I can understand why someone commits a crime if I can understand the motivation behind it. A mother who steals to feed her children, a person horribly addicted to drugs that desperately needs money to feed a habit, or a homeless person looking for shelter all provide some kind of rationale for the crimes they commit. With those crimes, it is at least possible to have sympathy and forgiveness. But a multi-millionaire football player running a dog fighting ring? How can there be exculpation?
I was disgusted to learn that Quarterback Michael Vick, convicted of running an interstate dog fighting ring for more than five years, just signed a five to six year contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles. The extension’s worth has been reported between $60 million and $81 million. (The first reports of $100 million were incorrect.)
It is important that people remember that just four years ago, he pled guilty to federal felony charges regarding the dog fighting ring run by Bad Newz Kennels. He served 21 months in prison followed by two years of home confinement. The dogs rescued from this debacle were so viciously mauled by other dogs that the pictures of them were too horrendous for me to post them on this blog. The pain and suffering these animals endured because of Vick cannot even be described.
When he pled guilty on August 24, 2007, he admitted to "Conspiracy to Travel in Interstate Commerce in Aid of Unlawful Activities and to Sponsor a Dog in an Animal Fighting Venture,” and further, he admitted to providing most of the financing for the operation. Worse yet, he participated directly in several dog fights. He admitted that he knew his co-conspirators killed dogs that did not perform well and that he was involved in the destruction of 6–8 dogs, by hanging or drowning.
Judge Hudson, the judge at Vick’s sentencing hearing on December 20, 2007, said he was "convinced that it was not a momentary lack of judgment" on Vick's part, and that Vick was a "full partner" in the dog fighting ring. Vick financed the operation, directly participated in dog fights and executions of dogs, and personally handled thousands of dollars in related gambling activities. The dog fighting took place on property owned by Vick in rural Surrey County in southeastern Virginia
Vick was a quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons during the years of his dog-fighting ring and I laud Falcon’s owner Arthur Blank for not wanting Vick back on the team, once Vick was cleared by the NFL to play again.
Vick missed the 2007 and 2008 seasons because he was serving his two-year prison sentence. The NFL’s punishment for Vick? NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Vick for the first two games of the 2009 season. Sporting News named Vick its NFL Comeback Player of the Year for 2010. How can the sports world accept this vicious man back into their fold?
There are also no words for the disgust I feel towards Philadelphia Eagles Coach Andy Reid who said in a statement, "I'm very happy we were able to reach an agreement with Michael on this long-term contract. It's a product of all the hard work Michael has done to better himself over the last couple of years, both on and off the field. I'm very proud that he has been able to achieve success again in this league.”
Children look up to athletes as role models. Often, professional athletes must adhere to strict character guidelines as part of their contracts because of their positions as role models. How does the NFL allow a convicted dog killer play football? What would Byron Raymond "Whizzer" White (June 8, 1917 – April 15, 2002) think, looking down from heaven on the state of football today? A man who won fame both as a football halfback and then as a member of the Supreme Court of the United States
You are so on the mark. It is disgusting. There should be a boycott.
ReplyDeleteKathy, I'm a dog-person, so EVEN if I cared at all about football (I don't) I'd still be in 110% agreement with you! He's slime and should not have been let off the hook so easily.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I wonder if he declared his illegal gaming income? Don't forget that "it took an accountant to catch Al Capone!"
He should have been left to rot in jail!
Once again, Kathy, you've nailed it. The only justice fit for Vick is for him to be torn apart by a pack of dogs.
ReplyDeleteBut why does the NFL -- and his fans -- take him back? Simple. Because sports culture (in the US, at least) is only concerned with how these guys play on the field. What they do off the field or out of the ring? That's their business. "He ran a dog-fighting ring? So what? What does that have to do with his football ability?..." You can hear it so easily, can't you?
Pete Rose: banned for life for betting on the game, a crime which hurt no one. Michael Vick: slap on the wrist and a multi-million dollar contract. Shameful.
What he did was beyond horrible and I do not understand the enjoyment of the entire dog fighting concept.
ReplyDeleteBut he was tried, convicted and served the time given him. And now he speaks out to kids against what he once supported.
The man is entitled to earn a living after prison and unfortunately the only thing he is qualified to do is a very high profile job.
Successful football teams, both professional and college, would have a difficult time filling their rosters if they only picked “role models”.
The problem is not so much Vick individually but the culture that gives the athletes the sense of entitlement.
Your wrath is understandable but what about ‘time having been served and rehabilitating himself’ ?
ReplyDeleteI can't think of a worse crime. He is a murderer and should pay for it the rest of his life. He has no feelings...no heart. It's all about money. Isn't that always what it's all about???
ReplyDeleteAmerica has a long history of believing in and embracing the concept of redemption.
ReplyDeleteMaybe his knee (or other body part) will be damaged beyond repair and end his career. THAT is justice!
ReplyDelete“The man is entitled to earn a living after prison and unfortunately the only thing he is qualified to do is a very high profile job.”
ReplyDeleteMr. Vick was an NCAA scholarship athlete. Unfortunately, he never bothered to graduate from Virginia Tech. If he had, he would have a college degree - credentials that would likely qualify him to gain employment off of the football field. Sans degree, he should still have at least a few marketable skills after attending a Division I institution of higher learning.
“America has a long history of believing in and embracing the concept of redemption.”
Yes, we forgive celebrities and the famous whose “jobs” satisfy our need for personal entertainment and diversion. If Mr. Vick were your next-door neighbor, belonged to your church or the local PTA, would you be as magnanimous? Further, if Mr. Vick were an average working stiff, he’d have a difficult time getting his regular job back after serving his time.
“Successful football teams, both professional and college, would have a difficult time filling their rosters if they only picked “role models”.”
Depends on how you define “success.” If it’s just winning, perhaps you are correct. Though, it might be nice for college programs and professional programs to place much more emphasis on more than winning. My alma mater had high standards for my behavior as a student - in addition to GPA requirements. My employer has standards for my behavior in addition to my productivity requirements. Choosing to ignore those standards had and has serious consequences. Welcome to the real world.
As for role modeling, call me a dinosaur, but I believe all adults serve as role models for children. Children naturally and instinctively look to adults for hints, tips, and direction about how they should behave – about how their own adulthood should progress. It’s one of the ways a society sustains itself. I don’t buy the invocation of the “I didn’t get hired to be a role model” excuse. It’s lame, lazy, and cowardly.
“The problem is not so much Vick individually but the culture that gives the athletes the sense of entitlement.”
Yes, and our participation as fans fuels the unethical fires of the
Notorious Felons League (NFL) and other havens of professional bad behavior. Mr. Vick also made conscious choices, regardless of that culture. Again, call me a dinosaur – but he is an adult who chose to break the law in a violent, heinous manner. I find that problematic. Can we really let him play the “I didn’t know better” and the “I couldn’t help myself” cards and blame the culture? Really?
By the way, his brother Marcus was famously booted by Virginia Tech for kicking an opponent in the face as he lay on the field after a play ended. Marcus, too, has been housed by the penal system for subsequent illegal behavior.
So much, so very much is wrong with this scenario. I, for one, am done with professional football.
Strange and sad that a man with such meanness in his heart and who did such horrible things against defenseless animals is rewarded and acclaimed, yet the media will hound and make sure anyone who says even one thing wrong gets forever punished and demorialized.
ReplyDeleteTell me how this can happen. My pit bull, Rascal, wants to know also.
Morgan Mandel
http://www.morganmandel.com
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com