In a world where playing the pro athlete card is as common as taking a shower, Ryan Moats has shown that not everyone sports star wants special treatment. If ever somebody deserved special treatment, Moats and his family certainly did on the evening that his Mother-in-Law lay dying in Baylor Regional Medical Center. Officer Robert Powell did not see it that way in this bit of weird news.
He decided that Moats was in just too much of a rush to get to the hospital as he passed through a red light with emergency flashers blinking. Officer Powell also felt that it was proper to pull a gun on Moats and his grieving wife, in spite of no reason to do so. As Moat’s mother in law died inside the hospital, Moats had to sit and listen to the officer preach to him about all the things he “could” do. He could “screw him over” or arrest him. He could take him to jail. He could tow his car. And on and on. Moats never once played his NFL player card, in spite of the culture of doing so being so prevalent.
Moats did get upset, and he did raise his voice only to the point of trying to make the point that his mother was dying. He remained largely calm, when compared to what others might have done. Even after another cop, the hospital nurse, and others told Officer Robert Powell that Moats was telling the truth, he still dragged his tail in getting Moats cut loose. His blatant disregard left Moats every reason to hate, despise, and pitch a fit. He had every right to be angry beyond reproach. But he instead did something that is not common to NFL players in the news….
He forgave the man.
Officer Powell has only apologized to the public at large, and Moats through the statement. He has not even personally apologized, though he says he is going to. Officer Robert Powell has now quit his job, under the guise of holier than thou reasons. Powell likely resigned because more political skeletons are likely to pop out soon. He also was probably pressured in some ways due to the likely lawsuit that most anybody would file in this situation. Given the class and dignity that the Moats family has shown, I would not be surprised to see them take the high road on that as well.
What is truly amazing in this whole thing is that Powell was more than irresponsible here. He was downright criminal in his actions. If not criminal in the specific definition of the word, he was certainly criminally immoral. How do you let a man miss the goodbye to a loved one. Even the worst criminals of the world deserve better than that, and Moats is far from even being the least of that. This was a purposeful act that was done with complete malice. The officer knew what he was doing. No whoops here.
Moats deserves the highest of honors in his classy way of carrying himself. In a world where pro athletes are largely villainized, Moats shines like a bright beacon of aspiration for other athletes and young people. Given the option to scream, he instead screamed class. The world heard him and has now embraced him and his family for the good will. Ryan Moats and the entire Moats family should be lauded from the highest mountain tops. It makes me proud to be an NFL football fan, and more importantly, it makes me proud of the human race.
Image Credit Goes To Flickr User MPR529
