Friday, August 14, 2009

I don't believe it

I'm dealing with some rage issues right now. Really, I'm trying the deep breathing and all, but it isn't helping much. I just read that the Eagles have signed Michael Vick. Yes, the Michael Vick who was recently suspended indefinitely from the NFL. The Michael Vick the football player who pled guilty to financing and running a brutal dog fighting ring in Atlanta. The Michael Vick who admitted to hanging or drowning the "under performing" fighting dogs. And lying about it
As a player in the NFL he used his money and influence to commit these depraved acts. Why are they allowing him to return? Why is the NFL not concerned that allowing him to return is in effect saying that what he did was fine, that the torture and killing of dogs for sport and monetary gain is A-ok. Well fuck you NFL.
Sure Vick says he is sorry. Maybe I'm a cynic, but the only thing I think he's really sorry about is getting caught. He even says he wants to be part of the solution. Really Michael? Really? What are you doing to make that happen? Not much, right? I guess we can listen to you whine and claim to be reformed this weekend when your interview is televised. But what about the dogs, Michael? Can we talk about the 49 dogs that were taken from your criminal operation? Most of those dogs are in new homes. They were rehabilitated after the vile treatment they received at your hands, financed with your NFL fortune. They deserved the second chance. They earned it. Not you.

7 comments:

Summer said...

It's aggravating, but not totally surprising. The NFL has a long history of letting abusers in with open arms, animals cruelty wouldn't likely be the exception.

followthatdog said...

I know. It is sickening. I'm so frustrated with the "anything goes" attitude of pro sports in general.

Nicebloke said...

I had this same conversation with my brother last night who is an Eagles fan. He countered my rage by saying that this is America and everyone deserves a second chance, and also that someone who eats meat (like I do) can't really complain about dog fighting.

I figured this was an argument that would clearly go nowhere so kept my anger to myself...

followthatdog said...

I believe in second chances, but I don't believe he should be allowed to play in professional sports. He gets a second chance by serving his time and trying to become a productive member of society. I do not believe he should have a second shot at playing professional sports. That job has a high level of visibility and his behavior has too much of an influence on other people. Also, even if he was rehabilitated, which I very much doubt, why not let him prove it a bit before we take his word for his new understanding of what he did wrong. He was released from prison in June, he's back in pro sports in August? Pretty quickly handed a BIG second chance there.

The league should hold players to some level of accountability since they ARE role models, whether they wish to be or not. And yes, even a meat eater can object to abusing animals and torturing them so they fight to the death. I am not a meat eater and I very clearly see the difference between humanely slaughtered animals and the depravity of dog fighting.

I have such deep feeling about this since I am such a dog lover and a pit bull owner to boot. These dog fighters are a big reason this amazing breed has been turned into devil-dogs by the media. It's sad.

I posted something on twitter earlier and got attacked by some nutjob who had all kind of great things to say on the topic too. I just don't get how anyone can support dog fighting. It's sickening.

mamikaze said...

it's sick and sad. I have no respect for the Eagles. The NFL has no reinstated him yet, but I don't see why they won't if he's already been signed. Assholes.

followthatdog said...

He was reinstated in July. Shouldn't have been, but the NFL is full of dirtbags, what's one more?

Buster's Momma said...

Didn't he move back into the house in VA? Isn't everything there just the way it was when he was arrested, with the kennels & outbuildings etc.? I think it's just a matter of time before he returns to his old ways. The lure of the "easy money" will be too much for him to resist. If he has truly been rehabbed, he should demonstrate that by not returning to live at the scene of the crime.

I'm with you - his days as a professional athlete should be over. If he needs something to do, there are a lot of animal shelters that need to have the poop scooped. Here's your shovel, Mike.

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