Why Michael Vick matters

Yes yes yes, I know you’re all busy reading the The Deathly Hallows and all that, but if you haven’t been hiding from the media to avoid all the spoilers you’ll know all about a real evil monster who’s been making the news this week. Michael The (insert rhyme of choice) Vick.

If there is one good thing to come out of the Michael Vick story, it is the fact that dogfighting has been brought to public awareness as a growing problem. The reaction to his federal indictment has brought a wide range of reactions, from outrage to disgust to ambivalence and even support. I was shocked and a little repulsed to see, on a message board of veterinarians, some “old school” guys basically shrug their shoulders and say, “Man loves bloodsport. What are you going to do.” If men whose lives are spent protecting animals are saying this, what is the rest of the country saying? What are we going to do? Plenty. This kind of violence and antipathy to other living beings should not and cannot be tolerated, not even in a famous sports figure. Or should I say, especially in a famous sports figure.

NBA player Charles Barkley once said, “I’m not a role model… Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.” I agree with the second part of his statement but not the first. He doesn’t get to choose whether or not he is a role model. America idolizes sports figures as heroes, deserved or not. Kids look up to these guys whether or not they like it. It comes with the territory, along with the millions of dollars and the houses on Cribs. Americans pay for ticket sales and for Michael Jordan shoes because they look up to these guys. They have the responsibility that comes along with the fame, of being a good role model. You can choose to be a Junior Seau or a Ray Lewis, to step up to the role model hype or to spit on it.

I guess this is kind of wishful thinking on my part. According to this article, an estimated 21% of the 1996/97 NFL roster competed with criminal records. The bottom line is, they are allowed to continue to play, because they bring the money. We don’t care. We don’t call the owners and boycott the games; the owners lose more money by doing the right thing than by doing the wrong thing, so why should they? And that is on us, as parents, as citizens, to really think about what we are doing here. Are we paying gladiators to go out and entertain us? Muscle-bound mercenaries? Or are we trying to elevate professional sportsmen and women, true role models?

As for the man of the hour- ugh. We are all so sadly inured to the idea of sports players getting accused of assault and rape and shooting people that those crimes don’t really surprise us the way they used to. But this…even in a world of jaded sports fans, this hit a nerve. Most people by now are aware of the allegations against Michael Vick- for a brief summary, read this Q&A on ESPN.com. Federal indictments tend to mean a pretty solid case, despite the already in motion machinations of lawyers claiming he had no idea it was happening and other such ridiculous claims. OK, Michael, the gardeners did it, whatever. Your cousin. Mmm hmm. Had 66 dogs there without you knowing.

According to one report, investigators found over 10 dog bodies on the 15 acre property. Some of the more disturbing allegations surround the treatment of dogs who either lost the fight, or were tested and found to be not “vicious” enough. They were, for lack of a better word, tortured. I think of these poor animals who were too submissive and scared to fight, suffering the fate they were put through because they were unwilling or unable to rip another dog’s throat out and I feel physically ill, as do many others. Even those people who are ambivalent about dogfighting or turn a blind eye- can’t they possibly feel in anyway that this is waaaaay beyond the pale? That it is, as Senator Byrd proclaimed in an impassioned speech, barbaric in the truest sense of the word? He even used the word dastardly, which you can get away with if you are a senator. It’s a great word. Very apropos.

According to the Humane Society, although dogfighting has always been around it is a new and escalating trend, particularly in urban areas. Like it or not, dogfighting has become a part of the hip hop culture and can no longer be dismissed as just a hobby of the hicks in the sticks. Both Al Sharpton and Russell Simmons, vocal critics of the violent subtexts of aspects of the hip hop culture, joined PETA in a joint condemnation of Michael Vick’s actions (I never said PETA didn’t do some good things!)

Where pit bulls used to comprise about 3% of animals entering shelters 15 years ago, that number has jumped to almost 33%, and in some areas as high as 66%. The shelter with the highest proportion of pit bulls coming in is in New Jersey. Many shelters have a “no adoption” policy for pit bulls due to the problem of dogfighting and the liability; most are put down when they arrive regardless of their history.

Still not convinced it’s a real problem? Consider this fact, also courtesy of the HSUS: “A 1997 survey of 50 of the largest shelters for battered women in the United States found that 85% of women and 63% of children entering shelters discussed incidents of pet abuse in the family.” Read the rest of the article for the other consequences, none of which are pleasant. The correlation between pet abuse and human abuse is well established and the basis for many animal abuse laws on the books- even for those who don’t think animal abuse in and of itself is a big deal, it escalates to human abuse often enough to be a legitimate problem. Would you really trust someone who has electrocuted a sick or timid animal with your children? That kind of mindset just can’t be separated from the rest of your personality.

I’m watching the Falcons closely to see how they handle this. I guess a lot depends on the Falcons fans as well as how the indictment goes down. Nike has already suspended their endorsement, and hopefully the fans will follow suit and pressure Falcons owner Arthur Blank to suspend him while the investigation is pending. And if not, this may motivate me to attend my first football game in many years- should the Falcons come visit the Chargers, I will be happy to go and embarrass the hell out of my husband by unveiling a “Dog Killer” T-shirt (thanks Wendy for the idea) and jeering mercilessly.

-jesvet