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Markos Maganares, Raymond Dalton

Professor Blair
UWRT-1102-t-h
October 10, 2014
Assignment #2
In the last few months there has been lots of discussions in regards to the NFL; however,
none of which are involved with the sport but in regards to the poor decisions being made
through out the league by both the players and the owners. On February 15th Ray Rice a former
NFL running back for the Baltimore Ravens was caught in an elevator camera assaulting his
finance Janay Palmer. After the shocking video was released to the public, many people began to
speak up against the NFL, Roger Goodell, and all other parties involved in the decision of the
punishment for Ray Rice. On September 8th, Keith Olbermann an ESPN 2 announcer was one of
the many to call out the NFL. Throughout Olbermanns news cast he uses many bad writing
techniques when arguing about the Ray Rice verdict. Such as Nancy Woods Essential of
Arguments which consist of Stacked Evidence, Either-Or Ad Hominem, Slippery Slope,
and Guilt by Association. Although I agree with what Olbermann has had to say in his news
report, there are still many issues in his report that requires further attention too, in order to get
the full message out there to the public.
Throughout Olbermanns report there are many bad language techniques that are being
used, such as Stacked Evidence. Woods Stacked Evidence is a technique used when an
arguer only discusses the issue on one side of a situation (Wood, 2). In Olbermanns report he
states that The Atlantic County district attorneys office, the Baltimore Ravens, the National

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Football League, and Roger Goodell conducted a cover-up of Ray Rices brutal assault on his
then fiance on February 15 (Olbermann, paragraph 1). This is an example of Stacked
Evidence because Olbermann only provides information from one side of the issue, which
makes it unclear if the NFL and all other parties involved in the Ray Rice assault wished to cover
up the situation, or if they simply lacked the knowledge of the entire situation. Even though this
seems hard to believe there has been further evidence that proves a cover up may have occurred.
As stated by Eric Adelson, a writer for Yahoo Sports, a law enforcement official allegedly sent
a tape of Ray Rice hitting his then-fiance in a casino hotel elevator to Jeffery Miller, the
leagues head of security Miller emphatically denied either receiving or viewing the tape, and
Goodell has already denied seeing the tape (Adelson, paragraph 2). Although Olbermann is
clearly using Stacked Evidence in his news report, it seems that there could be a possibility
that some of the parties involved in the Ray Rice scandal may be guilty of Olbermanns
acquisitions.
Another example of Stacked Evidence in Olbermanns report is when he states that
Each body, each leading individual involved, came to a judicial conclusion about what had
happened to Janay Palmer and what should happen to Ray Rice through deception or
incompetence, mislead the public slow down the murderous epidemic of domestic violence
(Olbermann, paragraph 2). This is an example of Stacked Evidence because Olbermann is
stating the Ray Rice scenario in a one sided argument and not providing a equally representation
for both sides.
However after further research it has become clear that not all parties were aware of the
Ray Rice crisis. As stated by ESPN Director of security, Darren Sanders quickly relayed the
damning video's play-by-play to team executives in Baltimore, unknowingly starting a seven-

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month odyssey that has mushroomed into the biggest crisis confronting a commissioner in the
NFL's 94-year history (ESPN, paragraph 3). Although Olbermann only stated one side of the
issue, there are still other techniques of bad language used in his report.
Another technique of bad language that Olbermann used in his news report is known as
Either-Or, Either-Or is defined as an argument that is shown simply as only having an
either/or choice, but truly there are actually other alternatives to the situation (Wood, 2). In
Olbermanns report he states The League, the team, the prosecutors either white washed Ray
Rices brutal assault without having seen this video, or they saw the video and white washed
Rices brutal assault anyway (Olbermann, paragraph 3). This is shown as Either-Or because
Olbermann is making it seem as if there were only two case scenarios that could have occurred,
when there could have been more possible outcomes. Although Olbermann only concluded that
there could have only been two certain outcomes, there is however more than one technique of
bad language being used throughout the report.
Another technique by Nancy Wood in her Essentials of Argument that Olbermann used
in his news report is Ad Hominem. Ad Hominem is defined as an argument that attacks the
person character rather than the persons idea (Wood, 3). In Olbermanns report he states I
accuse President Cass and general manager Newsome of Baltimore of failing to act internally
after the ludicrousness of the Rice two-game suspension should have become apparent, even to
them (Olbermann, paragraph 6). This is shown as Ad Hominem because Olbermann is
arguing that both Cass, and Newsome were not acting on what they knew was the right thing to
do, but rather acting on what would help make there lifes easier. Another example of Ad
Hominem can be seen towards the end of Olbermanns report, he states And I accuse Ray
Rice, but by a pious, self-serving, insincere, cynical devious, manipulative, unapologetic

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performance to protect his job and his money (Olbermann, paragraph 18). This is shown as Ad
Hominem because in Olbermanns report he is calling Ray Rice many derogatory names in
order to show the public that Ray Rice does not care about his finance and that he is trying to get
away with the crime that he has committed.
Another technique that Olbermann uses in his report is Slippery Slope. Slippery
Slope is a writing technique that is used as a scare tactic that states if one thing is allowed to
occur then we will begin to slide down a slippery slope (Wood, 4). In Olbermanns report he
states Roger Goodells existence, who he is, what he has turned the NFL commissioners office
into, is now symbolized by Ray Rices brutal left hand striking Janay Palmer and striking her
again, Mr. Goodell is an enabler of men who beat women (Olbermann, paragraph 16). This is
an example of Slippery Slope because in Olbermanns report, Goodell is implying that he
approves of men beating women, which can cause chaos in the league by showing all other
players in the NFL that they will not punished if they commit domestic violence. Goodell also
shows to the public that the NFL is pro domestic violence and that they welcome there players to
assault their wifes/girlfriends. Which in the end could cause the entire NFL to go spiraling
down, and could led to the end of the league. Although Mr. Goodell seems to be an enabler of
men beating women, Mr. Goodell made a recent report in regards to the Ray Rice fiasco, in order
to counter the negative outlook on the NFL. In Goodells report he states Starting within the
next 30 days, all league and team personnel -- including executives, coaches, players and staff -will participate in education sessions on domestic violence and sexual assault (Goodell,
paragraph 10). By stating this, Goodell is showing that the NFL is making a difference, even
though they were in the wrong from the beginning.

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Another example of Slippery Slope occurs when Olbermann states Ray Rice must
never be allowed back. Must be fully boycotted by all of us. If not, we become accessories
after the fact (Olbermann, paragraph 19). This is an example of Slippery Slope because he is
stating that if we do not kick Ray Rice out of the League, that we will all be looked at as
approving and allowing domestic violence to occur. Although Olbermann is showing the public
the flaws in the NFL he still uses many bad language techniques throughout his report.
Another technique that Olbermann uses is known as Guilt by Association. Guilt by
Association is a writing technique that states that the guilt by association can be judged by
examining the character of their associates (Wood, 3). Towards the end of Olbermanns report
he states And lastly, I accuse us, all of us, executives, players, fans, reporters, of failing to draw
a line in the sand when one was needed most (Olbermann, paragraph 19). This is shown as
Guilt by Association because there had been many cases similar to Ray Rices assault in
earlier years; however, the NFL, and everyone else makes it seem as not a major issue and by not
giving out enough punishment, causing many players to act out and continue to commit domestic
violence.
For the last several weeks all you can hear about is the Ray Rice dilemma in regards to
him physically assaulting his finance in an elevator. Keith Olbermann a sports castor on ESPN 2
did a report on the dilemma on September 8, 2014. In Olbermanns report he wishes to help
show both non-viewers and viewers of the NFL that there is a need of drastic change in the NFL
in order to avoid the domestic violence look they have adopted. Although his report was straight
forward and to the point, there are still many writing fallacies that were used throughout the
report that need more attention, in order for Olbermann to get the full effect of the situation to his
audience.

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Works Citied
Rovell, Darren, and Meghan Keneally. "NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Admits He 'Got It
Wrong' Regarding Ray Rice Domestic Violence Incident." ABC News. ABC News Network, 19
Sept. 2014. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.
Don Van Natta Jr. and Kevin Van Valkenburg |, N/A. "Rice Case: Purposeful Misdirection by
Team, Scant Investigation By NFL." ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, 19 Sept. 2014. Web. 18
Oct. 2014.
Adelson, Eric N/A. "Roger Goodell, NFL Will Have Tough Time Explaining How Ray Rice
Tape Didn't End up in Proper Hands." Yahoo Sports. Yahoo, Sports, 25 Sept. 2014. Web. 20 Oct.
2014.