"Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Why Michael Vick is taking a plea deal...
News sources report that Michael Vick will take a plea deal to avoid a trial by jury. Maybe his lawyers shared the following political cartoon to communicate how unlikely his success would be before a jury.
Well, now that Mr. Vick chose to fall on his sword after his "Homies" left him high and dry brings up an interesting situation. I am of a mind that if he does his jail time and fulfilled his debt to society, he should be allowed back into the NFL. My concern in this situation is that people seem to be forgetting about other thuggish behaviour from NFL athletes along the lines of beating up wives and girlfriends, and if those guys are allowed back in-and they usually get a slap on the wrist-Vick should be too. This whole thugh element in the NBA and NFL is one reason I hardly watch those sports on TV anymore
I agree, he should be allowed to play in the NFL again. But who will take him. I honestly think that his crime is more shocking. The sheer depravity of his actions goes beyond assault and battery. Others may disagree, but harming innocent animals who are trapped, is in my mind a more egregious crime than taking drugs, beating people up, or gambling. I think much of the public does as well and has rendered his public appeal moot.
I guess what I find galling in all of this is that you have people that are trying to make a racial issue out of this-although the head of the NAACP taking a public shot at Vick was a welcome change from Stephon Marbury's recent rationalization stating that Dog fighting was a legit sport and was no worse than hunting. Anyway, The NFL commisioner, Mr Goodell has realized that most Americans are sick of the thug image in the NFL and he is trying to do what he can to clean the league up. That said, I can see a desperate NFL team rolling the dice and giving him a shot at a job once he does his time.
I don't agree with allowing players back into the league after being convicted of smacking their wives, their kids or their friends around just as I will not support any team that employees Vick after serving his time for this crime. This is not me holding athletes to some unattainable high standard so they can fulfill their obligations as role models to our youth. Being a football player is a job, and for the rest of us with jobs, a conviction such as this one on our employment record with time served in jail is likely to reduce our employment options.
The idea that anyone (Vick included) would consider harming anything remotely resembling Snoopy is so repulsive to me that it makes me want to sick his pitbulls on Vick and his homies themselves. Maybe that would teach them them a lesson?
I loved the editorial cartoon -- I say we let Scooby Doo, Snoopy, et al. have at 'em. Many pro athletes make more $$ in a year than most people see in a lifetime -- it seems that some sort of social responsibility or giving back to the community should come along with that.
But it seems that we as a society have a nasty habit of telling them how awesome they are, and they in turn let it inflate their heads and lead to an invincibility complex. Unfortunate cycle. But they need to leave Snoopy and his friends alone.
G... thank you for pointing out that as much as the pro-players say they are just players, not role models, there is that degree of social responsibility that comes with being both a public figure and a wealthy individual. Unfortunately, many of these men are becoming the only male role models many children have and it is especially important for them to reflect a positive persona, we don’t want our nations youth doing anything to snoopy or goofy.
Noblesse oblige: with wealth, power and prestige comes social responsibilities. $60K political science degree had to be worth some random political philosophy terminology.
7 comments:
Well, now that Mr. Vick chose to fall on his sword after his "Homies" left him high and dry brings up an interesting situation. I am of a mind that if he does his jail time and fulfilled his debt to society, he should be allowed back into the NFL. My concern in this situation is that people seem to be forgetting about other thuggish behaviour from NFL athletes along the lines of beating up wives and girlfriends, and if those guys are allowed back in-and they usually get a slap on the wrist-Vick should be too. This whole thugh element in the NBA and NFL is one reason I hardly watch those sports on TV anymore
I agree, he should be allowed to play in the NFL again. But who will take him. I honestly think that his crime is more shocking. The sheer depravity of his actions goes beyond assault and battery. Others may disagree, but harming innocent animals who are trapped, is in my mind a more egregious crime than taking drugs, beating people up, or gambling. I think much of the public does as well and has rendered his public appeal moot.
I guess what I find galling in all of this is that you have people that are trying to make a racial issue out of this-although the head of the NAACP taking a public shot at Vick was a welcome change from Stephon Marbury's recent rationalization stating that Dog fighting was a legit sport and was no worse than hunting. Anyway, The NFL commisioner, Mr Goodell has realized that most Americans are sick of the thug image in the NFL and he is trying to do what he can to clean the league up. That said, I can see a desperate NFL team rolling the dice and giving him a shot at a job once he does his time.
I don't agree with allowing players back into the league after being convicted of smacking their wives, their kids or their friends around just as I will not support any team that employees Vick after serving his time for this crime. This is not me holding athletes to some unattainable high standard so they can fulfill their obligations as role models to our youth. Being a football player is a job, and for the rest of us with jobs, a conviction such as this one on our employment record with time served in jail is likely to reduce our employment options.
The idea that anyone (Vick included) would consider harming anything remotely resembling Snoopy is so repulsive to me that it makes me want to sick his pitbulls on Vick and his homies themselves. Maybe that would teach them them a lesson?
I loved the editorial cartoon -- I say we let Scooby Doo, Snoopy, et al. have at 'em. Many pro athletes make more $$ in a year than most people see in a lifetime -- it seems that some sort of social responsibility or giving back to the community should come along with that.
But it seems that we as a society have a nasty habit of telling them how awesome they are, and they in turn let it inflate their heads and lead to an invincibility complex. Unfortunate cycle. But they need to leave Snoopy and his friends alone.
G... thank you for pointing out that as much as the pro-players say they are just players, not role models, there is that degree of social responsibility that comes with being both a public figure and a wealthy individual. Unfortunately, many of these men are becoming the only male role models many children have and it is especially important for them to reflect a positive persona, we don’t want our nations youth doing anything to snoopy or goofy.
Noblesse oblige: with wealth, power and prestige comes social responsibilities. $60K political science degree had to be worth some random political philosophy terminology.
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