Comments on: Why Michael Vick matters

By: Heidi9771

Heidi9771 — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:52:20 +0000

I am glad he is being held responsible for this. What struck me, though, is when the news first broke, various news stations were interviewing his fellow players, and some of their comments were so disapointing. These comments, which were along the lines of, “…I don’t see what the big deal is…they’re only dogs…his whole career could get ruined over this…” The NFL and those that employ it’s players in lucrative endorsement deals should hold a higher standard to those players they choose. I am relieved that Nike fired Vick, and I hope it sets an example of how serious an offense animal abuse is.

By: Sealgair

Sealgair — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 20:14:51 +0000

what jennapeach said. The non-top-rung players get suspended or sacked for even an indictment, whether or not the trial goes through. As of my last knowledge, Vick hadn’t been sacked yet. He’s the Falcon’s star player. And that shouldn’t be a factor.

By: Kim

Kim — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 15:00:04 +0000

Dog Killer t shirt. Please, please, please. Please do it. I beg of you.

I hope if he does actually end up playing, people boo him out of the stadium. Maybe they’ll have to postpone the game due to the unusual amount of dog biscuits thrown on the field.

By: jennapeach

jennapeach — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 18:32:00 +0000

Yes, the NFL commissioner is much less lenient than past commissioners when it comes to off-field trouble. However, the suspensions of Pacman Jones and Chris Henry don’t have me convinced that the NFL will do the right thing in this case. Jones and Henry were not “marquee players.” Vick is. It will, indeed, be very interesting to see what Goodell and the Falcons do with Vick, who is a huge draw.
I’m glad that some notables in the black community are standing up and saying that dog fighting is wrong. I hope the trend continues. While the community is hurting for positive male role models, no one should be looking up to someone who is such Bad Newz.

By: Katy

Katy — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 18:30:44 +0000

Thanks for writing this up, I really didn’t know that there was such an increase in dog fighting. When I taught in inner-city, this sports-stars-as-role-model thing drove me nuts. When asked, my kids wanted to grow up and be violent, law-breaking, rapists and abusers (or professional athletes as the case may be). It used to depress me that they didn’t want to be Michael Jordan, a man that’s done a lot of good - no, they wanted to be David Justice and Deion Sanders. To them it was all about the fame and the money.

I think that when you sign up to be in the public eye, be it an athlete or an entertainer, you are a role model and you need to act as one. Especially when your target audience is so influenced by what you say, what you do and what products you buy, use and endorse. Take that power and do some good with it.

I do hope that the NFL does something about this and doesn’t just brush it under the rug. And if that happens, I at least hope that the fans speak up and demonstrate their disapproval through the almighty dollar. These slaps on the wrist for criminal offenses can’t continue, no matter how great the athlete or entertainer.

By: Chimichanga

Chimichanga — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 16:36:44 +0000

Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner, has a fairly hard stance on troublemakers. It doesn’t even have to be a conviction - he will suspend players.

Example - PacMan Jones not convicted of a crime, but has been questioned frequently by the authorities. He has been suspended without pay.

Michael Vick is a horrible waste of space. The league itself doesn’t care if the biggest stars commit crimes (or so they say) they will take swift action. I hope this sends a strong message to all players.

And, to Michael Vick - there’s a special place for people like this…

By: Toonces

Toonces — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 16:23:08 +0000

People who torture animals are mentally deficient. It’s sick that some of them are “role models”. I think you may have a market for that t-shirt idea.

By: Vigilante

Vigilante — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 15:45:04 +0000

Dog fighting is a felony. Like all felonies, it ought to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. So I say yes! Yes!! Bring those to justice who, in Shakespeare’s words, Let slip the dogs of war.

By: KristieW

KristieW — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 15:40:49 +0000

I’m glad they caught up with him. I teach in what could be just another neighborhood in a hip-hop nation, and there are a lot of pitbulls kicking around. Several of my students’ families raise puppies, and I know it’s not all because they’re cute family dogs.

At the same time, while I hope they throw the book at him, it makes me really frustrated and upset that his sentence is heavier than that of a drunk driver that kills someone or a rapist who brutalizes a child. I wish we’d be more willing to throw the book at anyone who victimizes another being.