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As a lifetime Philadelphia sports fan, I'm reeling from the Eagles' signing of Michael Vick, justifiably the most hated man in sports.
I mean, the guy electrocuted, hung, and drowned dogs. He only confessed to doing it after all of his buddies blew the whistle on him. He operated his Bad Newz Kennels dogfighting ring for six years.
My initial reaction to the signing is disgust. What's the upside of adding this cretin to the team? Vick can run a "wildcat" formation, but he's certainly no contender to be an every-down player. Does that justify inviting the protests and ill will that will follow the Eagles everywhere, including at home?
And if he plays well, will he be portrayed as the comeback story of the year? I can't swallow that.
I get that voices in Vick's "circle" have said that he's now remorseful and deserves a second chance. Eagles president Joe Banner and coach Andy Reid have echoed their belief in "second chances" for Vick.
Bullshit. When the Eagles' brass introduces their pariah, I know they're going to blather more sanctimony about second chances and media-friendly themes of redemption. And now we -- the fans -- will have to live with this garbage story all year. Commentators and beat reporters will lap up this distraction more than they would a Manny Ramirez-Brett Favre hybrid clone. What the Eagles ought to say is:
"We couldn't care less about Michael Vick's past, the dogs he killed, the families he harmed, or any moral lessons anyone wants to infer. All we are thinking about is winning the Super Bowl and we will put any eligible player on the field we can who can possibly give us an edge in any way."
Because that has to be the truth. If the Eagles cared in any way about the messages they sent to pet-owners, football fans, or human beings in general, they would never have invited this ugliness into our house.
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go to the video that shows the chocolate pitbull girl dog! I pray that some day pitbulls will all end up like she did. In a home where she is loved and respected.
Someone on here was griping about the people who aren't out there stopping dogfights.
I am 66 years old, female and live alone. I hunt for dogfights constantly. It is very dangerous but I think it is worth it. I have a guard dog, half airedale and half german shepherd in my house. And I still worry about some "creature" that fights dogs will try to find me. I found the first "hog dog rodeo" in Oklahoma and barely escaped with my life.( this consists of a eighty-ninety pound dog in a ring with a 25 lb hog)
This is not my "hobby". It is my life's calling.
I do it for the innocent dogs. Someone has to be on their side and until I drop dead or can't walk....I'
So...all of the posts that disagree with MV getting a second chance must not be taxpayers. If they were, then why would you want your tax dollars to keep paying for him to not be productive. Why would you not want him to try to reach one person getting out of prison with no hope. If they see a second chance works, maybe, just maybe they will have hope and be productive and pass that message on. Do you think just locking up someone and throwing away the key with no chance for redemption is working? If you do, you better start digging deeper to cover the cost. I know my God is a forgiving God and my country is a country of 2nd chances. Why should MV pay for his crime behind bars when he has the largest platform to reach so many people regarding animal abuse. I really would like for all these posts who say that he only was remourseful because he was caught to let me know what's in store for my future since they seem to know what his would've been. Also, are you so perfect that you have never had to ask for forgiveness?
I understand that Michael Vick did his time in prison and from a legal standpoint has "paid his debt to society". However, I personally am so disgusted by his psychpathic behavior and his complete lack of remorse (his 60 Minutes "apology" was very obviously insincere and scripted by his handlers) that I will never watch any football game that features a team he plays for. There is something basically wrong with Vick's character that would make him think that tortouring and killing dogs is OK. I don't gave a rat's behind what Tony Dungee or anyone else says in Vick's defense -- the Eagles made a big mistake in signing Vick and I hope they pay a big price for doing so.
All these sanctimonious postings by those who want to give Vick a second chance. He wouldn't have stopped if he hadn't been caught. You all know it and yet, you want to forgive him. Well, I don't believe him for one minute....
He was caught, convicted, did his sentence - and gets the right to try and move on. What part of the U.S. justice system don't you understand? If he's a "monster" then what has being "a mediocre ball player" have to do with your point? Perhaps you've dealt with too many psychopaths, given how easily you're able to make the diagnosis. Glad your mental health practice keeps you with them and away from the rest of us.
Assuming you believe in some idea of god or a supreme being, do you believe in a vengeful god or a forgiving god? I choose forgiveness even though I hate his crime, he did his time. Simple end of story.
Vick has a right to resume his career, the Eagles have a right to sign him and I have the right to no longer root for the Eagles as a result. I have decided to exercise that right.
It's the easiest thing in the world to go along with appeals to your better nature even when they compromise your principles.
"I'm all for second chances"
"He's paid his debt to society"
"Other people have done bad"
"Tony Dungy said it was OK so I guess I'll go along with it"
It takes real character to stand up and say enough, to say no, to say good luck but have that good luck somewhere else. If Tony Dungy wanted to help this guy, he should have stayed in coaching and signed Vick in Indianapolis.
I believe in as many chances as the LORD will give.But evil will hang you and think nothing of it.Mike you did wrong an you could,ve kept doing wrong like many people, but thanks to the LORD you came out alive.I like philly and I do hope they,re not to nasty to you that hateful devil will use whom ever will let him.Try to remember who to please and you,ll be alright.Go
I am a teacher as well. In the course of my career, I have taught young men who had murdered and raped. They were in prison and going through group work as well as taking college classes. If I follow your logic, I should not have helped to prepare them for another chance in life and to be successful in their legitimate endeavors. If I follow your premise, we should cart them away from society forever. Maybe we should just give them the death penalty and get it over with. For some, perhaps we should just stone them. Anyone want to pick up the first stone. Actually, that is what is occurring here.
Vick has paid his price and under our justice sytem (and within American tradition), he gets another chance to redeem himself. Maybe we could give him a chance to prove himself guilty again before the stoning.
I do hope you teach your students that when they fail and fail miserably, all is not gone. They should continue to live and live with dignity and honor. Many people in society have made horrible mistakes and we, at times, through our justice system take them to task. He did his time. Let go of the h a t e and anger. Hug your dog. Take him or her out. Try to love again. Remember why you are a teacher.
Murdering and raping humans is a very different story.
Honestly, I can't say that I want the kid who say, killed my brother or mother or child, to be taking college classes or quite frankly enjoying life in any way shape or form...
I never understand why a murderer gets to have a better fate than his victim.
BTW, why do I not apply the same standards to Vick, you ask? Animal life is not the same as human life, sorry...
I appreciate your sentiments. However, these students were not enjoying life. They were not on a college campus but in prison. Some of them were going to be released because they had served their time and pay the debt society rightfully demanded. The question becomes if they are going to be released (and they were), could they function and contribute to society. That was part of my job.
I was not there to judge them for their crimes but to teach a better way to function. I will not say it was easy. Students revealed their crimes voluntarily. I must say that I do not want to know and had to get past my initial feelings. While their crimes were monstrous, they were not monsters but damaged young men. Having said that, college classes were not available to all prisoners but only to those who had gone through counseling. They were monitored every moment they were in class by a guard. If anything went wrong, they were not allowed to attend class.
Your opinion Malkin. Life is life. Dead is dead. Torture is torture and psycho's are psycho's. Most start by killing animals and get off on it. Sorry...
The Eagles want Vic in spite of his baggage. They must figure that back lash from fans and sponsors is a price they are willing to pay. So its like everything else NFL. You can talk about it, you can read about it but you cant do anything about it. So get used to it.
It's about money, money, money. You can listen to the commentators and fans bloviate about second chances but this has nothing to do with them. You can suppress your gag urge when you hear them talk about 'for love of the game' and how these guys are 'heroes' 'leaders' 'great guys', etc. but the truth is, they'd have hired Ted Bundy to quarterback if he'd had a good arm. There are no standards in sports, no bottom you can hit where someone says 'enough', as long as you are good at what game you play. I've seen that over and over. Maybe we'll get a serial killer league in a few years.
Knock it off folks. Michael Vick was arrested, charged, pled guilty, took his sentencing, went to prison, and paid his dues. What he did was horrible and can never be excused but he did his time and is capable of remorse and reform. He is entitled to make a living. The skill he has in order to make that living is to play professional football. If a professional football team wants to hire him they have that right and he has that same right to accept that offer and to play. While he is a representative of that team he should be expected to adhere to the highest professional standards. If he behaves himself and stays out of further trouble, that is the most ANYONE can ask or expect of him. You who criticize or are "horrified" by his chance to return to professional football are being disingenuous in your DEMANDS the no one hire him. He deserves a second chance. No one has the right to deny him that chance.
Kathy, I believe most people want to deny him the chance. He's a horror. The dogs that were saved were in such pitiful shape that it took over a year to just rehab them enough to make eye contact. What a monster! I know he got through his sentence and we unfortunately, we had to pay for it. But other than that, i wouldn't care if he never saw another chance nor another paycheck. I do not believe the eagles made a wise decision. 26 teams said NO.
Well, guess what molly - you've got an ex-president and vice-president who have done far worse to HUMAN BEINGS - and your tax is paying for their comfortable retirement. Vick's been convicted and did his sentence. End of story.
I am so disappointed in the Eagles. I was born and raised in Philly and have loved watching the Eagles since the Dick Vermeil days-although I never did think that Jaworski was that good--he just had good and very tall receivers. The fact of the matter is that the Eagles are a business and they obviously do not give a damn about ethics. I do believe in 2nd chances but Vick is not deserving of one b/c he has never, to my knowledge, actually admitted that what he did was wrong. He just took the best plea deal he could get. And, like others have said, it is only because he was caught that he has stopped his horrendous "hobby." Well, since football is big business I say hit them where they live--in the pocketbook. Unfortunately, most Eagles game ticket are held by season ticket holders so its just about useless to say "don't buy tickets." But they do have sponsors, including television stations. I recommend voicing our disappointment and dismay to them. If they pull out of their sponsorship, that will make a statement to the Eagles.
Though Vick did say he what he did was wrong in his press conference today.
The fury that is directed at Michael Vick is surprising in it's intensity and, quite frankly, it's ugly. Ironically, this bloodlust is not so different in it's raw fury from the crimes for which Vick was convicted. The clear message is that Vick's crimes are so egregious that they are unforgivable. But as a society we determine what constitutes a crime and what punishments are meted out. Whether justice is achieved is often a matter of personal opinion. But the facts are that Vick committed a crime, society punished him for it according to the law, and now allows him to continue his life. It's outrageous and hypocritical to punish someone for breaking the law and then to say that the law is not punishing him enough. For what Dan Brown (and others) are saying is that the punishment isn't severe enough - he must work in only menial jobs and suffer indefinitely. Maybe we should throw in waterboarding just for the hell of it.
Spot on, Ron! I guess the view from Dan Brown's high horse doesn't allow him to accept the simple truths about the justice system that you've outlined - obviously because it doesn't suit him.
There are at least two crimes that will indelibly mark those convicted of committing them. One of these is child molesting and the other is torturing animals . Fair or unfair, that’s the way it is.
If we believed in that theory, we would still have slavery and women would not have the right to vote.
"It's outrageous and hypocritical to punish someone for breaking the law and then to say that the law is not punishing him enough."
Hypocrisy? You want to talk hypocrisy? Ok, I'm game.
Violating a federal law against interstate travel in aid of certain criminal activities carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Participating in a dogfight in Virginia: Felony, up to five years, $2,500 fine.
Possessing a fighting dog in Virginia: Felony, up to five years, $2,500 fine.
Being a spectator at a dogfight in Virginia: Misdemeanor, up to a year, $2,500 fine.
So, out of a possible 16 years he does 18 months.
In 1996 Michael Irvin was busted with cocaine & hookers in a hotel room. He walked away with community service, a $10,000 fine and 4 years probation. Had it been another black man, say just a regular joe off the street, do you honestly think he too would have walked without having to serve ANY prison time?? Hardly.
This same thing has happened countless times, to both caucasians & blacks alike and the rich & famous invariably wind up with much lighter sentences.
The sad fact is there are two justice systems. One for the rich & famous and one for everyone else.
It's outrageous and hypocritical to punish someone more harshly for a crime than someone who is a celebrity and commits the exact same crime.
I guess you should have gone into law and become a judge. That is where your real argument is, with the judge. You likely have no clue as to the deals that are made behind closed doors and the money that changes hands. That is why those who have little or no money get long sentences. As for Michael Irvin, he had money and the Dallas Cowboy organization behind him. He was also warned rather sternly by the judge in the case that he should not find himself in front of said judge again, or he would be hit with the max. Did you see that, it was broadcast. One could see in the judge's face that he was not happy wit the ruling he had made, I suspect that some heavy backdoor dealings went on.
waterboarding -- hmmmmmmmmm
Not unless you actually drowned him... Cause that's what HE did to the dogs.
And to all these Vic apologists and 'forgivers
The only thing he's 'sorry for' is that he was CAUGHT!!!
This guy is Bad Newz... Just like he calls himself!!!
There is no evidence that he can successfully run the wildcat formation.
Know what cracks me up that most is people say "oh vick paid his dues he deserves a second chance" blah blah blah. Did you all think that he had no choice in the matter of paying his dues. It's not like he woke up one day and said you "know what torturing animals is horrible and I'm going to turn my self in." Wake up people. If he was never caught he would still be running bad news kennels. Do you want to put this man on tv to be idolized by people when he stood there and watch these dogs go for the jugulars and enjoyed it. Authorizing physical torture, it was his kennels and his call. Counting every dollar he made per dog. Where are your morals and values? Is this city so desperate to win a super bowl that it embraces this form of player?
You are so right on! Your post says it all.
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