VICK TAKES THE DEAL

[bauerman]

Michael Vick takes the plea deal. Terms of the deal were not released as of yet.

His NFL career is very much in jeopardy.

[Village_Idiot]

Michael Vick takes the plea deal. Terms of the deal were not released as of yet.

His NFL career is very much in jeopardy.

uh...yeah...it has been since the beginning.

[bauerman]

There was the chance though that he would let it go to trial and theoretically there was a chance he could have been found not guilty. Had that (although unlikely) happened - his career may have continued.

That option is now gone. He is admitting guilt to some pretty heinous charges.

[Grace]

trash...absolute trash!

[superdiver]

The comish will NOT go lightly on him...thank goodness....pro sport figures are pretty much scum and get away with way too much.....LOL

[bauerman]

I don't know how he is not banned for life from the NFL. That seems to be the only logical conclusion at this point.

[BillsBayou]

I don't know how he is not banned for life from the NFL. That seems to be the only logical conclusion at this point.

"...is not banned..." takes a conviction or admission of guilt.

Rephrasing: "I don't know how he will not be banned for life from the NFL"

I agree with that. He should be banned.

Details to come, I'm sure. We'll get to see what the legal system has in store for his plea deal.

Here's my question: Did the plea deal include any cooperation from the NFL?

If not, then the plea deal holds gives him no bargaining room with the NFL. (this is my hope. fry that creep.)

[In2Photos]

"...is not banned..." takes a conviction or admission of guilt.

Rephrasing: "I don't know how he will not be banned for life from the NFL"

I agree with that. He should be banned.

Details to come, I'm sure. We'll get to see what the legal system has in store for his plea deal.

Here's my question: Did the plea deal include any cooperation from the NFL?

If not, then the plea deal holds gives him no bargaining room with the NFL. (this is my hope. fry that creep.)
Supposedly Goddell has said that they wil make no judgements until after the proceedings. This should mean that they did not bargain (although Vick's lawyers were trying hard to get that to happen).

Fry him I say. Definitely don't let him back into the NFL.

[Village_Idiot]

"...is not banned..." takes a conviction or admission of guilt.

Rephrasing: "I don't know how he will not be banned for life from the NFL"

I agree with that. He should be banned.

Details to come, I'm sure. We'll get to see what the legal system has in store for his plea deal.

Here's my question: Did the plea deal include any cooperation from the NFL?

If not, then the plea deal holds gives him no bargaining room with the NFL. (this is my hope. fry that creep.)

Well look at all the other crap some of the players get away with and are still allowed to play. Everthing from shootings, to giant coke parties, to basically all kinds of criminal acts...and most of them still play. Look at the Cowboys several years back...you know, when just about all of them were busted for drugs and what ever else...

[BillsBayou]

Fry them all, then. I agree.

[bauerman]

Well look at all the other crap some of the players get away with and are still allowed to play. Everthing from shootings, to giant coke parties, to basically all kinds of criminal acts...and most of them still play. Look at the Cowboys several years back...you know, when just about all of them were busted for drugs and what ever else...

What didn't happen for other players should not affect what happens to a current player...

[thekid24]

Oh man what a world of sh!t his life has turned out to be with some bAAaaad choices.

He pleased guilty because SUPPOSEDLY one of the guys that onces helped him out with this was gonna tesify against him. OUCH!

Should be interesting to see nonetheless.

Honetly I dont care what happens to him, I cant wait for the season to get here....not too much longer

YAYAYAYAYA

[In2Photos]

"...is not banned..." takes a conviction or admission of guilt.

Rephrasing: "I don't know how he will not be banned for life from the NFL"

I agree with that. He should be banned.

Details to come, I'm sure. We'll get to see what the legal system has in store for his plea deal.

Here's my question: Did the plea deal include any cooperation from the NFL?

If not, then the plea deal holds gives him no bargaining room with the NFL. (this is my hope. fry that creep.)
I just read this on ESPN:

"We are aware of Michael Vick's decision to enter a guilty plea to the federal charges against him and accept responsibility for his conduct. We totally condemn the conduct outlined in the charges, which is inconsistent with what Michael Vick previously told both our office and the Falcons," the league said in a statement. "We will conclude our own review under the league's personal conduct policy as soon as possible. In the meantime, we have asked the Falcons to continue to refrain from taking action pending a decision by the commissioner."

[deadpass]

he's copping to killing 8 dogs (drown and hanged them) and at best he'll get a stiff fine and 5 years in lock up. I doubt he'll do a year.

[bauerman]

If the NFL thinks that there is enough evidence though of gambling on the dogfighting - that is a lifetime ban from football regardless of how much jail time he actually serves.

[Gottcha18]

trash...absolute trash!

couldn't have said it better.

[breal101]

Throw him to the dogs!

[Skip Souza]

The ideal jury.

[Woolburr]

The ideal jury.

No kidding! MV had the world by the short ones...how could he have not known that he was making some pretty crap life decisions? He knew what happened to his brother...just so sad to see that kind of talent thrown away.:(

[thekid24]

The ideal jury.

No kidding! MV had the world by the short ones...how could he have not known that he was making some pretty crap life decisions? He knew what happened to his brother...just so sad to see that kind of talent thrown away.:(
Forget his brother....Ren is gonna tear MV a new one....:|

Hes got that crazed look

[Woolburr]

ROFL

[thekid24]

ROFL
seriously though...snoopy would be the one to watch out for...the quiet ones are always the most dangerous

[Woolburr]

He had no problem kicking the Red Baron's @$$!

[csm328]

Vic will receive a meaningless sentance (8-12 months with probation after 6). He will payoff the animal rights groups (they're already throwing figures at him for how much they want to receive forgiveness) and his lawyers will get rich by not physically admitting to his hands-on involvement. His plea agreement has already stopped people testifying against him so there will be no first-person eyewitness accounts provided to the general public. He won't get a lifetime ban from the NFL since they're already cutting deals for future gameplay when this all blows over.

Bottom line: money will buy his freedom. Look at what OJ achieved.

You can take the man out of the ghetto but you can't take the ghetto out of the man.

[bauerman]

The OJ comparison is not a good one here - for many reasons. I think that there is a VERY good chance that Vick is banned for life from the NFL. Very good chance.

I'm also not sure that I would call year behind bars a "meaningless sentence".

[In2Photos]

Vic will receive a meaningless sentance (8-12 months with probation after 6).
1 day to me behind bars wouldn't be meaningless much less 8-12 months.

He will payoff the animal rights groups (they're already throwing figures at him for how much they want to receive forgiveness)

Is this truth or rumour?

and his lawyers will get rich by not physically admitting to his hands-on involvement.

His lawyers were likely already rich. ;)
His plea agreement has already stopped people testifying against him so there will be no first-person eyewitness accounts provided to the general public.

And they won't talk to the media once they get out will they? :rolleyes:


He won't get a lifetime ban from the NFL since they're already cutting deals for future gameplay when this all blows over.

Cutting a deal? No way. Goodell is pissed and will likely use Vick to show that the buck stops here.


Bottom line: money will buy his freedom. Look at what OJ achieved.

OJ was found innocent, Vick plead guilty. Two totaly different things here.

You can take the man out of the ghetto but you can't take the ghetto out of the man.
Tell that to all the others whom have managed to do that very thing.

[sando]

Who, what, where?

[csm328]

LOL, you will all see! And the comparison to the OJ case was merely that money can buy sympathy and, ultimately, reprieve. Easy as that. One day behind bars to you might be huge but to a common criminal like Vic, anything less than 5 years is a win.

And I agree that many people have risen above their ghetto upbringings; however, I was referring to Vic who clearly hasn't.

[csm328]

LOL. Obviously it hasn't made too much of an impact in the UK. Nor should it. The more press this idiot gets, the more he is lauded as some sort of hero amongst organized crime and the dog-fighting set.

Who, what, where?

[tomd]

I don't know how he is not banned for life from the NFL. That seems to be the only logical conclusion at this point.


I agree, keep the slime ball off the field. A role model he is NOT.

[bauerman]

LOL, you will all see! And the comparison to the OJ case was merely that money can buy sympathy and, ultimately, reprieve. Easy as that. One day behind bars to you might be huge but to a common criminal like Vic, anything less than 5 years is a win.

One year in jail and a lifetime ban from football would not be a win in Vick's book.

[DC9]

He is going to make someone a fine jailhouse bitch.

To the professional leagues: I don't pay hundreds of dollars so I can take my kids to see convicted felons play a game. I take the lesser players who are true roll models for my kids to look up to vs. watching a bunch of crooks.

[Village_Idiot]

HA HA!!! I know Vick's future. He's going to be banned and become a professional wrestler, like Pacman Jones.

[Woolburr]

I think it is safe to say his NFL career is over...Maybe he could go play in the CFL.

[CountryBoy]

He is going to make someone a fine jailhouse bitch.

To the professional leagues: I don't pay hundreds of dollars so I can take my kids to see convicted felons play a game. I take the lesser players who are true roll models for my kids to look up to vs. watching a bunch of crooks.


I never looked at sports figures as role mdels anyway.

[csm328]

Give the guy a break. He's just misunderstood. He's the Victim here :p

[JWright]

Michael Vick takes the plea deal. Terms of the deal were not released as of yet.

His NFL career is very much in jeopardy.

Can we say finished?

[superdiver]

HE WILL PLAY AGAIN IN THE NFL...COUNT ON IT...

sad, very sad, but that doesnt make it less true...

Professional sports are all about money...

[csm328]

Finally someone that can see thorugh the smokescreen. Again, I refer to OJ :)

HE WILL PLAY AGAIN IN THE NFL...COUNT ON IT...

sad, very sad, but that doesnt make it less true...

Professional sports are all about money...

[slowmotion]

I find it interesting how OJ's name is brought up anytime an athelete appears to be "getting away with something". Why don't we ever talk about Roy Bryant, and his half brother J.W. Mill who killed Emmit Till, bragged about it and live in relative obscurity. Maybe I'm off base here but how can the murder of humans be compared to the distruction of property? It saddens me to see how up in arms we can all get over dogs. It just reminds me how cheap human life has become to some of us.

[jptsr1]

HE WILL PLAY AGAIN IN THE NFL...COUNT ON IT...

sad, very sad, but that doesnt make it less true...

Professional sports are all about money...

Definitely! at the end of the day the commissioner and the owners don't give a crap about anything but making money. all this hurt feelings and condemnation bull are strictly for P.R.

J.

[umbra]

It saddens me to see how up in arms we can all get over dogs. It just reminds me how cheap human life has become to some of us.

Actually it saddens me to see your view on dogs. I dont know what your view on "life" is but this comment shows what it is. They are alive as well. He bred these dogs to gamble and fight each other. When they lost he had the dogs killed. Not just put them down, he hung the losing dogs, doused them with water and electrocuted them, or shot them on sight. He did this for money. He didn't put the dog down because it was sick. He put them down just because they lost a fight and were deemed worthless to him. You talk about life. Well dogs are alive as well. And yes, I DO cheapen Michael Vicks life. I cheapen his life as much as he cheapened the lives of the dogs he killed because the dogs didnt have a choice in the matter. He is just another dumb athlete that thought he was above the law..just like OJ.

[jptsr1]

I find it interesting how OJ's name is brought up anytime an athelete appears to be "getting away with something".......

....brought up any time someone black appears to be getting away with something (in my opinion anyway). human nature i guess. its apples and oranges though. OJ should be in jail where as Vick should just have his a$$ kicked (my opinion again). i like dogs but i hardly think their lives are even close to the importance of human lives.

i think we are swayed by the cute and cuddly factor. if mike did the same thing to a pig i doubt there would be as much outrage. where i grew up cock fighting was all the rage. still goes on unchecked in my old neighborhood. not to many tree huggers willing to take a trip to the Bronx to break up a scrap between a couple roosters though.

J.

[umbra]

its apples and oranges though.

J.

Apples and OJ ;)

[csm328]

Since I live in Virginia, we're getting alot of the Vick info. Latest tid-bit this morning is that he's cutting a deal to give up ring-leader names to lessen his sentance, like I already pointed out.

Problem he will now face is continuing to breath if he does give-up any names. Organised crime tends to frown on their 'people' providing ringleader names to the police.

[slowmotion]

Calm down jptsr1!! I said nothing about color, that has no place in this debate. If Vick were white, green, or yellow, he would have caught just as much flack from the media. It dosn't matter to me what Vick bread his dogs for, or how he destroyed them. Fact is that he broke the law. But this penalty is way too stiff. For instance police and military organizations use dogs were it is too dangerous to send humans.

[In2Photos]

Calm down jptsr1!! I said nothing about color, that has no place in this debate. If Vick were white, green, or yellow, he would have caught just as much flack from the media. It dosn't matter to me what Vick bread his dogs for, or how he destroyed them. Fact is that he broke the law. But this penalty is way too stiff. For instance police and military organizations use dogs were it is too dangerous to send humans.
Don't even compare service dogs, whom help to protect lives, to those that lost their life because of some a$$hole that used them for entertainment. At least the service dogs led meaningful lives. If you use your comparison then military personnel whom lose their lives are equivalent to gang-bangers getting shot at a drive-by. I don't think so!

Penalty too stiff? No way, not stiff enough!

The NBA ref got 25 years in prison pleaing to gambling. Vick runs a dog killing operation, including gambling, and gets a year and fines. Too stiff huh?

[Karl C]

i like dogs but i hardly think their lives are even close to the importance of human lives.

i think we are swayed by the cute and cuddly factor. if mike did the same thing to a pig i doubt there would be as much outrage. where i grew up cock fighting was all the rage. still goes on unchecked in my old neighborhood. not to many tree huggers willing to take a trip to the Bronx to break up a scrap between a couple roosters though.

J.

So, let me get this straight. Anyone who loves animals (any and all kinds) is a "tree hugger"?

There is a rather large and substantial difference between the humane killing of animals and the inhumane, cruel, sadistic killing of animals for "entertainment" value.

Surely you can see the difference, right?

[superdiver]

Its only apples and oranges if you want to fixate on the actual crime and race...I dont give a crap about the crime and race...thats just a cheap/pathetic way to distract people from the real problem...

What the problem is here is that he is a celebrity who is going to be forgiven because he has athletic talent and has the ability to make someone alot of money, and he will buy off the animal rights groups, who BTW are already throwning around numbers as to what such a crime should be worth...which makes them no better then the NFL....

Does this mean that he shouldnt get a 2nd chance....no, everyone deserves a 2nd chance, he just needs to pay his dues and clean up his act...can he will he?...time will tell...

[S.Horton]

I'll bet he's suspended for one year, contract voided, becomes a free agent.

[rhys]

LOL, you will all see! And the comparison to the OJ case was merely that money can buy sympathy and, ultimately, reprieve. Easy as that. One day behind bars to you might be huge but to a common criminal like Vic, anything less than 5 years is a win.

And I agree that many people have risen above their ghetto upbringings; however, I was referring to Vic who clearly hasn't.

As my wife would point out, OJ won the criminal trial but lost the civil trial and that's what bankrupted him.

[csm328]

Yet he's still a millionaire. Go figure.

As my wife would point out, OJ won the criminal trial but lost the civil trial and that's what bankrupted him.

[jptsr1]

Calm down jptsr1!! I said nothing about color, that has no place in this debate.....

i apologize if you thought i was accusing you of something. i know you didn't mention color, i did. i wasn't suggesting that those were your thoughts i was stating that they were mine. and i disagree that color has no place in the debate. hard to discuss crime and punishment at all without race being entered into it.

J.

[jptsr1]

There is a rather large and substantial difference between the humane killing of animals and the inhumane, cruel, sadistic killing of animals for "entertainment" value.

Surely you can see the difference, right?

so where is the line then and who decides where it is drawn. is it OK to jab a steal hook in a fishes mouth and yank him out of the water so you can take a picture and throw him back? how about dropping Bambi's dad in the woods so you can mount his head and antlers on the wall of your study? I'm sure all the minks who's fur is riding around on some ladies back would rather not have died to be made into a coat.

what Vick did was wrong because it is against the law and he is about to pay for it. animals die cruel and inhumane deaths all day every day but we pick and choose which ones to get bent out of shape over.

[csm328]

So, by your logic jpstr1, the dog (man's best and beloved friend) is no more than an animal to prey on for sport?

The big difference here, and I'm sure you're just being difficult, is that dogs are part of our families, world over. I have no problem catching a fish to eat or hunting for sport since that's socially acceptable and needed.

What the non-tree hugging, open-eyed, sensible people are saying is that Vick should be punished for taking a domestic animal, abusing it to make it vicious, keeping it unsocialised from other animals, making it fight for its life in a cruel bloodpsort where slow painful death is the hopeful outcome of the people watching, and then when the dog doesnt win or doesnt perform to Vick's standard, he willingly tortured, maimed and killed the animal for his own enjoyment and selfishness.

Is that the same as fishing and hunting where we reveer and respect the animal? I think not.

[jptsr1]

So, by your logic jpstr1, the dog (man's best and beloved friend) is no more than an animal to prey on for sport?

The big difference here, and I'm sure you're just being difficult, is that dogs are part of our families, world over. I have no problem catching a fish to eat or hunting for sport since that's socially acceptable and needed.

What the non-tree hugging, open-eyed, sensible people are saying is that Vick should be punished for taking a domestic animal, abusing it to make it vicious, keeping it unsocialised from other animals, making it fight for its life in a cruel bloodpsort where slow painful death is the hopeful outcome of the people watching, and then when the dog doesnt win or doesnt perform to Vick's standard, he willingly tortured, maimed and killed the animal for his own enjoyment and selfishness.

Is that the same as fishing and hunting where we reveer and respect the animal? I think not.

in a round about sort of way you have captured my point. because fluffy or rex is our beloved pet we are horrified by what Vick has done. the un-named undomesticated "prey animal" gets no such reaction. it is palatable to do whatever we like to them because we are conditioned to think that they are not as important as the animals we like. we even mask the methods of killing them with words like "reveer" or "respect" when what we are really doing is just shooting or stabbing them.

i am both a hunter and a fisherman. id like to believe that what i do for sport is better than what vick does but at times I'm not so sure. a fish sitting in a bucket on the deck of my boat dying a slow oxygen deprived death may be just as cruel.

J.

[Village_Idiot]

in a round about sort of way you have captured my point. because fluffy or rex is our beloved pet we are horrified by what Vick has done. the un-named undomesticated "prey animal" gets no such reaction. it is palatable to do whatever we like to them because we are conditioned to think that they are not as important as the animals we like. we even mask the methods of killing them with words like "reveer" or "respect" when what we are really doing is just shooting or stabbing them.

i am both a hunter and a fisherman. id like to believe that what i do for sport is better than what vick does but at times I'm not so sure. a fish sitting in a bucket on the deck of my boat dying a slow oxygen deprived death may be just as cruel.

J.

But you're not trying to capture the fish to fight each other and you're not mangling them or thinking up how best to kill them slowly. It's not like you're squeezing them until they pop or anything like that. That would be along the same lines.

[In2Photos]

in a round about sort of way you have captured my point. because fluffy or rex is our beloved pet we are horrified by what Vick has done. the un-named undomesticated "prey animal" gets no such reaction. it is palatable to do whatever we like to them because we are conditioned to think that they are not as important as the animals we like. we even mask the methods of killing them with words like "reveer" or "respect" when what we are really doing is just shooting or stabbing them.

i am both a hunter and a fisherman. id like to believe that what i do for sport is better than what vick does but at times I'm not so sure. a fish sitting in a bucket on the deck of my boat dying a slow oxygen deprived death may be just as cruel.

J.
That is not entirely true. About a year ago there was a country singer, Troy Gentry, whom shot a bear in a private enclosure. There was a pretty big fuss over the ordeal and while it did not garner as much attention it sure ruffled some feathers (no pun intended with this whole animal thing).

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=2685419

[csm328]

Then aren't you being a hypocrite? If you go back to your first post, you all but defended Vick for doing something that isn't so repugnant since, according to you, society does it.

Now you're saying that you agree with me, Vick did an horrifick act against 'fluffy' and that you are now as culpable as he is since you're a hunter?

You need to pick a side of the fence and stick to it.

in a round about sort of way you have captured my point. because fluffy or rex is our beloved pet we are horrified by what Vick has done. the un-named undomesticated "prey animal" gets no such reaction. it is palatable to do whatever we like to them because we are conditioned to think that they are not as important as the animals we like. we even mask the methods of killing them with words like "reveer" or "respect" when what we are really doing is just shooting or stabbing them.

i am both a hunter and a fisherman. id like to believe that what i do for sport is better than what vick does but at times I'm not so sure. a fish sitting in a bucket on the deck of my boat dying a slow oxygen deprived death may be just as cruel.

J.

[Skip Souza]

This is becoming circular and personal.
Time for all to be cool or just go do something else for awhile.

[jptsr1]

Edit: didn't see the mod had put the kabosh on before i hit enter. I am removing my post to comply.

J

[jptsr1]

Edit: didn't see the mod had put the kabosh on before i hit enter. I am removing my post to comply.

J

[csm328]

jpstr1, I don't think Skip intended to stop the debate, I think he moreso wanted us to 'play nicely'. Healthy debate is a good thing so, by all means, have your say. I'm interested in your opinion as I'm sure many others are.

[CountryBoy]

Ok, so he broke the law- He will maybe do a couple of years. So I am thinking the NFL will have to ban him for longer than his jail time. So he could be out of football at least 3-4 years. With his style of playing, that would just about end it for him. Sure someone would give him a chance, but he might just be someone's backup, at best.

The gambling part just might get him a ban for life.

But it has always amazed me when someone making all that money blows it like this.
It just doesn't make sense. Now, I think my EX 100-300mm f/4 has more IQ then allot of sports figures do !

[Belmondo]

And then there's Pete Rose's lifetime ban from baseball for betting, and he didn't even kill a dog in the process.

MV deserves no less.

[CountryBoy]

And then there's Pete Rose's lifetime ban from baseball for betting, and he didn't even kill a dog in the process.

MV deserves no less.

I agree !

Didn't they ban Willie Mays ( for a while anyway) , because he just worked at a casino ?

I might have to do a google on that.

[CountryBoy]

From Wikipedia , "On January 23, 1979, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. It was his first year of eligibility and he had appeared on 409 of the 432 ballots cast (roughly 95 percent) [20]. Shortly after, he took a job at the Park Place (now Bally's Atlantic City) casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. While there, he served as a Special Assistant to the President and as a greeter. Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle was also a greeter during that time. When he heard of this, Bowie Kuhn, Baseball Commissioner, suspended both men from involvement in organized baseball. Peter Ueberroth, Kuhn's successor, lifted the suspension in 1985."

And Vick is not even in the same class as these two !

[In2Photos]

I just read this on NFL.com and had to share it.

Irony at its best:


UNHERALDED POLICE DOG

If Vick is the main villain in a dogfighting case that has troubled and captivated this country, then the hero is Troy the 3-year-old Dutch Sheppard.
Troy is the certified police dog that, early on April 20, led the police to a car in the parking lot of the Royal Suite nightclub in Hampton, Va.
The car belonged to Michael Vick’s cousin Davon Boddie. The car contained three ounces of marijuana. And once Troy sniffed out the car, police launched their own drug probe five days later at Boddie’s address -- the now-infamous 1915 Moonlight Road.
While police went to the property looking for drugs, they instead found pitbulls, dogfighting equipment and dog carcasses -- all at a home in which Vick owned.
It is one of the most intriguing, and overlooked, aspects of this whole Vick case that has seemingly grown in size and scope since it first was uncovered just days before the NFL draft.
Were it not for Troy -– who didn’t join the Hampton police department until May 2006 -- it’s possible Vick still might be leading the secret life he had been living all along.
But Troy the 3-year-old Dutch Sheppard brought down Vick in a way that NFL defenders never could.

[CountryBoy]

Divine justice !

[jptsr1]

jpstr1, I don't think Skip intended to stop the debate, I think he moreso wanted us to 'play nicely'. Healthy debate is a good thing so, by all means, have your say. I'm interested in your opinion as I'm sure many others are.

ok then. my point is not to condone mikes law breaking activities nor is it to put myself in the same league as him in terms of animal cruelty. fact of the matter is when i take a deer i try and do it as quickly as possible (like most responsible hunters) and i have a live well on my boat which i believes lessens the suffering of the fish. still i do not believe its right to condemn Vick to hell as some are doing because he was engaged in an activity that i look down at. I'm sure there is some PETA guy looking at my recreational hunting with the same distaste as i look at Vick's dog fighting and he could make a good augment that there is little difference.

J.

[jptsr1]

Ok, so he broke the law- He will maybe do a couple of years. So I am thinking the NFL will have to ban him for longer than his jail time. So he could be out of football at least 3-4 years. With his style of playing, that would just about end it for him. Sure someone would give him a chance, but he might just be someone's backup, at best.

The gambling part just might get him a ban for life.

But it has always amazed me when someone making all that money blows it like this.
It just doesn't make sense. Now, I think my EX 100-300mm f/4 has more IQ then allot of sports figures do !

agreed he is an idiot. he couldn't possibly have needed the extra cash. ill bet the falcons come after his signing bonus when all is said and done. unless the NFL really tries to make a statement i think he will play again. so long as someone can make money on him he will play somewhere.

J.

[tmonatr]

And then there's Pete Rose's lifetime ban from baseball for betting, and he didn't even kill a dog in the process.


This is THE biggest hypocrisy in sports. They continue to keep Pete Rose out "supposedly" out of respect for the game. How respectful is our new homerun king? Makes me sick. This is why I hate professional sports.

[slowmotion]

I agree that our current sports stars are far from role models. I don't follow Baseball so I don't know enough info to comment intelligently. However I have had the fine privilige of being around a lot of PIT-BULLS, and there is nothing FLUFFY about thier personality. If indeed these were fighting dogs that couldn't fight he had no choice but to put them down. I don't agree with his methodology, or his perpose for breeding these particular animals. But to refer to any pit bull as FLUFFY would seem to put blinders on the whole debate.

[JWright]

And then there's Pete Rose's lifetime ban from baseball for betting, and he didn't even kill a dog in the process.

MV deserves no less.

How many know substance abusers and hoodlums (NBA) are still in professional sports?

What about Steve Howe, the NY Yankees pitcher, who was suspended seven times in 17 years, and banned for life and then reinstated? He ultimately died in a traffic accident that may have been drug related. Is this the kind of role model we want kids looking up to? If a professional athlete is convicted of a felony, they should be subject to a lifetime ban from the sport and it should be left at that.

[rhys]

Once we start talking about "professional" sport then we cease to talk about sport. They become professional entertainers. Sport and professional do not belong in the same sentence.

[LucyRoberts]

Just got this in my PETA newsletter..... thought I'd share for my fellow "tree huggers" out there.


http://isiemail.peta.org/ca3/ca3_header.jpg
Dear Lucy,

http://isiemail.peta.org/ca3/ca3_bodyimage.jpgThe horrifying allegations of animal abuse at Michael Vick's property in Virginia have shocked everyone, but just as heartbreaking are the many similar stories that don't make the news. PETA receives thousands of calls and e-mails every year from people who have witnessed animal abuse or neglect. They are desperate to help but don't know what to do. Here are some steps you can take if you observe cruelty to animals:

http://isiemail.peta.org/ca3/ca3_1.jpg Find out which agency is responsible for investigating and enforcing anti-cruelty laws in your state, county, or town. This may be a local humane society or a taxpayer-funded animal shelter. In areas without such organizations, citizens should call the police or sheriff's department.

If an animal is in a life-threatening situation, call authorities immediately. Follow up with them in a timely manner to determine their findings and their planned course of action. If they do not respond right away, call PETA at 757-622-7382.

http://isiemail.peta.org/ca3/ca3_2.jpg After you contact authorities, prepare a short written statement detailing the key points of what you observed. Give dates, approximate times, and locations. Timely fact-gathering is crucial—the more time that passes, the greater the risk that evidence will disappear, injuries will heal, or you'll forget specific details. Written statements from other witnesses will help back up your observations, and if possible, take pictures and date them—photos or videos will strengthen your case.

Always keep a dated record of everyone you've contacted, along with the content and outcome of your discussions. Never forward a letter, photograph, or other documentation to anyone without first making a copy for your own files. Make it clear to authorities that you wish to pursue the case and that you are willing to lend your assistance if necessary. Be sure to follow up! If you stay involved, authorities are more likely to do the same.

http://isiemail.peta.org/ca3/ca3_3.jpg If the first contact doesn't produce results, go straight to a supervisor. If that doesn't work, appeal to local government officials, such as the mayor, the district attorney, or city council members. A call to the media in your area (television and print) can move mountains. Above all, don't give up—you may be an animal's only hope!

Helping abused or neglected animals can be difficult and heart-wrenching, but they are depending on you to take action. Please contact PETA if officials (http://getactive.peta.org/ct/KpMwHOd1czVH/) fail to respond quickly to your complaint or if you need guidance or support. Together, we can save even more lives.

Thank you for everything you do for animals.

Very truly yours,
http://isiemail.peta.org/iensig2.gif
Ingrid E. Newkirk
President

http://isiemail.peta.org/ca3/ca3_footer.jpgThis message was sent to BLAHBLAH@BLAHBLAH.net Visit your (modified) (http://getactive.peta.org/) to modify your e-mail communication preferences or update your personal profile. To stop e-mail from PETA's Online Community, click to unsubscribe (http://getactive.peta.org) yourself from our lists (or reply via e-mail with "remove" in the subject line).

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PETA
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United States http://getactive.peta.org/nlor/i7bns7xrv8jkem5

[Village_Idiot]

PETA is a crock anyways. They had some people get busted for killing strays. And the whole protesting eating meat is about half dumb too. Not every one is going to choose to be a vegetarian.

[LucyRoberts]

PETA is a crock anyways. They had some people get busted for killing strays. And the whole protesting eating meat is about half dumb too. Not every one is going to choose to be a vegetarian.
I don't agree with all of their politics, but for those of us who go veg*, they are a great resource.


*not a full time vegetarian, I do it about every 6 months or so just to help clean up my body.

[BillsBayou]

http://www.petakillsanimals.com/

Eye-opening stuff.

[BillsBayou]

great video

http://thatvideosite.com/view/709.html

[Belmondo]

The animal rights debate is political lightning rod almost guaranteed to spark strong feelings. I know I don't have to remind you, but political discussion is not allowed on the forum. Whereas everyone so far seems to think Michael Vick is a scoundrel, if we permit this sort of discussion to continue, we really have to allow people who enjoy dog fighting to express themselves too.

Let's not take this any farther down that road.

Thread locked.