Michael Vick

gimmesometruth27

i just heard on the news that after he enters his guilty plea on Monday the state of Virginia is possibly going to file more charges against vick that carry stiffer penalties than the federal charges. this is why the nfl has put no timetable on a decision regarding his future. stay tuned everyone, this is about to get a whole lot worse for vick.

RolandTD20Kdrummer

inmytree wrote:

so you say....which is fine and dandy...I just disagree...people can change and if he does, he should be treated just like you and me...

I hear what you're saying in a way, but at the same time...as mentioned in your earlier post, not too many hunters would torture and exact cruel punishment (admittedly) when they hunt for game...like electrocution hanging etc... He wasn't eating the dogs for food purposes as well.

If he was like a normal person in society he should (and would) be treated like one. People who purposely torture animals are usually deeply disturbed individuals that normally undergo some form of psychiatric treatment.

I think there is a statistic that kids who do this have a high tendency for crime, murder, and other anti social behavior. I think I read that somewhere..

Pacomc79

http://www.hss.caltech.edu/~mcafee/Bin/sb.html

Seems like this fits Mike pretty well.

Sociopath. He pretty much IS that profile.

blackredyellow

inmytree wrote:

so, what's the names of the co-defendants...? and the teacher thing doesn't work here..if vick were going to work at a vets office, then it may apply...

Obviously, it's up to the NFL to decide his ban, and it probably won't be decided for a long time. Details and charges are still coming out, and it's not like they have any rush... He'll be in jail for this season and the start of next season.

But, the teacher thing does apply to an extent. I don't work with animals, but if I was charged and convicted of torturing animals, and all of the other stuff along with it, I highly doubt that my company or any company would hire me for a management job after I served my time.

As someone who hires people, I can see that application coming through:
Have you ever been convicted of a felony: Yes, dogfighting...

My reaction would be "ok, next applicant please..."

Skitch Patterson

"many many other people who just love my dick"

Vedd Hedd

I dont know if this point has been made yet or not, but just imagine how much MORE scrutiny he would be under, had one of his dogs got out and attacked or KILLED someone.

http://www.kirotv.com/news/13943140/detail.html

Vedd Hedd

FiveB247x wrote:

Are you trying to say that Vick is somehow the "scapegoat" in this? Do you realize the guys who turned on Vick by copping plea bargains and pointing the finger at Vick will be doing more time than Vick (and factually they've done a lot less then Vick according to the record)? Or that all these investigations are over a 3yr period, but date back to his college days at V-tech (which was prior to 2001)?

People are outraged cause it's despicable behavior and very sick. It's not unjust, nor is it lynch mob or more importantly - undeserved.

Actually, from what Ive read, the co-defendants will do less time, because they agreed to cooperate with the feds early on.

The first guy will get the least amount of time, then the next two, then Vick.

Pacomc79

Jemele Hill is quickly becoming one of the best writers at ESPN.
___________________________________________________

Bottom line: Vick did this to himself
By Jemele Hill
Page 2
(Archive | Contact)
Updated: August 21, 2007, 12:45 PM ET

Dear young, black men:

Today, many of you are angry. You are angry at a society that has swiftly and vigilantly punished a superstar quarterback for dogfighting, but often looks the other way as a grotesque number of black men die in the streets. You are angry at the NFL, which has punishments some of you feel unfairly targets those who look like you. You are angry at Michael Vick's buddies and criminal cohorts for "snitching" on Vick, noting that trainer Greg Anderson, a white man, sits in federal prison with his lips sealed, protecting Barry Bonds and refusing to cooperate with authorities.


AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari

Michael Vick heightened the stereotypes of black men instead of eroding them.
You are feeling a lot of things -- some possessing merit -- but I caution you not to make Vick a martyr. Do not applaud him for taking his comeuppance like some modern-day gangster. Do not blame others for Vick's predicament when he alone should be held accountable for his actions.

Let this historic unraveling be a wake-up call for the young, black men caught up in the same lifestyle that claimed Vick. Let his prison sentence send the message that a continued allegiance to street culture successfully keeps young, black men frighteningly behind in American society.

As the Vick case shows, millions of dollars are little protection if a certain mentality remains. Until now, Vick was considered one of the lucky ones. He rose out of poverty to become one of the most mesmerizing athletes of our time. He went from nothing to millions. He wasn't the American dream, but the American reality. He had the support of a city, of a people and he struck a chord with many young, black men because they saw themselves in him -- rebellious, strong and heroic.

But Vick let you down. He betrayed you. He heightened the stereotypes of black men instead of eroding them. Racists certainly will feast on Vick, but he was the one who made himself an entrée.

You can say Vick was persecuted unfairly by the white media, say we should be more concerned with the war in Iraq than an illegal dogfighting ring or say his downfall wouldn't be a 24-hour news event if he were the highest-paid white quarterback.

But it's impossible to stand on moral high ground while trying to defend something so low. Vick did something wrong, something against the law, something disgusting and vile. Even worse, he appears to be the financial backer and mastermind behind the dogfighting ring.

I understand Vick's guilt is a tough, humbling thing to swallow because the one thing black men in this society understand is the feeling of being piled upon, discounted and discarded. Last year, several studies showed that American black men are failing at an alarming and heartbreaking rate. More than half of black men in the inner cities don't have a high school diploma. There are more black men in prison than in college. Everyone else in society -- whites, Latinos, women -- is gaining ground, but black men are falling further and further behind in virtually every category.

Black men have a history of being marginalized and demonized in the mainstream, so although your rush to defend Vick was misguided, it also was understandable.

But now that we know of his guilt and complicity, let's be honest and not use racism as an excuse. Let's not point to Rae Carruth, Ray Lewis and Leonard Little and cite their crimes -- as if wrongs can exonerate other wrongs. Racism isn't putting Vick in jail. Awful decisions did that.

Instead, let's attack this poisonous idea in the black community that equates only negatives with success. Surely, one reason Vick kept his circle of friends is because successful black people are pressured into keeping their toxic buddies around for the sake of "keeping it real" -- even though they've spent most of their lives trying to escape the street lifestyle in which many of those friends remain.

Of course, what's forgotten is that if Vick's "friends" truly cared about him, they never would have allowed him to jeopardize his freedom, NFL career and family for an illegal enterprise. A $100 million man involved in dogfighting isn't keeping it real. That's keeping it stupid.

I wanted to address this letter to young, black men because they fall victim to this mentality more so than any other group. It's not just black athletes facing a crisis but black men, period.

Vick was in a position to show that young, black men are not something to be feared. But instead of leading the Falcons to the playoffs this fall, Vick will be among the nearly 800,000 black men in prison -- which sadly constitutes half of the nation's prison population. Instead of wrapping himself in the support he received from millions of fans -- many of whom look like you -- Vick aligned himself with a destructive culture that is being indirectly endorsed as long as some African-Americans continue to make pathetic excuses for an immature millionaire.

You may not believe this, but I hope Michael Vick recovers. I hope he plays in the NFL again. I hope his comeback is just as good, if not better, than Ray Lewis'.

But mostly, I hope that, through Vick, other black men learn that society is quite capable of gobbling them up. No extra help is needed.

Page 2 columnist Jemele Hill can be reached at jemeleespn@gmail.com.

keeponrockin

I read that last night and it was quite good.

You're in Atlanta right? What's the reaction there?

Rushlimbo

I hope Vick has a real big cellmate that does him DOGGY-style everynight.

g under p

This is from the Washington Post....Animal Cruelty Isn't Judged on a Level Field.

Peace

Pacomc79

keeponrockin wrote:

I read that last night and it was quite good.

You're in Atlanta right? What's the reaction there?

You get the occasional racist from both sides but generally we are all just really really disapointed and or disgusted.

Kind of the same reaction Dan Reeves and Alge Crumpler displayed. I'm not entirely suprised he would have this kind of bad judgement but the way that they killed the dogs is just awful and most people that have met and or had relationships with the guy don't want to believe it.

It's just really a sad mood at the same time everyone is getting on with thier lives, just really disapointing a guy with that kind of talent, fame and money would throw it away for this crap, believe his friends wouldn't sell him out, lie to everyone, not hire an attorney until like a month ago and just generally be this stupid. The majority of people are disapointed and hurt.

If he had worked as hard on being a QB and a leader that he did on living a lie he'd be the best player in the league. (sans Greg Knapp anyway)

blackredyellow

Pacomc79 wrote:

Jemele Hill is quickly becoming one of the best writers at ESPN.

Totally agree... I've agreed with just about every one of her columns that I have read, and they all make me think a bit.

chipboy

I don't get why this is such a huge story. It's not like Michael Vick invented dog fighting. As far as crimes go this doesn't rank as high with me as murder, manslaughter, rape, drug dealing, spousal or child abuse, not paying child support, or any other crime involving humans. People are more important than dogs. Period. With all the real criminals running around because we don't have enough jail space I don't want to waste a cell for a dog. Make him pay a huge fine and donate it to the humane society. Justice served.

There was a story in the paper today about a woman who was attacked by 2 pit bulls that snuck into her house through a doggy door and mauled her in her sleep. As far as I'm concerned these dogs are vicious by nature and the only good pit bull is a dead pit bull.

blackredyellow

chipboy wrote:

I don't get why this is such a huge story. It's not like Michael Vick invented dog fighting. As far as crimes go this doesn't rank as high with me as murder, manslaughter, rape, drug dealing, spousal or child abuse, not paying child support, or any other crime involving humans. People are more important than dogs. Period. With all the real criminals running around because we don't have enough jail space I don't want to waste a cell for a dog. Make him pay a huge fine and donate it to the humane society. Justice served.

There was a story in the paper today about a woman who was attacked by 2 pit bulls that snuck into her house through a doggy door and mauled her in her sleep. As far as I'm concerned these dogs are vicious by nature and the only good pit bull is a dead pit bull.

wow...

Uncle Leo

chipboy wrote:

I don't get why this is such a huge story. It's not like Michael Vick invented dog fighting.

Osama Bin Laden did not invent terrorism either.

chipboy wrote:

As far as crimes go this doesn't rank as high with me as murder, manslaughter, rape, drug dealing, spousal or child abuse, not paying child support, or any other crime involving humans. People are more important than dogs. Period. With all the real criminals running around because we don't have enough jail space I don't want to waste a cell for a dog. Make him pay a huge fine and donate it to the humane society. Justice served.

You forgot speeding, jaywalking, income tax fraud and shoplifting. By asking him to pay a fine, you are acknowledging he committed a crime.

And what kind of human being do you have to be to take a dog and hold him underwater until he's dead? Someone else put a link to my first thought: A sociopath. I am not a shrink and I could be wrong. But it strikes me that someone that could do such a thing needs the rehabilitation that the justice system could provide. Also, it strikes me that he needs to be imprisoned to keep US safe. Because I really don't think someone that could torture a dog to death would have a hard time killing a person.

chipboy wrote:

There was a story in the paper today about a woman who was attacked by 2 pit bulls that snuck into her house through a doggy door and mauled her in her sleep. As far as I'm concerned these dogs are vicious by nature and the only good pit bull is a dead pit bull.

Lots of arguments about that one. It sounds like they CAN be good dogs, but owners have to make certain efforts to make sure they are.

harrymanback

now he has the NAACP (R.L. White) saying this should not cost him his carreer. that is fine, but then he goes overboard:

"The way he is being persecuted, he wouldn't have been persecuted that much had he killed somebody."

he also thinks Vick cut a deal rather than roll the dice on a trial and take a chance on being found guilty" - therefore he thinks he is not involved

White also said he didn't understand the uproar over dogfighting, when hunting deer and other animals is perfectly acceptable.

IDIOT

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/08/22/vick/index.html

macgyver06

chipboy wrote:

I don't get why this is such a huge story. It's not like Michael Vick invented dog fighting. As far as crimes go this doesn't rank as high with me as murder, manslaughter, rape, drug dealing, spousal or child abuse, not paying child support, or any other crime involving humans. People are more important than dogs. Period. With all the real criminals running around because we don't have enough jail space I don't want to waste a cell for a dog. Make him pay a huge fine and donate it to the humane society. Justice served.

There was a story in the paper today about a woman who was attacked by 2 pit bulls that snuck into her house through a doggy door and mauled her in her sleep. As far as I'm concerned these dogs are vicious by nature and the only good pit bull is a dead pit bull.

I think you have something here. Although i personally think you have to be insane to do something like this...and its really just Vick in this case..others make their living doing this, he is already a millionaire so whats the interest here? and than to personally kill the dogs supposedly? It is illegal and it should be....but people are talking about his career being over and a ban from the NFL and thats just crazy! I think the NAACP might need to step in if that happens because, ray lewis may have killed a man, and so did jamal lewis...Pacman Jones is beating up people in strip clubs, pistol whipping strippers and women patrons (bless them), brent myers of the phillies beats his wife, kobe bryant raped a girl, ty cobb used to publically beat people of all races/sex, Babe ruth played drunk, phil niekro used to file baseballs, mike tyson bit part of a guys ear off and raped/beat a girl.


im saying..he should serve his sentence and thats all, nothing more, nothing less.

macgyver06

harrymanback wrote:

now he has the NAACP (R.L. White) saying this should not cost him his carreer. that is fine, but then he goes overboard:

"The way he is being persecuted, he wouldn't have been persecuted that much had he killed somebody."

he also thinks Vick cut a deal rather than roll the dice on a trial and take a chance on being found guilty" - therefore he thinks he is not involved

White also said he didn't understand the uproar over dogfighting, when hunting deer and other animals is perfectly acceptable.

IDIOT

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/08/22/vick/index.html

why IDIOT?

macgyver06

harrymanback wrote:

now he has the NAACP (R.L. White) saying this should not cost him his carreer. that is fine, but then he goes overboard:

"The way he is being persecuted, he wouldn't have been persecuted that much had he killed somebody."

he also thinks Vick cut a deal rather than roll the dice on a trial and take a chance on being found guilty" - therefore he thinks he is not involved

White also said he didn't understand the uproar over dogfighting, when hunting deer and other animals is perfectly acceptable.

IDIOT

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/08/22/vick/index.html

i don't know you, but if you don't think the 3 statements have any reason... i think you are the idiot.