who let the dogs out?
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.