Michael Vick

[Seahawk]

Originally posted by Overpaid Slacker
Vegans are like pilots -- how do you know there's one in the room? Wait five minutes... they'll tell you.

JP

Heh!!! I'm good for a solid ten minutes, but then again, I'm a helo pilot

So there I was, on goggles, sneaking...

[Racerbvd]

[Originally posted by Overpaid Slacker
Vegans are like pilots -- how do you know there's one in the room? Wait five minutes... they'll tell you.

JP

Yea, but pilots get laid by the opposite sex

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Man, some harsh words and personal attacks here. I'm more than a little disappointed by both sides.

Perhaps you all need to just STFU.

[Dixie]

Man, some harsh words and personal attacks here...

Not to offer a defense for the poor manners exhibited in this thread, but I strongly suspect many feel the original thread was needlessly derailed. The original topic was about Vick's sadism. It was not about diet.

It's kind of like this. If I want a salad, I simply go out to the garden and pick some lettuce leaves. I do not spray the lettuce with Round-Up, hit it with a bat, and burn it first.

The story isn't about the dogs.
…It's about Vick.

[widgeon13]

Originally posted by on-ramp
So you have a problem with Vick killing dogs? Next time you have that juicy steak, you are supporting an industry that murders thousands of cows, chickens, lambs, and pigs.

It's not ethical to kill dogs but it's ok to kill other animals because they taste good, huh? humans pass a moral judgement over the lives of innocent animals.

what a bunch of hypocrits.

Seems this might be the post that got this thread derailed. I don't seem to see a lot of other objections to Mr Vick.

After this, things went downhill fast.

[Mule]

Vick and his horrific behavior was the lead story on every news show tonight. Comparing a stop at Mc Donalds to torturing & executing man's best friend was asking for a kick in the teeth.

[on-ramp]

Money over ethics at its best!
The NFL should be ashamed...


Vick to Court Next Week, Not Camp
By HANK KURZ Jr., AP Sports Writer

Thu Jul 19, 1:17 AM

RICHMOND, Va. - This much we know: Michael Vick won't be on the field when the Atlanta Falcons open training camp next Thursday. He'll be in a federal courtroom. What happens after that was anyone's guess Wednesday, and there was no shortage of opinions.

Suspend him. Cut him. Let him play until he's proven guilty of felony charges that he sponsored a gruesome dogfighting operation.

For the time being, that's what the NFL intends to do with the star quarterback_ let him play.

After consulting with the Falcons, commissioner Roger Goodell and top league officials agreed to let the legal process determine the facts.

A person with knowledge of the meeting, who requested anonymity so the case would not be influenced, said the NFL would stick to that position for the foreseeable future, despite its new personal conduct policy.

In April, Goodell suspended Tennessee's Adam "Pacman" Jones for the 2007 season even though Jones had not been convicted of a crime. He did, however, have 10 encounters with police and five arrests since he was drafted in 2005.

The NFL players' union took the same stance as the league.

"It's unfortunate that Michael Vick is in this position, as these allegations are extremely disturbing and offensive," the union said in a statement. "This case is now in the hands of the judicial system, and we have to allow the legal process to run its course. However, we recognize Michael still has the right to prove his innocence. Hopefully, these allegations are untrue and Michael will be able to continue his NFL career."

Vick and three associates must appear in Richmond next week for bond hearings and arraignments on charges contained in a detailed, 18-page indictment handed up Tuesday.

The four are accused of competitive dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting, and conducting the enterprise across state lines.

The operation was named "Bad Newz Kennels," according to the indictment, and the dogs were housed, trained and fought at a property owned by Vick in Surry County, Va.

Conviction carries up to six years in prison, fines of $350,000 and restitution.

Among the grisly findings: Losing dogs either died in the pit or were electrocuted, drowned, hanged or shot. The indictment said purses climbed as high as $20,000 for fights.

Those and other allegations of animal abuse have already put Vick squarely in the center of strong and divided reaction.

In Atlanta, where Vick's name dwarfs all others in pro sports, about 46 percent of respondents in an overnight telephone poll conducted by Atlanta-based InsiderAdvantage think the Falcons should release Vick. About the same percentage said the team should keep him until a verdict is returned. About 8 percent of the 859 people polled had no opinion. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

Nike, one of Vick's sponsors, said it was reviewing the indictment and would have no other comment.

In a letter to Goodell, Falcons owner Arthur Blank and Vick's corporate sponsors, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and the Rev. Al Sharpton joined with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Humane Society of the United States in calling for strong stands against animal cruelty.

"Today, we sound a clarion call to all people: Stand up for what is right, and speak out against what is wrong. Dogfighting is unacceptable. Hurting animals for human pleasure or gain is despicable. Cruelty is just plain wrong," the letter said.

Goodell and Blank met individually with Vick in May after the investigation started, telling him to straighten up or risk discipline.

Blank said he "could not have been more stern" in telling Vick that he represents himself, the franchise and the league and needs to do it right.

"They both challenged me to be more accountable in all areas of my life. I know I need to make some changes around me to make sure that the people in my life have my best interest at heart," Vick said at the time. "My goal is to not let my fans, my teammates or my coaches down."

The Falcons signed Vick to a 10-year, $130 million contract in December 2004. He has been paid about $44 million, including $37 million in guaranteed bonuses, and is due to earn a base salary of $6 million this season.

Teams can amortize the salary cap implications of signing bonuses, but if a player is cut, all bonuses paid but not yet factored into the salary cap must be accounted for within two years.

The Falcons face an estimated salary cap hit of about $6 million this year and $15 million in 2008 if they release Vick _ devastating hits to any team's budget.

[M.D. Holloway]

Like anything else, the first statement out of the blocks concerning a scandel of sorts is always going to be guarded.

Money may be the great motivator, but once again children, lets get back to Holloway's Axioms of Human Condition - #1) People do not change.

[widgeon13]

Read down far enough and what does one find but ********* Al right there looking out for the good of the animals. It just doesn't get any better than this.

"Today, we sound a clarion call to all people: Stand up for what is right, and speak out against what is wrong. Dogfighting is unacceptable. Hurting animals for human pleasure or gain is despicable. Cruelty is just plain wrong," the letter said.

As if rational people didn't already know the above. Yeah, and rap music and drugs are good for your children.

[onewhippedpuppy]

In a letter to Goodell, Falcons owner Arthur Blank and Vick's corporate sponsors, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and the Rev. Al Sharpton joined with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Humane Society of the United States in calling for strong stands against animal cruelty.

"Today, we sound a clarion call to all people: Stand up for what is right, and speak out against what is wrong. Dogfighting is unacceptable. Hurting animals for human pleasure or gain is despicable. Cruelty is just plain wrong," the letter said."

I have to say, I'm a bit suprised. I figured Al would stand up for Vick regardless, and claim that this was just another attempt to bring down a prominent black athelete. He's normally good about jumping onto a sinking ship, but maybe he's smart enough not to jump onto a burning, sinking ship full of explosives.

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by onewhippedpuppy
I have to say, I'm a bit suprised. I figured Al would stand up for Vick regardless, and claim that this was just another attempt to bring down a prominent black athelete. He's normally good about jumping onto a sinking ship, but maybe he's smart enough not to jump onto a burning, sinking ship full of explosives.

This may be overly cynical, but this is an issue where Sharpton can take an easy stand, and then point to a later and claim balance.

[Mule]

Now Virginia is preparing charges against vick. If only he could be sentenced to life on the rape stand, in hell.

[Craig 930 RS]

This is gonna be used as an example, and no one will stand up for Vick & Co. Notta one.

I'd venture to say he'll pay MORE than the average Joe would...

[911pcars]

Just to play devil's advocate here.

What IF, Vick proves in a court of law he is innocent of charges and the prosecution cannot prove his guilt or min. level of responsibility?

Sherwood

[widgeon13]

That's probably a good possibility.

P Diddy is free, OJ is roaming the streets, and Michael is still playing house.

With $137 mil, I bet he can buy his way free.

He's still a POS in my book.

[Mule]

It's a possibility but I don't know how good a possibility. This is not some demented local DA with trumped up charges like the Duke case. It's not a he said she said like Kobe's case. There's no Judge Ito or left coast jury to invent law. This is a well thought out prosecution by the Federal Govt. Virginia may pile on this week. Vick's chances of playing in the NFL are probably no better than mine.

[speeder]

Maybe some crazy animal lover will assassinate him. Shoot him w/ a hunting rifle in the groin and leave him to bleed-out slowly in pain, w/ no one around to call 911.

We can always dream...

[Tobra]

NFL will let him play until convicted, there is a shocker

[Craig 930 RS]

Or else the NFL might face a lawsuit.

Everything is PC these days.......