Based on the latest edition of ESPN's Outside the Lines, Michael Vick is in deep trouble. And even though this isn't drunk driving or domestic abuse charges, it's still a P.R. nightmare for the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell. Yes, dogs are not human beings, but surely they don't deserve to be unwillingly thrown into fights against other dogs. The NFL even made it clear in a statement they released to Outside the Lines.
The reality according to ESPN is that many more professional athletes are involved besides Vick. This means, that like steroids, there is more to this than meets the eyes. And now the world of dogfighting, which a lot of people knows exists but very few people talk about, may now hit the mainstream.
As a pet owner, and not even someone who likes dogs for pets, this whole situation just bothers me to know end. I find it bad enough that some cultures eat house pets as food, but at least they're doing it for survival. But if NBA and NFL players are involved in this animal abuse, then they need to be exposed as quickly as possible so that this sub-culture can be severely damaged. Obviously, there's no way we can ever be rid of something like this, but something has to be done.
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You're right, Vick is in HUGE trouble. I'm a vegetarian and a strong believer in animal rights, so I obviously am biased. But the bottom line is that apparently Vick broke the law, so this isn't an animal rights issue. Unfortunately for Vick, if Goodell is serious about the new player conduct standards, Vick is going to be suspended for some games at some time.
This kind of stuff kills me. First and foremost, Michael Vick hasn't even been charged with anything, however, the media has already tried and convicted him, and worst of all, two sports enthusiasts are perpetuating it as well.
Aside from that, why is it okay for the brutal slaughter of certain animals like cows, chickens and pigs, but alleged domesticated animals like "dogs" aren't okay to endure cruelty?
Perhaps it would be best to wait for Michael Vick to be convicted of something before condemning him. Maybe it's best to allow for the litigation system to take its course before jumping to conclusions, but I suppose that would be too Un-American-like?
I'm not convicting Vick. I'm just talking about how bad this situation is for everyone if they are involved. And I think we'd all have to be extremely naive or stupid to think stuff like this doesn't go on with professional athletes.
And I do think something should be done about the cruelty done to overfed cows and other similar circumstances. And it doesn't help that A. Vick sold the house right after all these allegations came up and B. When talking about the situation, he referred to himself in the third person. WHile this doesn't mean he should be locked away, it definitely says a lot about 21st century athletes.
Pacman wasn't convicted either, and he got suspended for an entire year. Goodell seems content to punish based on smoke, not fire, and there's a bunch of smoke here.
Goodell is new to being an NFL commissioner, so it's tough to chastise him for being so cautious, it's kind of like a new parent when his or her child has his or her first cold, the natural reaction is an overreaction.
However, as far as Michael Vick goes, I don't care if he comes right out and says everything save for "Yeah I did it!" It's within his right to have a judge and jury convict him, as opposed to a bunch of writers hungry for another story.
Adam "Pacman" Jones shouldn't have been suspended, and Goodell has taken quite sometime to address the actual convicted player in all of this. This may be a potentially crippling situation for Vick, but aside from that whole waterbottle-gate, he's never been in trouble with the law (save for a rumored STD suit brought up against Ron Mexico).
Just because Goodell seems content to punish individuals based on smoke, doesn't mean we should fan the flames. Let's evaluate individuals based on what they've accomplished "factually", and reserve judgement concerning their alleged actions until they're "factual".
This situation is only as bad as the media and NFL is willing to perpetuate it. I'm sure that the first of those two wants to milk it (no pun intended) for everything it's worth, but concerning what this says concerning 21st century athletes is that just like their predecessors, they're scrutinized beyond reproach, and persecuted in the media long before they ever make it to the courtroom.
Perhaps heavyweights like Ali and Jackie would have left the games alone had the media been as unforgiving as it is today, but then again true athletes overcome all odds right.
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