Nike re-signs Michael Vick to a contract....

[EMom]

You're right, banks shouldn't thieves, day cares shouldn't hire sex offenders, but Vick is a football player, if he can stay away from animals, why shouldn't he be allowed to continue to be a football player?

He doesn't have to play football. I'm sure he has other skills......He just prefers to make millions of dollars. He could dig ditches or if he really cares so much about animals, work at a humane society, cleaning out animal cages. I don't buy his apology for one second. The only thing he's sorry for is getting caught and punished. Period. People who abuse animals the way he did have a disgustingly evil spirit. You can't do what he did and not have a big old chunk of "normal" missing.

No way in &%$# would I take my child to a game and cheer for a guy like him, essentially saying, "Wow, what a great play by an animal torturing freak! Isn't he amazing, honey?"

 

[FireDancer]

I could really care less either way. I don't buy product because of who they sign so I won't not buy them because of who they sign. Once someone has done their time I don't care if they get their jobs back. There are people in the NFL that have committed crimes against people and I would much sooner forgive a crime against an animal than against a human.

 

[SundaeAfternoon]

I guess it's pretty safe to say that you know nothing about animal rights.

You took the thought right out of my head!

 

[Uuaww]

He doesn't have to play football. I'm sure he has other skills......He just prefers to make millions of dollars. He could dig ditches or if he really cares so much about animals, work at a humane society, cleaning out animal cages. I don't buy his apology for one second. The only thing he's sorry for is getting caught and punished. Period. People who abuse animals the way he did have a disgustingly evil spirit. You can't do what he did and not have a big old chunk of "normal" missing.

No way in &%$# would I take my child to a game and cheer for a guy like him, essentially saying, "Wow, what a great play by an animal torturing freak! Isn't he amazing, honey?"

So you rather have your son root for a player is a "ladies man" like Tom Brady? Or how bout a known drug user like Michael Irvin was, or what about the countless players that beat their wives/children.

Honestly, athletes rarely make the best role models. Root for a team, not a player. I seriously doubt that Vick is even the worse individual morally on his team. He is just the one you know is bad.

Yes Vick is being forced to give back, but he's still doing it, more than most people can say.

 

[EMom]

So you rather have your son root for a player is a "ladies man" like Tom Brady? Or how bout a known drug user like Michael Irvin was, or what about the countless players that beat their wives/children.

Honestly, athletes rarely make the best role models. Root for a team, not a player. I seriously doubt that Vick is even the worse individual morally on his team. He is just the one you know is bad.

Yes Vick is being forced to give back, but he's still doing it, more than most people can say.

Animal abusers are just a half inch away from abusing children. Read the studies. They are scary. It's common sense. Those who will abuse helpless animals get some sort of kick from abusing the helpless in general. Who else is helpless and vulnerable? Children. If you beat your wife or child, your rear end ought to be doing jail time. Then no self-respecting team ought to have you back. Pro sports have far too many thugs these days. I haven't been a fan for a long time.

Yes, I do draw the line somewhere. Sort of like movies. I don't boycott the movies of actors/directors just because I don't agree with their politics or religious views. But a lot of people do. However, I stopped seeing Woody Allen movies years ago and never watched Roman Polanski movies because I place those two in the "pervy child abuser/molester" category. I won't put money in their pockets. Abuse of children is my hot button issue. Since I know that abuse of animals is a often precursor to abuse of children, the people who abuse animals are of the same ilk to me. Vermin who derive enjoyment from hurting helpless creatures who only want to be loved.

I've only got so much money and I can only spend it so many ways. Give me a great reason to steer it away from you and I'll do it. Animal abuse and child abuse are a powerful incentive (at least to me) to spend my money elsewhere.

 

[Uuaww]

Animal abusers are just a half inch away from abusing children. Read the studies. They are scary. It's common sense. Those who will abuse helpless animals get some sort of kick from abusing the helpless in general. Who else is helpless and vulnerable? Children. If you beat your wife or child, your rear end ought to be doing jail time. Then no self-respecting team ought to have you back. Pro sports have far too many thugs these days. I haven't been a fan for a long time.

Yes, I do draw the line somewhere. Sort of like movies. I don't boycott the movies of actors/directors just because I don't agree with their politics or religious views. But a lot of people do. However, I stopped seeing Woody Allen movies years ago and never watched Roman Polanski movies because I place those two in the "pervy child abuser/molester" category. I won't put money in their pockets. Abuse of children is my hot button issue. Since I know that abuse of animals is a often precursor to abuse of children, the people who abuse animals are of the same ilk to me. Vermin who derive enjoyment from hurting helpless creatures who only want to be loved.

I've only got so much money and I can only spend it so many ways. Give me a great reason to steer it away from you and I'll do it. Animal abuse and child abuse are a powerful incentive (at least to me) to spend my money elsewhere.

That is your opinion and I respect it completely. It is your choice and your views. I have my choices and my views. If you don't want to support those directors or Vick, that is your choice and a perfectly acceptable decision.
But you don't go to their houses or the sets of their movies to protest what they have done, do you? You don't hate an actor who plays a part in the Woody Allen movie just because he is in a Woody Allen film do you?

Do you see where I am going? Their is no reason for you to hate the Eagles just because they signed Vick. Their is no reason for you to go out and hate Vick, yell at him, tell him how horrible he is. Just leave him alone, let him and yourself move on.

 

[mikehn]

Imagine if Crocs endorsed Mike Vick. I would love reading those threads.

 

[declansdad]

He doesn't have to play football. I'm sure he has other skills......He just prefers to make millions of dollars. He could dig ditches or if he really cares so much about animals, work at a humane society, cleaning out animal cages. I don't buy his apology for one second. The only thing he's sorry for is getting caught and punished. Period. People who abuse animals the way he did have a disgustingly evil spirit. You can't do what he did and not have a big old chunk of "normal" missing.

No way in &%$# would I take my child to a game and cheer for a guy like him, essentially saying, "Wow, what a great play by an animal torturing freak! Isn't he amazing, honey?"

I understand your reasoning for saying you will never support him but you have lost me as to why he shouldn't be able to play football????

 

[TheGoofster]

@ Uuaww

I agree with most of what you say, but I do have one issue with you - What's with the hate towards Tom Brady??? A lady's man.

For those of you who don't think that Vick can do any good for helping with animal cruelty, I disagree with you (respectfully of course).

For example. Let's say you want to help prevent kids from doing drugs, and you have 2 guys who come to speak. The first guy is a very clean cut, well respected man. He tells the kids that doing drugs is bad, and he relates lots of statistics and examples. Obviously nothing wrong with that at all.
Now the second man is a former druggie. He spent 2 years in jail for doing and selling drugs, and it really messed up his life. He gets up, and he tells the kids about what happened to him. How he made some stupid decisions and how it just about destroyed him. Both men are sharing the same message, but which one do you think will probably have the bigger influence on the kids.
I look at Vick the same way. He made some really stupid decisions that messed up his life, and he paid for it. Now, if he is willing to try and help educate others about the stupidity of repeating his kind of mistakes, how can that be seen as anything but a good thing? Even if his motives aren't as pure as we might like (in other words even if he is almost being force to do it), he can still make a huge difference for kids who might be inclined to make the same dumb mistakes he made.
You don't have to like the guy (which is completely understandable), but you do have to admit that he can indeed have a huge positive influence on others by sharing his own story.

Let me also add, as to relating to the original post, I hope Nike doesn't use Vick as a sponsor. Sure I agree that people deserve second chances, and that Vick can do a lot of good to help prevent other animal cruelty acts, but I definitely don't think he deserves to get a sponsorship like that. I also don't think it would be a good business decision buy Nike.

 

[EMom]

That is your opinion and I respect it completely. It is your choice and your views. I have my choices and my views. If you don't want to support those directors or Vick, that is your choice and a perfectly acceptable decision.
But you don't go to their houses or the sets of their movies to protest what they have done, do you? You don't hate an actor who plays a part in the Woody Allen movie just because he is in a Woody Allen film do you?

Do you see where I am going? Their is no reason for you to hate the Eagles just because they signed Vick. Their is no reason for you to go out and hate Vick, yell at him, tell him how horrible he is. Just leave him alone, let him and yourself move on.

You are reading way too much into this or you've confused me with someone else. Why would I waste my time and money to go to Woody Allen's house or Roman Polanski's to protest? If I'm spending that much money, it's to go on vacation with my family. I don't hate the actors in their films, although I question their judgment and often lose respect for them. I voice my opinion by boycotting. It's a tried and true, nonviolent means of making your feelings known.

I never said I hated the Eagles. I don't think I ever mentioned the team by name. I don't hate them. That would take too much energy. I do, however, have a total lack of respect for anyone involved in the decision to hire Vick. I haven't yelled at Vick or told him how horrible he is. We don't run in the same circles. If I ever did run into him, I'd have too much dignity to start screaming and ranting. But if he tried to be all warm and fuzzy, I'd tell him how the cow eats the cabbage.

Years ago, I had the misfortune to have to spend time at a social function with a man who was the OJ Simpson of his day. Back then, HIS was the trial of the century. Everyone knew he'd done it, but he was richer than God and he bought justice and a not guilty verdict. I've never looked into colder eyes and he scared the crap out of me. He was a stone cold murderer, plain and simple. And yes, he tried to make nice with me. I shut him down. No one shut him down back then. But a murderer is a murderer, even if he is a RICH murderer. I never protested at his house, I never screamed at him, I didn't go out of my way to make a scene. But when I was put in a postion to have to meet him and he tried to charm me, I made it plain I wanted nothing to do with him. Maybe I should have "gotten over" him shooting people and getting away with it, especially since it wasn't my family, but it rubbed me the wrong way, ya know? Decades later, it still chaps my hide. Injustice does that.

As far as Vick playing football goes.....He CAN play it. I just said that's not his only option. He WANTS to play it. Of course he WANTS to make tons of money. He could do other less high profile, less well-paying jobs. I don't buy his newfound humility. It's a load of B.S. And the team can hire him. They'll lose some supporters. Some won't care. But people act like if Vick can't play football, he'll be a homeless bum. He's a fit man. I'm sure he could find work of some sort......Just not work that gets him the glory (and money) he craves. If no team wanted him, that would be their right as well. And THAT would be a team I could respect.

 

[declansdad]

As far as Vick playing football goes.....He CAN play it. I just said that's not his only option. He WANTS to play it. Of course he WANTS to make tons of money. He could do other less high profile, less well-paying jobs. I don't buy his newfound humility. It's a load of B.S. And the team can hire him. They'll lose some supporters. Some won't care. But people act like if Vick can't play football, he'll be a homeless bum. He's a fit man. I'm sure he could find work of some sort......Just not work that gets him the glory (and money) he craves. If no team wanted him, that would be their right as well. And THAT would be a team I could respect.

Why shouldn't he want to play and why shouldn't he play? That is what he does. While I will certainly never condone what he did, he was convicted, served his time, has had to deal with the publicly outcry that has been driven by who he, is probably moreso than what he did. Why should he then take a job that is different that what he did before?

 

[NikitaZee]

Why shouldn't he want to play and why shouldn't he play? That is what he does. While I will certainly never condone what he did, he was convicted, served his time, has had to deal with the publicly outcry that has been driven by who he, is probably moreso than what he did. Why should he then take a job that is different that what he did before?

Totally agree.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Why shouldn't he want to play and why shouldn't he play? That is what he does. While I will certainly never condone what he did, he was convicted, served his time, has had to deal with the publicly outcry that has been driven by who he, is probably moreso than what he did. Why should he then take a job that is different that what he did before?

I don't disagree that he can 'want' to play, but what is most frustrating is that the NFL & the Eagles took him back in the first place. I think many people, especially here in Philadelphia, are angrier at that fact almost as much as they are about the dogfighting issue.

As far as the "that is what he does" opinion, I can tell you that he's one lucky SOB, because if he were in many other professions, he'd never be able to go back to doing what he did prior to the crime. Do you think they'd allow a school teacher, doctor, nurse, etc, go back to their jobs after serving time? For such a cruel crime? If he was a teacher in your kids' school, would you want him back?

 

[NikitaZee]

While I don't condone what he did either (who could?) - he served his sentence and is attempting to re-build his life and be a more responsible citizen. He is entitled to - and should - do that. His high profile makes that more difficult, but also gives greater awareness to animal cruelty crimes.

As far as Nike products, if I like them, I'll buy them. Michael Vick doesn't enter into my mind at all.