There has never been a time in my life that I did not own a dog. I grew up with a Wire Hair Fox Terrier. In college I remember crying like a bitch when my mom called to tell me that they had to put him down after 15 years. After college my girlfriend at the time and I had a yellow lab. The dog died in my arms in a scene that to this day, continues to give me nightmares. I currently own two Rhodesian Ridgebacks who I love more than most of my human family and just make me really fucking happy whenever I see them. They are the only thing I fought for in my divorce. So I guess what I am trying to say is that I really love dogs. You would think that my natural reaction to Michael Vicks possible reinstatement to the NFL would be one of anger and disgust. That I would want him to rot and commissioner Rodger Goodell to ban him for life. Something has been gnawing at me however, my gut is telling me that Vick is getting a raw deal. That there’s a massive double standard here and it centers around money.
Michael Vick is an animal… wait that’s a complement for him, he’s just a real piece of shit. He mutilated, hung, electrocuted, drowned, tortured, and killed dogs for sport and his own amusement. Anyone who can do that has an empty hole where his soul should be. None of this can be debated. I don’t want hear excuses like its part of the culture in his community, or there is bullfighting in Spain. That’s all a crock of shit. What can be debated, is whether or not he should be allowed to play in the NFL again, and I find myself shocked to say I think he should. Here are a few reasons why I feel this way. As much as I love animals, Michael Vick did not kill or violate the rights of a human being. He is not guilty of manslaughter, rape, domestic violence, selling drugs, or murder. He is guilty of being a complete a-hole. For this he deservedly served 19 months of a 23 month jail sentence, lost roughly 25mm in cash, declared bankruptcy, lost multiple houses and was suspended indefinitely by the NFL. Now all of this makes me happy, but lets compare to other sports figures and their transgressions. Mike Tyson was convicted of rape and served 3 years. He immediately was welcomed back by the boxing community, pushed by promoters for title fights. No one boycotted. People bought tickets in mass numbers, he made millions of dollars. In fact I recently saw this ex-rapist staring in “The Hangover”. Mike Tyson makes money for people, so he is forgivable.
Donte Stallworth recently left a Miami club at 6 am and on his way home punted some guy running for the bus off his windshield going 60 mph. Well Mr. Stallworth pleaded guilty to manslaughter. After cutting a deal with the family, Donte has to serve a whopping 30 days..30 days! So Vick serves 19months for killing a dog, and Stallworth gets 30 days for killing a person? I know you can argue premeditation and intent here, but the bottom line is that Vick killed an animal and Stallworth killed an person. But hey guess that Donte could pay off the guys family, and Michael couldn’t get the pit bulls to take cash. Well Goodell will suspend him indefinitely, lets see how that long that lasts.
Leonard Little of the Rams pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after he hit and killed a woman while driving drunk in 1998 and served an eight-game suspension. Six years later, in 2004, Little was again arrested for drunk driving and speeding. The probable cause statement filed by police said Little had bloodshot and watery eyes, smelled of alcohol and failed three sobriety tests. Because of Little’s 1999 guilty plea to involuntary manslaughter in his drunken-driving crash case, prosecutors charged him as a persistent offender. This made it a felony case. Little was acquitted of driving while intoxicated, but was convicted only of the misdemeanor speeding charge. Little did 90 days in jail and currently plays for the St Louis Rams.
I think you get my drift here, there are a million examples whether it be Ray Lewis being the poster boy for EA sports and the NFL, or Bernard Hopkins turning from being a guy convicted of 9 felonies into a mainstay for Golden Boy productions. Rodger Goodell needs to reinstate Michael Vick. This is America. He did his time, served his punishment, paid a heavy price, he deserves a 2nd chance. Just because he will be reinstated doesn’t mean that a team will hire him. I’m not sure whether they will or wont. But if they don’t it wont be cause they are shocked and appalled by his actions, it will be that they are afraid of the ramifications of the very influential organizations like PETA and what their protests will be mean to their bottom line. “We are all part of the same hypocrisy Senator.”
-Six Gun
