Michael Vick & others~

[lillygator]

You seriously have no idea how the NFL works. Vick was suspended and he served his time.

Goodell just can't hand out suspensions like candy or he'd be out of a job. NFL players are in a union, and the union wouldn't stand for it.

How about instead of whining on a message board you go out and volunteer at the local ASPCA if you feel so adamant about the subject?

He's not being let off". You have a problem with the sentence, that's not vicks fault. for whatever reason Vicks attorney's got Vick a lighter sentence. That's their job.
Whether or not he's in the public sector is a moot point. In this country we have a judicial system. That system was employeed. Vick was convicted, sentenced and did his time. According to our justice system you know the one that we are all screaming is the finest in the world, he has the right to rebuild his life.
Because you are unhappy with the method he has to do it is your problem not Vicks.

I am no fan of Michael Vicks, but I do believe in our justice system even when he benefits people I don't like

 

[metalis4ever]

Sure....he can rebuild his life doing something not in the public eye. If an average citizen committed a felony, they would have a very hard time finding a job right after their jail sentence. Why should he be let off easy just because he's a football player?
According to the ASPCA's website "In 2007, Congress passed the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act with strong bipartisan support. The Act became law in May 2007, and provides felony penalties for interstate commerce, import and export relating to commerce in fighting dogs, fighting cocks and cockfighting paraphernalia. Each violation can result in up to three years in jail and a $250,000 fine." In other words, Vick didn't receive nearly the maximum sentence, or even the average which is five years in jail. Goodell should have imposed the rest of an average sentence (at the very least) on him as a suspension.

As many others have stated he was not given a lighter sentence as the laws have since been modified to be harsher.

Second you have to put it in perspective he went from making $100 million dollars salary and endorsements to making $1.5 Million a year as a backup Quarterback so therefore Vick is not working his optimal job he is having to basically start from the bottom level and work his way back as he should. Football is his profession it is what he knows how to do well that and Dog Fighting but that's illegal But seriously you know what I mean if Joe Plumber got caught with a dog fighting ring he was then sentenced and fined paid his debt to society would you expect him to now be a carpenter??? Think about it rationally he is a football player that's his trade if you will....

As I said before he paid his debt both personally and financially, he served his time as mandated by the Court. Give the man a chance to pick up his boot straps and rebuild his life. Whatever happened to America the land of second opportunities??

BTW check the time line the law you reference was passed after Michael Vick was investigated and arrested therefore would not be subject to said law.

 

[Nancyg56]

Sorry but I'm not crying a river for Vick or his family. Not like he cared about his family when he bought that house and bought and bred those dogs soley for the purpose of dog fighting.

Nobody forced him to do what he did. He brought all this scrutiny on himself. And if he or his family is getting ridiculed or threatened, Vick has noone to blame but himself.

 

[Nancy]

What's illegial? The Philadelphia eagles have the perfect right to hire whomever they want to. Once again Michael Vick was charged and did his time. Has he done some thing else illegial? Who turned a cheek? Did they say any thing about forgiving him? Was it even within their right to pass judgement? And there hotel comparison is not different, it's about money and as long as some one is willing to buy a "product" whether that product is a hotel room outrageously priced or a bad behaving rock star.

Worse than turning the other cheek is when we begin to take "laws and punishement" into our own hands. We have a judicial system so we don't have to resort to "MOB" mentality. How did you get to decide what is the "right" thing. That also speaks very loudly.
We did the right thing, we arrested Michael Vick, we prosecuted him and we passed sentence on him. What else should we have done?


As I said I am in no way a sports fan, but I am a firm believer in our judicial system. I loathe, hate and despise the KKK but I will defend their right to free speech. I don't like Michael Vick but I will defend his right to make a legitimate living in the profession of his chosing. I will defend his right to return to a functioning citizen. As others have stated. He was tried and punished. T

Salaries are ridiculously only because the average person is not making them. If owners were not getting a return on their investment, if people were not filling the stadiums, no way would they be able to make those salaries.
Why do you think commercials for the super bowl are 300 million bucks for 30 secs? Because companies know that the audience will buy the stuff they see on the commercials.

My problem is you guys (no one personally, general "you") are blaming the athelets for free market competition. Look in the mirror please and blame yourselves. Who's buying the nfl jersey with the atheletes number on it? Why is there a 3 year waiting list for season tickets to the green bay packers football team?

I am only commenting on the bolded part. What a person chooses to do their money is their business. If a person is offended that Vick is playing football again..whether he served his time or not...is their right.

If I have an accountant that committed a crime and I felt that was something I could not personally tolerate then we he got out of jail I would not be his client again. If I had a hairdresser that committed a crime when he/she got out of jail I would not be going to that person to get my hair done again based on my own personal feelings.


It is the same with Vick, if you think it is fine that he was convicted and served his time and should be allowed to play then fine, buy your tickets and support the team (if the eagles are your team of choice) but don't think that those that would not are wrong...and those that don't like that he is playing again should realize that not everyone feels the same way.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

^^ You said that better than I did. I absolutely understand the people who don't want him playing. I don't want him playing and certainly not for my team. But I don't expect everyone to feel the same way. But I also believe that Roger Goodell did not have any other option.

Let's all hope that having someone like Tony Dungy as his mentor will help him turn his life around. That's the one ray of light in this whole thing for me. At some point, I'd like for him to really realize what he did and how lucky he is to have this second chance. He should go talk to Josh Hamilton and Kevin Everett. The former seems to completely embrace the mistakes of his past and is greatful for the second chance he was given. The latter won't ever have that second chance at the game (though no fault of his own), but was still granted a second chance. Maybe with enough positive influences, he can someday have a positive influence on someone else.

 

[eliza61]

I am only commenting on the bolded part. What a person chooses to do their money is their business. If a person is offended that Vick is playing football again..whether he served his time or not...is their right.

If I have an accountant that committed a crime and I felt that was something I could not personally tolerate then we he got out of jail I would not be his client again. If I had a hairdresser that committed a crime when he/she got out of jail I would not be going to that person to get my hair done again based on my own personal feelings.


It is the same with Vick, if you think it is fine that he was convicted and served his time and should be allowed to play then fine, buy your tickets and support the team (if the eagles are your team of choice) but don't think that those that would not are wrong...and those that don't like that he is playing again should realize that not everyone feels the same way.

Hey, that was my argument from the start. I show my displeasure with any business whether it's the NFL, tide detergent or Disney with my buying power.
If I disagree with their policies or business practice I don't support them but that does not mean they don't have the right to be in business.

I was speaking about the idea that he should not be "allowed" to play. He has just as much right to play and get paid for his services as any other football player.

 

[lillygator]

^^ You said that better than I did. I absolutely understand the people who don't want him playing. I don't want him playing and certainly not for my team. But I don't expect everyone to feel the same way. But I also believe that Roger Goodell did not have any other option.

Let's all hope that having someone like Tony Dungy as his mentor will help him turn his life around. That's the one ray of light in this whole thing for me. At some point, I'd like for him to really realize what he did and how lucky he is to have this second chance. He should go talk to Josh Hamilton and Kevin Everett. The former seems to completely embrace the mistakes of his past and is greatful for the second chance he was given. The latter won't ever have that second chance at the game (though no fault of his own), but was still granted a second chance. Maybe with enough positive influences, he can someday have a positive influence on someone else.

stay clear of JH....he just had a relapse.

 

[metalis4ever]

^^ You said that better than I did. I absolutely understand the people who don't want him playing. I don't want him playing and certainly not for my team. But I don't expect everyone to feel the same way. But I also believe that Roger Goodell did not have any other option.

Let's all hope that having someone like Tony Dungy as his mentor will help him turn his life around. That's the one ray of light in this whole thing for me. At some point, I'd like for him to really realize what he did and how lucky he is to have this second chance. He should go talk to Josh Hamilton and Kevin Everett. The former seems to completely embrace the mistakes of his past and is greatful for the second chance he was given. The latter won't ever have that second chance at the game (though no fault of his own), but was still granted a second chance. Maybe with enough positive influences, he can someday have a positive influence on someone else.

Josh Hamilton fell off the wagon and hard earlier this year around April or so.....I don't think that Tony Dungy's son would agree with you that he is a good mentor ....ooooooo too soon? yeah way too soon.

All joking aside Michale Vick needs to surround himself with positive influences that have not gotten into trouble in the past. He also needs to surround himself with a good support team so that way he can focus on his job which is to play football and not all the haters.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

From what I understand, Josh Hamilton's "relapse" happened months ago and that anyone who needed to know about it (in other words, not the general public) already did.

I don't expect perfection from people. He's going to struggle. That doesn't mean that he isn't trying his hardest.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Vick is a disgusting human being and I would have stopped cheering for my team if we had signed him.

HOWEVER... for every Michael Vick, there are plenty of guys who are fantastic human beings who willingly (read: not court ordered) donate their time and money to charity and to making the world a better place.

Nobody is more disgusted by Michael Vick than I am. But it's not the fault of every player in the NFL.

I know some who have.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Josh Hamilton fell off the wagon and hard earlier this year around April or so.....I don't think that Tony Dungy's son would agree with you that he is a good mentor ....ooooooo too soon? yeah way too soon.

All joking aside Michale Vick needs to surround himself with positive influences that have not gotten into trouble in the past. He also needs to surround himself with a good support team so that way he can focus on his job which is to play football and not all the haters.

Wow.
I'm done here.
Carry on.

 

[lillygator]

From what I understand, Josh Hamilton's "relapse" happened months ago and that anyone who needed to know about it (in other words, not the general public) already did.

I don't expect perfection from people. He's going to struggle. That doesn't mean that he isn't trying his hardest.

may have started months ago, but he has been publicly speaking about it the past few weeks.

 

[Nancy]

Hey, that was my argument from the start. I show my displeasure with any business whether it's the NFL, tide detergent or Disney with my buying power.
If I disagree with their policies or business practice I don't support them but that does not mean they don't have the right to be in business.

I was speaking about the idea that he should not be "allowed" to play. He has just as much right to play and get paid for his services as any other football player.

I agree....It's not any of our call as to whether or not he should be allowed to play, that was up to the league and any team that wanted him. The only thing I would have a say in is whether or not I still would watch said team if he was playing for them.

 

[Luv'sTink]

First, you can enjoy a sport without making athletes your role models. I watch a lot of soccer (hard to tell from my signature I know) and wouldn't name a single soccer player as a role model. Second, the "role" part in role model is often forgot. For example, I am a big Lance Armstrong fan and in the role of cyclist I look up to him. In the role of family man I do not. It is possible to want to be like an athlete professionally and not like that athlete personally. Blindly making any celebrity a role model because of their job is just small minded.

Role models are chosen by us, they are not automatically role models because of what they do for a living. My models in life are people around me that have influenced my life, not detached celebrities whom I will never meet.

As far as Vick goes, he served his sentence now let him get on with his life. People convicted of killing people with their cars, abusing their wives/girlfriends, violating various drug policies numerous times, and even being involved in a murder are allowed back into sport. Vick is not better or worse than any of them. Vick is a good QB so there is no reason to let his personal life get in the way of his professional life. They are two separate things. I don't let what an athlete does when not in the sport effect how I view him in the sport in the same way I don't care what my accountant or mechanic do when they are at home. As long as my taxes are right and car is fixed correctly what the heck do I care what is done in their personal lives?

Curious, would you feel the same way if it were a teacher? After all, once you "pay your debt to society" it's all good right?

Mary (Latourneau) Fualaau paid her debt but can no longer be a teacher.

 

[Jennasis]

[/B]

Curious, would you feel the same way if it were a teacher? After all, once you "pay your debt to society" it's all good right?

Mary (Latourneau) Fualaau paid her debt but can no longer be a teacher.

Not defending Vick AT ALL, but I bet he would never be eligible for a job with animals. Letourneau was convicted of (pedophilia was it??) having sex with a minor, so therefore it would make sense that she not be welcomed to teach at a school. Also not sure if there were conditions in place for her release/parole that included her not being allowed near children...in fact, didn't she violate the terms of parole to be with Vilee after she was released??

 

[FireDancer]

[/b]

Curious, would you feel the same way if it were a teacher? After all, once you "pay your debt to society" it's all good right?

Mary (Latourneau) Fualaau paid her debt but can no longer be a teacher.

As long as Vick's crime wasn't against children I would have no problem with him being a teacher again. If someone molests a child or commits a crime against children I would feel they should not be in that field. If a teacher got a DUI or committed a felony not related to children I would feel they should have their job back no problem. This blanket "no job if you have a record" is not a good policy, it should be a case by case scenario. If they can't get a job they are stuck living off the public dime, which is kind of silly if you think about it. Someone who is good at their job should not be kept from doing it just because they had a mis-step that was unrelated to it in the past. A good teacher should be able to teach if they have a non-child related felony and a good football player should be able to play football if he has a non-football related felony.

If Vick were animal warden I would see how he would be precluded from getting another animal related job because his job was a direct breach of trust against his employers interests. Since his crime was not at all related to his field of work he should get his job back no problem. We live, after all, in a country where you can get caught smoking crack with a prostitute and still be the mayor of our nation's capital.

 

[dismom2]

What I can't wrap my mind around is how anyone could watch two living creatures mutilate, torture, and/or kill each other. let alone run a 'business' of this inhumane act. That says something about the people involved. How can Vick be truly remorseful when he had no issues watching this, encouraging this, gambling on this, inviting others to join in on the 'fun'. How can you be okay with it, then all of a sudden think it's wrong? How can you watch an animal suffer? I would think that if you had an ounce of compassion, it would have started the first time you saw this, and not want to see it again---ever.

 

[Uuaww]

I have argued on the side of Vick for weeks now. And have decided it is not worth it. You anti-Vick people can hate the man, you can boycott him, you can do whatever you want. It doesn't matter. Vick will return to society, he will return to the NFL. The NFL is welcoming him back and their is nothing you can do about it. You want to throw eggs at the man? Go ahead. But their are far worse people in this world than Vick, and the time and effort you are putting into hating him isn't healthy. Move on, deal with it, not everything goes your way.

 

[Jennasis]

I have argued on the side of Vick for weeks now. And have decided it is not worth it. You anti-Vick people can hate the man, you can boycott him, you can do whatever you want. It doesn't matter. Vick will return to society, he will return to the NFL. The NFL is welcoming him back and their is nothing you can do about it. You want to throw eggs at the man? Go ahead. But their are far worse people in this world than Vick, and the time and effort you are putting into hating him isn't healthy. Move on, deal with it, not everything goes your way.

While true, if YOU don't like listening to people complain/bash him you can always not read the thread and "move on" too right?

Door swingeth both ways.

Or people can express their opinions (while differing) in a mature adult manner without resorting to mudslin....

i'm sorry. I couldn't say it with a straight face.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I have argued on the side of Vick for weeks now. And have decided it is not worth it. You anti-Vick people can hate the man, you can boycott him, you can do whatever you want. It doesn't matter. Vick will return to society, he will return to the NFL. The NFL is welcoming him back and their is nothing you can do about it. You want to throw eggs at the man? Go ahead. But their are far worse people in this world than Vick, and the time and effort you are putting into hating him isn't healthy. Move on, deal with it, not everything goes your way.

Hate? I don't hate anyone. Dislike his actions 100%.

If you have argued on behalf of Vicks for weeks I wonder who is really wasting their time.

Responding to a post about him teaching school~
I believe anyone with a criminal background doesn't have the "right" to teach children. Not my idea of a role model