My comment:
As a pit bull owner I am disgusted and so enraged that this ‘celebrity’ has furthered the hatred and stereotype of these wonderful dogs.
It’s not *just* what he’s done to the pit bull breed, but the violence he committed against another living being incomprehensible. He’s a vile and deranged person. I would love nothing more than for him to suffer the same horrible disgusting acts he inflicted upon these animals.
I am disgusted, infuriated and down right pissed off to the point where I wish physical harm to him for what he has done. His smug grin angers me to no end.
Read Jurgen Nation’s Open Letter to Michael Vick.
As for the dogs which were affected by this monsters greed and inhumane acts? The ones that were able to be saved are on the mend. Some have been rehabilitated and living with loving and caring families as they should be.
Do you know what happens to these dogs when they are forced to fight?
Gypsy “The Angel Pit Bull” tells her story. **The images contained in these link are extremely graphic.**
How do you feel about Michael Vick being reinstated into the NFL and playing for the Eagles again? Should he be banned for life? Does he deserve a second chance?
How do you feel about this ‘man’ being a ‘role model’ for so many of today’s youth? (Because really? What pro athlete is not considered a role model to young adolescents?)
Should he be resigned to a life in a cage where he is beaten, burned and battered for not performing as expected?
I think you know which one I’m gunning for.
{ 15 comments }
It makes me physically ill to think that some team decided they want him to play for them.
I used to work for an animal rescue who saved primarily pit bulls. They are THE BEST dogs and get such a bad rap. It’s the owners that turn them in to violent animals; they aren’t born that way.
I’ve seen fighting videos. I’ve seen how they are trained. I know about ‘bait’ and what that entails. Every single thing surrounding dog fighting is void of humanity and I can’t even believe that it still continues.
I truly TRULY hope Michael Vick goes to Hell and takes all of his supporters with.
My head explodes every time I think about the fact that the NFL is willing to employ convicted felons. Second chances are a wonderful thing, but how many companies will welcome an employee back after something like that?
My main thing lately is that Vick’s case is not like Stallworth’s. Stallworth did something stupid. He made a bad decision. He deserves to pay a high price for that bad decision. But, it was *one* decision. Vick’s crime spanned years, was carefully plotted and schemed, and was the result of literally hundreds of bad decisions. It is irrelevant to me what the actual crime was, it’s the premeditation and continuous repetition of that crime that is horrible.
I think there is a twisted standard in our country, animal abuse trumps domestic abuse. What he did was vile, disgusting, evil, and illegal. And I completely agree he should have gone to jail. But to say that he has no right to play ball after he completed his sentence and is completing all the required community service, isn’t fair.
There are A LOT of football players who have done heinous things, like shoot people, deal in mass quantities of drugs, beat their wives, rape, and one ran his wife over with a CAR. All of these players were suspended for a few games and continued to play with little or no protest. If we are going to condemn Vick as a loser who shouldn’t play professional sports again, lets start going after all athletes who don’t “deserve” be role models.
As sick as it is dog/cock fighting are parts of some cultures. Instead of focusing on one man who brought the subject in to light, why not concentrate on stopping dog fighting all together?
**ps seeing him get sacked every weekend will bring some satisfaction.
I was SHOCKED that the NFL reinstated Vick. It continues to amaze me that these so called “role models” break the law, spend time in jail, commit horrible acts against those that are weaker and still they are free to make millions of dollars a year and live the cushy life they are so accustomed to. Those who prey on weaker beings are nothing more than COWARDS. Yes, Michael Vick is a COWARD and should be forced to spend time in a cage and be beaten, forced to fight those that are stronger, burned, tortured etc. If they are going to reinstate him, make a condition that 80% of his salary for the term of his contract goes towards helping animals in need. Let’s see then how “sorry” he really is. PATHETIC!
I’ll admit that while I enjoy other people’s dogs, I’m totally not a dog person.
So, I’m not coming from this the same place you are.
Regardless …
What he did was horrible.
And he does not deserve to be rewarded with any kind of glory.
I honestly can’t imagine offering him that job. Nor can I imagine being a “teammate” of his (term used loosely).
Really, the situation disgusts me.
The only good brought of any of it, and I’m not sure I’d say good, is that I’m not sure many people knew that such a horrible thing was still going on, and at least it brought it to light. But, that’s no justification AT ALL.
What pisses me off about the whole situation is that he was jailed for running an illegal dog fighting ring. NOT for the horrible, nasty things he did to those poor dogs. I don’t see why beating/starving/baiting/killing and whatever the fuck else they do to the dogs is just a misdemeanor. He should have been locked up a lot longer for the pain and suffering he caused. I hate the man. My grandmother always said “hate is such a strong word” but the emotion I feel for him is hatred. I wish he had to endure half of what he did to the dogs. And I certainly don’t think he should be making mad cash for playing a fucking GAME for a living after the fact. I hope his team loses money. I hope there are protesters at every single one of his games.
Did you by chance see the show Dogtown on Animal Planet where they were working to rehabilitate some of his dogs? I wish I had a bagillion dollars to donate to them (http://www.bestfriends.org/) because the things they do are flipping fantastic.
I have a pit bull mix and she’s my 6 yo sons dog. I always like to point that out when people ask what kind of dog she is. I am a firm believer that it’s the owner that makes any kind of dog vicious.
My pit bull’s name is love and that’s exactly what she is, a total and complete love. My 6 yo and 3 yo play all over her all the time and she has never snapped at ether one of them and it disgusts me when people are so ready to disregard any good for the stupidity of a few people.
Perhaps it is Pollyanna of me to think, but I would hope that by bringing him back into the public eye, now with the black smudge upon his character, he will become more aware of how his actions affect others, and do good instead of further harm.
What he did was disgraceful, selfish, and inhumane, I do not dispute that, and in fact it makes my stomach turn. Should he have his high paying job back? Strangely, this I feel is of no importance to the aftermath of the situation.. Anyone, whether they be a pro athlete or executive in a company, has a job to do. This is his profession, and just like we would expect anyone else to do, they get on with their lives and go back to work being a productive member in society. His job just happens to be really, really public.
I am hoping that he is required to campaign on the behalf of tortured and abused animals such as the pit bulls he had for his fighting. Let us hope he can use his celebrity to bring to light how awful the lives of these exploited animals really are, and enact real change for the better.
Be it on his head if he does not, or goes back to old ways, because this second chance is just that. A chance.
Though I appreciate your point, I disagree.
CEO’s and other high ranking executives of large corporations (Enron? Crispers? Red Cross?) which have been arrested, charged and jailed for embezzlement don’t really get to go back to work after they’ve committed such a crime. They’ve been blacklisted and not likely not to have a position at the same capacity again.
Unless they are morally bankrupt, how could someone want to have that person working for them? That’s what I wonder.
But football? Football is about winning. Football – or sports in general – is about talent, not morals or a person’s character.
I’d like to see that he do PSAs and the like.. but unless they’re heartfelt and sincere its just throwing salt in an open throbbing wound.
No way in hell should he be allowed to be back in the NFL. And to the team(s) that would have him: SHAME ON YOU!
Sure, he’s done his time, but he should not be rewarded by being able to get his multi-millions-dollar job back.
Remember back in high school, when you had a code of conduct that you had to adhere to if you were going to be on any kind of team? You were always representing the team, and therefore were expected to behave in a fitting manner. Does the NFL not have a code of conduct? Can they not see that having Michael Vick on their team might perhaps tarnish their reputation?
You’re absolutely right. Code of Conduct is HUGE… but in high school.. not in real life. The sports world is about talent above anything else.
If the professional sports leagues were made up of those of high moral and squeaky clean backgrounds, there wouldn’t be enough players to go around. Professional sports as we know them would be over.
But if we don’t speak up, who will. Who else is there? Really? The team owners? They don’t care… their main goal is winning – that’s what makes them the money. Right?
You are so right. People would probably have to boycott the NFL in order to see any change. Hit them where it hurts, their precious bottom line.
he should never be allowed to play again. However, I truly am more upset that Donte Stallworth killed someone and got no more than a slap on the wrist from the NFL.
Oh boy. This is a tricky one for me.
I live in a suburb of Philadelphia, so this is obviously up front and center for me.
I think what Vick did was disgusting. I do not in ANY way condone what he did/allowed to be done to any of those animals.
I am dissapointed in the Eagles decision to sign him, it is something I would have never expected from them, maybe the Cowboys…but not the Birds.
On the other hand, my brother is a convicted felon. No, his crime was not a heinous act like this, but on the same point…someone had to give him a second chance. Someone had to give him an opprotunity to get his shit together.
I’m glad he was signed…because it keeps the issue in the spotlight. He served time in prison and is now required (per the commissioner of the NFL) to work with the humane society. He is also paying for all the rehab costs for the dogs that were saved off his property.
Do I think this makes him a good person? Hell to the mother-f’en No.
But I am willing to sit back and see how it plays out and hope for some positive. Not for Vick…but for the issue at hand.
As for where he goes after he leaves this life? I think your spot on Sam!
xoxoxo
I’m in the outer Philly suburbs too, Eagles territory. (Luckily, I’m a transplant, so I’m NOT an Eagles fan). But – the papers, the news, the fans… it sickens me.
I agree with what you said, that this man does NOT deserve to play. I can’t believe that a team would willingly take someone like that on.
But… like Ali said… my husband has a criminal record from when he was a teenager, and I KNOW how important that second chance was to him. His crimes were NOT violent in anyway, so to me, that makes a difference.
I’m not sure, really. I think Vicks deserves the treatment those poor animals got. But maybe, hopefully… something good will come out of this? I’m guessing that’s just my Pollyanna side talking, though.
I own 2 pitbull mixes – the most loyal, loving, teddy bear dogs you’ll ever meet. And I hate what people like Vicks have done to the breed, to furthering the irrational fear that already exists.
I have seen some stories on the news about the protests, but to be honest, they were small and ineffectual, from what I can tell.
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