Recent events involving former NFL running back Ray Rice have dominated the news in recent days. I've seen the video several times. It's chilling. Reactions in social media have ranged from outrage to a shocking indifference. I feel his conduct was contemptible. Bad news, and people's bad conduct grab the headlines. Are there contemptible people in the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA? Of course there are! There are also good, honest hard working people in those professions. Think of your own workplace. There are likely people you respect, even admire. Others, not so much.

Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly is a devoted family man. He's the son of an orphan father who wanted a large, loving family. Jim is one of six brothers. When he joined the Buffalo Bills, Kelly purchased a large house in the Buffalo area, so his entire family could stay at his house when coming to town for Bills' home games. he once told a reporter, "My family is NOT staying in a hotel!" When asked about his most gratifying life moment, Kelly replied, "I have three of them. May 4th, 1995, February 14th, 1997 and June 24th, 1999. The days my children were born - Erin, Hunter, and Camryn."  Hunter died of   globoid-cell leukodystrophy (Krabbe disease) in 2005. Kelly and his wife, Jill established the Hunter's Hope Foundation. Jim was diagnosed with cancer in his jaw in 2013, and underwent successful surgery. The cancer returned this March. He underwent Chemotherapy, and was declared cancer free on August 20th. He still lives in the Buffalo area, running several business ventures, with a portion of the proceeds funding humanitarian causes.