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[...] More here:  Long Live The Hate: Michael Vick’s Personal Purgatory [...]

whats up Charles? i gotta comment because i couldn’t agree more. there’s no rhyme or reason to this. Ray Lewis starts a fight that leads to a murder and provides the getaway vehicle, but because he’s charismatic and gives good interviews, they paint him as a saint. ted Kennedy is loved despite the fact that he killed a girl and tried to cover it up. even Jim Brown has a pretty good rep even w/ a history of violence against women.

but Barry bonds and Vick are evil cause of steroids and dog fighting?? really? makes no sense. i think it has a little bit to do w/ the fact that these two were always very quiet and never interested in answering dumb questions from some douche at ESPN. the charismatic guys just make friends with Joe buck and next thing you know they are saints.

anybody who appreciates talent should be psyched to watch Vick again. hope he signs w/ my niners so i never have to watch Alex Smith ever again.

Mr. West,

I’m speaking as someone who frankly does not care for professional sports over much. I think that many, if not most, if not all, of them are over paid today for playing a game. It’s all well and good to pay well for being entertained, but the attitude that people have developed that there is something of deep and lasting significance to such over hyped, over priced competitions is more than a touch ludicrous. Being able to run fast, throw far, hit hard does not make one a good person, or worthy of respect beyond the arena in which one, employs those abilities.

Until Vick’s arrest, trial and conviction I really did not know who he was, and did not care. And had he not been proven to have been involved both directly and indirectly with the torture, rape, and murder, or many living, feeling, thinking beings, I would still not care to this day. Black, White, Quarterback, Running Back, whatever.

But now he has my attention but good. And so does a very pathological culture that seems to insist on diminishing his crimes. If he had merely been involved in dog fighting, that would honestly be bad enough. But he wasn’t. He over saw a total program that tortured the dogs in the name of “training”. That murdered dogs who either were potential fighters deemed not fit, or were used as bait for the fighters. And that held female dogs in place as they were forcibly bred to get more dogs. And he was seen enjoying it all.

Now if you or anyone honestly believes that after having taken such actions, Vick truly has paid his debt not only to society but to his victims, and deserves, right away without any effort on his part to be returned to a high paying professional sports career, that is your right. However I would ask that you do those of us who oppose his reinstatement the courtesy of at least being honest about the magnitude of his crimes, rather than using the rather dishonest, “It was just dog fighting” defense.

I am not a Vick fan and I certainly Abhor Dog-Fighting,my view is Vick
with the help of HSUS have done more to stop this Heinous and Evil passtime
than anyone else I know albeit inadvertantly.Hopefully this will also assist in
the ending of this persecution aimed at the poor pitbull and end BSL(Hitler’s
Genocidal Law)that is being promoted by the likes of K.Nelson of Denver whom I assure this little Genocidal Maniac has certainly done far more damage and has not spent a minute behind bars,and that is where he belongs.
Let Vick get on with his life and promote anti-dog fighting culture.
smarock10@yahoo.com

Great article, lots of intersting things to digest. Very informative

Very interesting and amusing subject. I read with great pleasure.

Astonishing article . Will definitely copy it to my blog.Thanks

Thank you very much for that glorious article

In truth, immediately i didn’t understand the essence. But after re-reading all at once became clear.

Thank you! You often write very interesting articles. You improved my mood.

We all know that the Michael Vick case has been receiving a lot of attention since the day it came to light. Ever since I became a dog owner and supporter of a dog rescue group, I have always maintained my own opinion of the events.

A lot of “dog lovers” believe that Michael Vick did not suffer enough for his actions. From my research, I found that most believe Vick should not have been allowed back into the NFL. Instead, in their opinion, the Federal court system should have made Vick forfeit his professional career as an athlete and live as an “ordinary citizen”.

I on the other hand often wonder, has Vick not paid his dues and “manned up” to the consequences of his actions. Speaking based on facts, Vick plead guilty and was convicted on a Class C felony charge of animal cruelty (which holds a term of imprisonment no less than 5 years no more than twenty years and a fine of no more than $100,000). That is documented law in Virginia for the crime Vick was convicted of. However, in addition to the Felony class laws, the actual sentencing in federal cases depend on the sentencing guidelines which are established by the United States Sentencing Commission.

Federal sentencing guidelines called for a term of 18 months to two years in Vick’s case, of which Vick served 21 months in prison (now serving 2 months of house arrest). He ultimately was released from Federal prison and sentenced to 3 years of probation. During that time, Vick has to work a $10/hour job as a laborer for a construction company (part of his probation). This comes after Vick (once having been signed to a $140 million dollar contract with the Falcons, having a multi-million shoe contract with Nike and other endorsements) filing for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Although Michael did not get a chance to see much of the money from the Falcon’s contract, it was estimated by the Atlanta Journal Constitution that Vick incurred financial losses of $142 million (including $71 million in Falcons salary, $50 million in endorsement income, and nearly $20 million in previously paid bonuses). Another source said Michael Vick endured steeper prices than peers who have committed greater crimes, crimes against human beings. Again, don’t get me wrong (but) since when did we start cherishing the lives of animals more than human beings?

Some things I found which has not received much attention was the fact that the Humane Society of the United States said Vick met with its president recently in prison and wants to work on a program aimed at eradicating dog fighting among urban teens. Vick’s attorney said he chose to work with the animal protection group because it was one of his harshest critics before he was indicted. As far as donating money, Vick deposited $928,073 into an escrow account controlled by a law firm, which would pay for the care of the 54 pit bulls seized from his dog fighting.

Now that Vick is out of prison, he is “penniless and reviled for running a vicious dog fighting ring” and just hopeful for a second chance at life. According to the United States Constitution, we all have “A Right to Make a Living”. The section (which can be found under the Liberty section Part B) goes on to state: Liberty “means not only the right of the citizen to be free from the mere physical restraint of his person, as by incarceration, but the term is deemed to embrace the right of the citizen to be free in the enjoyment of all his facilities; to be free to use them in all lawful ways; to live and work where he will; to earn his livelihood by any lawful calling; to pursue any livelihood or avocation, and for that purpose to enter into all contracts which may be proper, necessary and essential to his carrying out to a successful conclusion the purposes above mentioned.”

Whether Michael Vick ever reaches the big stage again or not, he should have the chance to sink or swim on his own abilities – not simply because some view his crime, unlike those perpetrated by the rest of his fellow players, as unforgivable.

After all that bs you just said, its STILL DOG FIGHTNING