Michael Vick Should Work, but Never Again in the NFL
I believe in second chances. I believe that redemption is the soul of hope. I believe debts paid warrant fresh starts.
Except when it comes to Michael Vick.
He has served his time, endured his punishment, expressed his remorse and has a right to make a living. But the owners of every National Football League franchise have an equal right to say: he won't earn that living here.
An NFL team is as much a part of a city as its skyline. It is bound up in history, identity, and self-confidence. It is a source of great pride, great pain and loving obsession. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said that being part of all that is "a privilege."
There are times when great privilege, once squandered, should never be extended again.
Sure, you can argue precedent. Players have committed crimes, hurt others and behaved stupidly (sometimes serially) and been allowed back in to the select club of young men who make millions doing a job they love, and for which they are greatly loved in return.
This is different.
Michael Vick did not make "a mistake." He did not use "bad judgment." He did not exercise "poor choices."
He ran a long-term, well-planned, well-funded criminal enterprise that was awesome in its cruelty.
It's been two years since his arrest. And time can dull the outrage.
So let's revisit the victims.
Of the 49 dogs saved, only one was so vicious it had to be euthanized. Twenty five went directly to experienced, carefully selected foster homes. The remaining 21, mainly because they were animal-aggressive, went to rehab at Dogtown, a state-of-the-art, no-kill sanctuary in Utah. A few will live out there lives there. The rest are expected to be adopted. A number have become therapy dogs -- surprising unless you know pit bulls are, by nature, slobberingly affectionate toward people.
Dogtown's trainers say the dogs were "shutdown" when they arrived -- confused, afraid and prone to panic at the slightest noise or the flick of a light. Thanks to the patience and dedication of a caring staff, they have started to shake off their trauma.
Nobody knows what they were called -- if anything -- when they were starved, living in the open, attached by heavy chains to buried car axels.
Now they have names ... like Sweet Pea ... and Georgia ... and Lucas. They suffered in ways we'd rather not think about ... and have the scars to prove it. Others never made it off the property, killed, at least eight by Vick personally, because they lost a fight or failed an audition.
I know this is old news. I know that Michael Vick has paid a steep price in lost time and lost treasure. I know that these are "only dogs."
But as Vick becomes a free man cleared to pursue his vocation, it is important to remember what happened to living creatures in the pits, the black-roofed shacks and the woods behind his home.
It is important because there is a question on the table, and every owner of an NFL team must answer it. Is a man with the proven capacity for such wanton, sustained, cruelty someone who deserves a place among those you have hand-picked to represent you, your business, your family and your city?
In answering that question, I hope every single owner shows that some things have greater value than fast-twitch muscles and a bionic arm.
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Michael Vick's crimes are deplorable. Professional athletes have always been role models for our nation's children. Hiring Mr. Vick sends a powerful message to kids. Yes, he has completed his sentence and is now in need of employment. But I don't believe that he should be hired back into any position that includes being a role model for children. Kids deserve and really need so much more from us adults than that.
Our family is joining the nationwide boycott of Eagles corporate sponsors. The team's hiring decision affects the sponsors' good name too: they are now sponsoring this decision. If anyone would like to join the boycott, they can call and ask the sponsors to either withdraw their sponsorship or put pressure on the Eagles to rectify this situation, and we can let the sponsors know that we will boycott their products until then. The names of the corporate sponsors can be found on the Eagles' website: www.philadelphiaeagles.com. under "Team" on the menu bar. Below are a few of them, and their contact numbers. Everyone I spoke with was helpful and very interested in the public's reactions to the Vick hire, and they will pass your comments forward to management.
Pepsi - 800-433-2652
Rite Aid - 717-761-2633
Dunkin Donuts - 800-839-5339
Snapple - 800-696-5891
7-Eleven - 800-255-0711
TastyKake - 215-221-8500
Miller Lite - 800-645-5376
Best Buy - 888-237-8289
Budweiser - 800-342-5283
ReMax - 303-770-5531
Hey,you and your family and friends do whatever you like,but don,t expect people that love their loved ones to have anything to do with hurting people.That was wrong. yes, he hurt GOD,S animals and the way the LORD punish is like no other.So,you all go right on and mind Mike,s business.And when sorrow hits home have a good pity party in the honor of your wrong doings.
Ray Lewis. Leonard Little. Donte' Stallworth. All of these players have killed other human beings - accused of murder in the former, manslaughter/DUI in the latter two - and all have either been allowed to return to the NFL, or will undoubtedly at some point. None of those three have received protests at anything approaching the level of vitriol that Michael Vick has. Why is that?
I am so tired of the lame argument that humans are more important than dogs! NO! Dogs are like innocent children that depend on us to care for them and treat them with dignity and respect. Dogs have just as much right to be on this planet as humans! The same people who think dogs are relegated to some gutter level in our society are the ones who are for global warming, killing the whales, stripping the rainforests! Get real people!
I am so outraged about Michael Vick that I can hardly stand it!! As I watched his performance on 60 minutes I was screaming at the telivision, "What about the --- dogs??!!!" He was sorry that he lost his job, he was sorry that he had to live in a cell for a couple months before he spent the remainder of his scant sentence in luxury in his mansion, he was sorry to be away from his family, he was sorry to lose his multimillion dollar contract, etc. I am amazed that so many Americans don't seem to care about the viciousness and horror of what he did to these dogs. He electrocuted dogs to death, he drowned dogs, he hung dogs from nooses, he watched dogs tear each other to peices, he shot dogs. This man is a MONSTER and should NEVER play professional sports EVER AGAIN!!!
I am appalled by the fact that the Philidelphia Eagles signed Michel Vick to a one your contract with the chance of a 2 year contract in the works. Do you realize in his first year he will be making over 1 million dollars and if he signs for a second year it jumps to 5 million dollars. This guy is a convicted criminal and is being rewarded by the Eagles!! What in the world were they thinking to sign on this guy? I can only hope the sponsors for this team will back off of their commitments due to this decision and I hope the fans stand up and voice their opionion over this outrageous decision on behalf of the Eagles!!! Vick has no right to play football again. He made a decision to hurt dogs in the highest form of cruelity! I'm addressing this to fhe football decision maker to please change your mind and don't allow players that take an utter disrepect for animais to pursue ny allowing him to pursue his dream of playing football. I'm sorry...I'm sure a lot of you will disagree with me. But I trully love dogs and can't imagine the pain and suffering Vick caused them. In my opionion he shows no remorse for what he has done. He doesn't care one bit!! All he cares about his the money he will be making!!
Your professional skills should be directed toward stopping a horrific industry. You've conveniently forgot that Vick was a part of a sick, underground network that is still in practice today. Galvanize the community, law enforcement and the dog lovers to end this madness. Stopping Vick won't stop dogs from being mistreated and this is the real tragedy.
30% of Women presenting with injuries to the emergency department were identified as having injuries caused by battering. (American Journal of Public Health, 1/89)
Pregnancy is a risk factor. Several studies indicate a range of incidence from 17% to 26% of pregnant women. (Public Health Nursing, 9/87)
42% of murdered women are killed by their intimate partners. (FBI's 88-91 Uniform Crime Reports)
WHO IS MORE IMPORTANT A WOMAN OR A DOG?
HOW COME YOU WON'T SAY THIS AGAINST MEN THAT ABUSE WOMEN..
7% of women (3.9 million) are physically abused by their partners, and 37% (20.7 million) are verbally or emotionally abused.
Every 9 seconds a woman is physically abused by her husband.
95% of assaults on spouses or ex-spouses are committed by men against women.
30% of women presenting with injuries to the emergency department had injuries caused by battering.
From 7% to 26% of pregnant women are abused.
42% of murdered women are killed by their intimate partners.
Within the last year, 7% of American women (3.9 million) who are married or living with someone as a couple were physically abused, and 37% (20.7 million) were verbally or emotionally abused by their spouse or partner. (The Commonwealth Fund, N.Y. 1991)
Every 9 seconds a woman is physically abused by her husband. (The Commonwealth Fund, N.Y. 1991)
The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 95% of assaults on spouses or ex-spouses are committed by men against women. (Assessing Violent Couples, H. Douglas, Families in Society, 11/91)
Domestic violence is a repetitive in nature: about 1 in 5 women victimized by their spouse or ex-spouse reported that they had been a victim of a series of at least 3 assaults in the last 6 months. (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 10/93)
oneiner - Read this and pay attention. Animal cruelty is directly related to violence against women.
http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/newsroom/fact-sheets/animal-abuse-domestic-violence.html
Facts About Animal Abuse & Domestic Violence
In association with the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Why it Matters
71% of pet-owning women entering women’s shelters reported that their batterer had injured, maimed, killed or threatened family pets for revenge or to psychologically control victims; 32% reported their children had hurt or killed animals. [1]
68% of battered women reported violence towards their animals. 87% of these incidents occurred in the presence of the women, and 75% in the presence of the children, to psychologically control and coerce them. [2]
13% of intentional animal abuse cases involve domestic violence. [3]
Between 25% and 40% of battered women are unable to escape abusive situations because they worry about what will happen to their pets or livestock should they leave. [4,5,6]
Abusers kill, harm, or threaten children’s pets to coerce them into sexual abuse or to force them to remain silent about abuse.
In one study, 70% of animal abusers also had records for other crimes. Domestic violence victims whose animals were abused saw the animal cruelty as one more violent episode in a long history of indiscriminate violence aimed at them and their vulnerability. [10]
Investigation of animal abuse is often the first point of social services intervention for a family in trouble. [4]
Women can pick up a phone and call for help. Dogs can't. There are Hotlines in every city, and a police force that can help humans suffering from domestic abuse.
Dogs can't call for help.
Most animal abusers have criminal histories with other crimes such as rape, domestic violence, and child abuse.
So what is your point? That we should ignore animal cruelty because women are beat up too? Wouldn't it be better to stop all violence against both human and animal abusers?
Did you know that Battered women have been known to live in their cars with their pets for as long as four months until an opening was available at a pet-friendly safe house?
http://www.americanhumane.org/about-us/newsroom/fact-sheets/animal-abuse-domestic-violence.html
Right and wrong is balanced differently for every man woman and child. Some of us are so numb to an idea that it could seriously turn people away. I for example grew up poor and don't have this huge Xmas Turkey day holiday spirit. I also went and joined the Navy, being a Submariner for 13 years I missed a couple of those days underway. Point I'm trying to make is you are not a criminal/monster cause you have less, way less feelings over something some one else loves dearly. Being a father i understand XMAS is a big deal, so I get my kids and wife great gifts but I truly don't care for song and cheer and gifts or postcards for myself. It may be possible in a society where dogs are running astray through the neighborhood one doesnt look at them as loving creatures but another bug. How many people in the hood are having litters and letting them go to anyone. or doesn't care when two or three runts just don't make it. Its not a big deal to everyone, it doesn't have to be either. I like dogs, I've lost a couple of them, no big deal. If I lost one of my children, I would go crazy. Lets go after pedophiles and the true criminals. Vick paid his dues, think if it were you for anything, if you paid your dues wouldn't you wish to be cut some slack...
You are scary. Get some help!
Would you rather he turn to a life of crime..ie...armed robbery. Strong, athletic black man who isn't allowed to do what he is good at, might decide to climb through your window and take your stuff. Let the man earn a living in what he trained for. Jeesh. In other cultures, ie...Spain, Mexico...cockfighting, bullfighting. Not everyone feels the passion for animals the way so many Americans feel. Like Dogs walking on furniture and sleeping in beds. I mean, yes, it's cruel. But at least he didn't abuse children or solicit sex from minors like so many of your politicians who still work in politics.
isn't allowed to do what he is good at, let me see, he was good at torturing animals, what an absurd statement.
So if Vick had abused a woman or a child, and had 'served his time, paid his debt', then you would be ok with him being allowed back in the NFL to be idolized by kids that want to grow up to play sports? Child molesters (R. Kelly) get out of prison all the time. Are they entitled to go back to work in schools if that is where they made their living?
That is the logic you are using.
He did the crime. He did the time. Let him earn his keep.
EXACTLY...football players aren't priests!
But they ARE idolized by little boys that want to grow up to be famous football players.
Why would the NFL, NBA, NHL, or any other sports team want a convicted felon on their team? Why aren't ALL convicted felons banned from playing?
Football teams represent cities, and the players represent the communities. It is disgraceful that any convicted felon be allowed to play. BAN ALL CONVICTED FELONS FROM THE NFL.! Or just start sendiing the talent scouts to prison, and skip college.
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But they ARE idolized by little boys that want to grow up to be famous football players.
Why would the NFL, NBA, NHL, or any other sports team want a convicted felon on their team? Why aren't ALL convicted felons banned from playing?
Football teams represent cities, and the players represent the communities. It is disgraceful that any convicted felon be allowed to play. BAN ALL CONVICTED FELONS FROM THE NFL.! Or just start sendiing the talent scouts to prison, and skip college.
Marking people who did their time and paid their dues is inhumane. Kids need to start looking at real people in their lives for role models not STRANGERS.
This kind of thinking is why this society is so arse backwards.
the folks making the decision on his status are doing so over Steaks and Burgers
hypocrites all!
Interesting take..didn't think of that... but it makes sense... on the meat thing.... So Ms. Drexler - what is your column saying; that no matter what he did for a living before he got caught, he should never be allowed to go back to it? . So a plumber, commit's a crime, he should lose his plumbing license... Pipes, dogs.... yeah, I see the connection. Leather, oblong shaped ball... dogs, I see the connection there too...
I think it wasn't enough for you to see him do time... loss of job, humiliation, fines, community service, probation... he sentence is to be humiliated until you are personally happy... reasonable... Of course this applies to you too... you commit any crime and you should never be allowed to write again, until I'm happy right?
You mean like the long-term, well-planned, credit default swaps that caused millions of PEOPLE to be thrown out of their homes. These criminals have not done one day in jail and not only that, they are still raking in the big bucks. Nobody has stopped them from making a livng.
Its thinking like yours that has destroyed many of the black communities. A kid makes a mistake and ends of doing time and when he gets out then he can't get a job because of thinking like yours. So what does he do? He returns to the life.
Yes a second chance should be extended to anyone who has served their time and who is willing to return to society. We should allow people to pick up where they left off, if possible. You have career criminals of which Vick is not one.
You are so wrong. Wrong does not demonstrate how wrong you are.
A NFL team is a squad of players whom together promote authority when needed and punishment when needed.
What progress would it be if one its members is disciplined and then now allowed back on the team. No wonder the NFL is not longer a family anymore and team sports are no longer about teamwork and shared experiences.
Because people like you have no admiration for team discipline. Right now, Michael Vick would be a standout teacher, if he's learned his lesson, to promote team discipline and maybe help squad players recover teamanship, authority and shared responsibility.
3rd sentence should read:
What progress would it be if one of its members is disciplined and then "not" allowed back on the team ?
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