Vick Deserves 2nd Chance

What is it about dogs that make people lose their common sense? I seriously do not understand it. This might be because I have never owned a dog but I think there has to be something more to it than that.

The reason I say this is because ever since Michael Vick was first arrested for dog fighting over 2 years ago people have been saying some things that blow my mind. Comments that make me stop and wonder if these people are retarded or if they have been kicked in the head.

Comments such as, "what Vick did was worse than rape." Oh really? Killing a dog is worse than raping somebody? I heard a man say this on the radio today and it blew my mind. This man is basically saying that he would rather see his wife raped than his dog killed. You have got to be kidding me.

Bob McCowan of the Fan 590 said today that killing dogs should carry the death penalty. This man legitimately believes that killing a dog equates to the same crime as killing 5 people or bombing a building. He thinks Vick should be on death row with mass murderers. This isn't fake and I am not making this up.

Now I am not going to sit here and condone what Vick did. It was wrong, stupid, and cruel. Is it worse than rape or murder? Of course not. What sane person would say otherwise?

But Vick has paid his debt to society. The man spent 18 months in prison. PRISON. Not some health spa jail but Federal Pound me in the Ass Prison (Office Space reference). He took his punishment and served his time like a man. Now he is a free man and is allowed to live the rest of his life in anyway he sees fit and people are pissed.

He signed a 2 year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles and everyone is in an uproar. People are saying he should be banned from the NFL and shouldn't be allowed to play football again. To these people I have only one thing to say "I thought this was America!!!!"

People need to calm down and realize that everyone makes mistakes and no one is infallible. Michael Vick is just another convict looking for a 2nd chance in life. Does he not deserve that? He made a mistake, who doesn't? I made the mistake of seeing the movie 'The Goods' tonight. No one is perfect.

But in all seriousness Vick has suffered enough. He lost over $100 million. He lost 18 months of his life to prison. Most importantly he lost the respect of hundreds of thousands of people.

If the man wants to play football and a team will sign him than he should be free to do so without any repercussions.

I have a feeling that this whole Michael Vick thing will blow over by mid-season. People will find someone new to hate. Someone somewhere will mess up and the focus will shift away from Vick. It will also help that he will be riding the pine as Donovan Mcnabb's backup. Vick signed as a quarterback and the Eagles already have a starter. Less playing time means less exposure. Although PETA is crazy and will be causing shit all year.

Finally I want to address the people who feel that Vick is bad for the NFL. These people need to learn that there are much worse people in the league than Michael Vick. Leonard Little of the St. Louis Rams was convicted of manslaughter and still plays. Ray Lewis was involved in a triple murder. Donte Stallworth killed a man while driving drunk a few months ago. Compared to these crimes what Vick did was tame.

Vick deserves his 2nd chance at life. He was sent to prison and served his time. He has done everything that has been asked of him by the law. If the law believes that he has paid for his crimes than that should be good enough for the general public.

Let he without sin cast the first stone. That's right. According to Jesus you all need to shut up and let the man be. God just owned you.

Random YouTube Video

NFL Gets It Right

It is not very often that I commend the actions of Roger Goodell and the NFL as I feel they do a terrible job in disciplining the players. Often Goodell is too soft on guys who get busted for drugs and too harsh on guys who “make it rain” in a strip club. Seriously a whole year suspension for throwing money at the rippers? Craziness.

Goodell is not a favourite of mine but after the decision he made on Thursday he definitely moved up a spot in my book.

Two days after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter while driving drunk, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth was suspended indefinitely by the N.F.L., the league announced Thursday.

Stallworth, 28, is serving a 30-day prison sentence for killing 59-year-old Mario Reyes while driving drunk in Miami on March 14. His suspension was effective immediately, Commissioner Roger Goodell said.

“There is no reasonable dispute that your continued eligibility for participation at this time would undermine the integrity of and public confidence in our league,” Goodell said to Stallworth in a letter.

Goodell said Stallworth violated the league’s personal conduct and substance abuse policies.

Stallworth, who signed a seven-year, $35 million contract with Cleveland before last season, had a .126 blood-alcohol level. The legal limit in Florida is .08. He had faced a 15-year prison sentence, but his cooperation with the police, lack of a criminal record and the wish of the victim’s family for a speedy resolution led to his plea agreement. He was also sentenced to two years’ house arrest and eight years’ probation.

I am sad to see that the NFL is giving out a stiffer punishment than the judicial system. 30 days for killing someone is pathetic. The judge who allowed that sentence to be carried out should be forced retire or at least make a public apology.

I understand that the family agreed to a cash settlement but that doesn’t make it right. What is to stop Stallworth from doing something like this again?

JA Adande recently said on Around the Horn that, "if the family is ok with the settlement then that is all that matters since no amount of jail time or money will bring back the deceased." Adande's argument to me is flawed in that it misses the bigger picture.

Athletes or the rich and the famous shouldn't be able to get away with murder because they have a lot of money. Just because Stallworth has millions of dollars he can throw at this problem doesn't mean the judge should have allowed that to happen. An example should have been made that would have shown everyone that no matter who you are if you break the law you will be punished.

Goodell for all his faults had stepped up and let it be known that Stallworth embarrassed the NFL and will no longer be a representative of the league. His actions no longer fall under the blanket of the NFL name. Goodell saw that the court ruling wasn't even close to harsh enough and used his own authority to punish Stallworth further.

I only wish that he had been banned from the league for life rather than just suspended.

Random YouTube Video