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I don't like football, so I have no stake in this.
I don't know anything about dog fighting except that it's illegal almost everywhere, but has been practiced as far back as historical records go. Nonetheless, whether it's right or wrong, morally, it's wrong legally.
Vick was convicted, served his time in prison.
What does dog fighting have to do with playing football?
Roman Ploanski is a pedophile, but he still makes great movies, and is well-regarded as a director and writer.
Angelina Jolie doesn't come close to the kind of person I'd be friends with, but I like her movies and so does most of the world anyway.
Edgar Allen Poe married his 13 year-old niece, but we still regard hims as one of the greatest writers, ever.
What's the big deal with Vick playing football again? Why boycott or protest?
If you feel his criminal status doesn't make a difference as to his character, the next time you're in a position to hire a convicted felon, do so. Interestingly enough, most people have issue with doing just that, even with tax credit incentives.
In Vick's case, his involvement with torturing animals to death make me wish he had had to spend a few years proving he can be a decent human being *out* of jail. Especially given that as a celebrity, he's something of a role model. Make him live up to his promises to campaign against animal cruelty before rewarding him with his chosen career.
For folks who *really* believe in redemption and second chances, put your money where your mouth is. Give a felon who isn't famous a second chance.
Most people have certain things they find highly offensive. When you do something that crosses the line for that person they will hold it against you longer than if you had done something else.
While most people consider it(animal fighting)to be wrong I think it would be forgotten about fairly quickly if the media did not always bring it up, and most of the NFL teams that did not pursue him did not do so because they were afraid of the public opinion, or at least what the media is claiming the public opinion to be.
It also needs to be understood that many of these people that are speaking badly of the situation are animal lovers of such an extreme that they value the life of an animal almost to the same extent and some more than they would a human life.
I, personally, see no issue with hiring a felon for certain jobs--
If a physician were convicted of tax fraud, I wouldn't hire him to balance the books, but his crime had nothing to do with cardiothoracic surgery. I'd hire him to to be a doctor.
If a teacher were convicted of manslaughter while DUI, I wouldn't hire him on to the drivers' ed team, but he could still be an effective physics teacher.
If a (good) writer married his child-niece, I wouldn't hire him to manage a daycare, but I'd still pay to read his fiction.
If a football player ran a dog fighting ring, I wouldn't hire him to manage a kennel, but he could still be an effective linebacker.
If you feel his criminal status doesn't make a difference as to his character, the next time you're in a position to hire a convicted felon, do so. Interestingly enough, most people have issue with doing just that, even with tax credit incentives.
In Vick's case, his involvement with torturing animals to death make me wish he had had to spend a few years proving he can be a decent human being *out* of jail. Especially given that as a celebrity, he's something of a role model. Make him live up to his promises to campaign against animal cruelty before rewarding him with his chosen career.
For folks who *really* believe in redemption and second chances, put your money where your mouth is. Give a felon who isn't famous a second chance.
Whether or not I would hire someone would depend on what they did, and how long ago they did, not just on whether or not they committed a crime. All crimes are not equal. To hire or not hire based on the fact that someone committed a felony is nonsense. What if a new law came out that moved a previous felony down to a misdemeanor? Now, all of a sudden I am supposed to think the crime is not so bad because it was downgraded, or on the other hand a crime was upgraded to a felony.
What is with this role model nonsense? The man gets payed to play football, not tell anyone's kids how to behave. If people want athletes to behave as part of the contract they should get paid to make sure their seedier activities cease or at least stay unknown.
I have never known anyone's life to degenerate because their favorite celebrity did something stupid. Famous people seem to be on tv all the time for doing stupid things. With that being said a lot more people would be following them to jail if they had that much influence.
Kids are going to be sad when they can't see Vick run circles around his opponents, but that is the opportunity to teach the kids lessons about not doing the wrong thing.
I'd hope people could see how running an illegal gambling operation (among other things) has a bearing on professional sport :)
It should not have any bearing on the sport. People should be able to separate the activities of an employee from the company. If they cant do that....., well I just wont touch that one.
PS: I am not defending him or any other criminal. I just think people judge to harshly(sometimes), and hold grudges for far to long.
This is one paragraph from the usda investigation located here.
There's about 5-10 pages of this crap.
I don't mean to sound overly melodramatic, but since I started crying whilst transcribing it from a pdf without "copy/paste" available, I thought I should spoiler it maybe. This made me cry.
"In mid-APRIL of 2007, VICK, PEACE, PHILLIPS, and ALLEN were "rolling" dogs at the __________ property. VICK, PEACE, and PHILLIPS killed approximately seven dogs by hanging and drowning at this time. ALLEN did not take part in the killing of the dogs. VICK, PEACE, and PHILLIPS hung approximately three dogs by placing a nylon cord over a 2 x 4 that was nailed to two trees located next to the big shed. They also drowned approximately three dogs by putting the dogs' heads in a 5 gallon bucket of water. _________ also observed VICK and PHILLIPS killed a red pit bull dog, by slamming it to the ground several times before it died, breaking the dog's back or neck. VICK and PEACE instructed ___________ to dig two graves for the dead dogs and VICK paid $100 for the job. However, ________ refused to bury the dogs, so PHILLIPS, PEACE, and VICK buried the dogs themselves."
Sorry, I just really don't want to watch this guy play football.
Somebody please tell me what my logic flaw is; I really don't care actually. I don't give a f&~~ if I win some internet argument with electric-head people in my computer. I'm just answering the OP's question.
See, if I watch this guy play football, I'll be thinking about what is spoilered up there. That's not my idea of entertainment. I guess it's not really a boycott. It's more like keeping my soul pure. There's a subtle difference I can't explain.
This is one paragraph from the usda investigation located here.
There's about 5-10 pages of this crap.I don't mean to sound overly melodramatic, but since I started crying whilst transcribing it from a pdf without "copy/paste" available, I thought I should spoiler it maybe. This made me cry.
** spoiler omitted **
Sorry, I just really don't want to watch this guy play football.
Somebody please tell me what my logic flaw is; I really don't care actually. I don't give a f*@# if I win some internet argument with electric-head people in my computer. I'm just answering the OP's question.
See, if I watch this guy play football, I'll be thinking about what is spoilered up there. That's not my idea of entertainment. I guess it's not really a boycott. It's more like keeping my soul pure. There's a subtle difference I can't explain.
I really wish I hadn't read that spoiler... not because I don't think Vick should be kicked to the curb (he should), but because now I want to do it myself (not realistic, but I can dream).
I think a willingness to torture and kill animals under your control speaks to a serious mental defect / character flaw. Like it or not, professional athletes are held to high standards - the marketability of the various league depends on viewing these guys as heroes. Would you buy and wear a jersey of a guy that says, in so many words - "I am a fan of a guy who likes to torture dogs in his spare time".
I understand the points above about Poe and Polanski made above, but two comments are in order there - Poe was a long time ago (was he popular at the time? Or did scandal hurt his sales then?). Polanski's victim has forgiven him, and asked the charges to be dropped. If she can do it, I can do it.
When a dog asks me to forgive Vick, I may consider paying to see him play football. Until then, I don't relish the thought of giving him any money.
