SportsGirl

Well, of course, like any sports fan, I’ve been paying tons of attention to the developing situation involving Michael Vick and his alleged dog fighting ring. And like all sports fans I’m growing a little weary of the CONSTANT coverage of the same details, day in and day out. Even my beloved hosts Mike and Mike are beating the dead topic to death (pardon the pun). The problem that I’m having though is that I don’t know what side I fall on with this whole situation.

Obviously I, like most rational human beings, find dog fighting repugnant so there’s no question on that part. But I’m not sure what I’d do if I were Arthur Blank or Roger Goodell. I understand that having Vick on the field this season will create a media circus for all the wrong reasons. But keeping him off the field when he hasn’t been convicted of anything seems like an injustice to the justice system!

What’s troubling to me is that we watched in the Imus situation the advertisers wield their power over an offense that wasn’t the worst thing we’ve heard on the radio (not that I condone what Imus said but it seemed a bit capricious to censure him so sternly when I hear my local “shock jocks” use language ten times more offensive). And the fact that they’d now use their power to pressure the team’s owner or the commissioner doesn’t sit well with me. I would think that these large companies would feel more obligation to remember that whole “innocent until proven guilty” thing that our courts are sort of founded on and would wait to pressure the league once Vick has actually been convicted, if that ever happens. Because of that I have a hard time wishing that the league or the Falcons would suspend Vick before the season.

On the flip side, if he is guilty of what he’s accused, I say ban him from the game permanently. Anyone who would go to such lengths to fight some dogs and treat those animals in an unspeakable fashion deserves the max punishment you can throw at him. You know, what’s also disappointing is seeing how Mike Vick tried to act as a mentor to his younger brother Marcus, who wouldn’t surprise me to learn he was involved in the dog fights. You’d think that after seeing your brother p#$% away his chance at playing pro football would be enough to make you realize how lucky you are to have the opportunity in front of you that you have; you’re one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the game and you have such a unique talent that most teams would be willing to re-tool their entire offense to fit you in the scheme. 

So, I’m finding it very troubling that I don’t know how to process this situation. I can only hope that more details will come out that will provide a clear direction for the Falcons and maybe then I can make up my mind on what to do with Michael Vick.

Well, after years of wanting to, I’m finally starting my blog on sports. I could type some line about how this will be sports info from a woman’s perspective, but that would sort of run counter to the whole point of doing this. True, not too many women (especially in Dallas, TX) enjoy sports to the level I do. But I can’t stand the whole segregation of woman’s and men’s perspectives on any issue, especially sports. So this is just my way of recording my thoughts on the day’s happenings in the world of sports.

First, a confession. Though I live in Dallas, I favor the sports teams of Houston, TX. I grew up there and still feel an allegiance to their teams. Now, living in Dallas, I will root, root, root for my home team unless they’re playing a select group of other teams. I was born and raised in Michigan so there’s a group of teams that have a prominant player who graduated from U of M that I feel the need to root for. But typically I will root for Dallas to be a good sport.

Having said that, I’m really looking forward to the start of Cowboys training camp! Finally some football to watch! And finally we’ll start to see some proof of whether or not Bill Parcels was really holding the team back the way so many of the players seem to indicate he was. Personally, I think the people trying to pin their lack of success last year on Parcels need to take a long look in the mirror. I realize professional sports are different from the job I go to day in and day out, but so many people tell you to remember that sports are just a business. Well, most businesses I know of do not tolerate their employees blaming their lack of production on their boss. Take the heat and just resolve yourself to doing better this season. End of story! But with the start of the season, we’ll also get a better feel for whether or not Wade Phillips was the right choice for head coach. Personally, I’m still wishing that Lovie Smith would have come available. But I’m willing to give Coach Phillips the benefit of the doubt for now.

So, what can you expect to see in the future from this blog, if you happen to be visiting? Lots of talk about football, my true passion. But talk about sports in general and really just my thoughts on all the happenings. Hope you’re able to take away some insight from these thoughts. I’ve got a lot to say!