posted by:
inkspector (
reply)
post date:
08.20.07 (7:09 pm)
A very sad story indeed however, he is a good case that presents good choices can mean a good and successful life, bad choices can lead to a life that falls apart and your in the gutter.
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
08.20.07 (9:24 pm)
As much as he had with his God-given talent to play football, he was vulnerable and able to be swayed by others in his life. Such a shame!
Easy come ~ easy go!
And will the next one coming up the ladder of success in the 'sporting arena' (whether it be football, baseball, basketball, etc.) be able to get past that same temptation ~ it remains to be seen.
He will never be the same, that is for sure ~ and will he learn from this mistake?
He is not the first, nor will he be the last ~ sad!
I hear you PastorDave
posted by:
wondering (
reply)
post date:
08.21.07 (9:15 am)
Would there be as much said and done, if it had been gamecock's instead of dogs? Or, because it was dogs, are people more appalled?
posted by:
heavyarms (
reply)
post date:
08.21.07 (11:05 am)
Bahhh, he was just fighting pit bulls. That's all they're really good for anyway. Well, that and eating small children. Hey, at least he wasn't feeding them babies, am I right?
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
08.21.07 (4:33 pm)
Isn't it hard to know how to feel about the guy? It is for me. For the dog fighting stuff I want him strug up, but would that be fair? Maybe the only fair thing would be to put him in a cage with a similarly talented guy and make them fight to the death - and then drown or electrocute the loser. (But then, he's beat the Lions before. Maybe my dislike of the guy stems from that...)
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.21.07 (6:45 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
Well, he was using dogs for purposes of business and entertainment. Animals are used and abused like that all the time. Those accusing him are persons of low character, probably not reliable. I think his condemning crime, as far as the law is concerned, has to do with illegal interstate commerce and probably some highly unlawful business practices. Mistreating animals in ugly and sensational, but probably not the reason this guy is pleading guilty and going to jail. However, it is fine reason to not want to support any football team he may ever again play for.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.21.07 (6:46 pm)
Reply to: heavyarms
You're all heart. Cold, cold heart.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.21.07 (6:49 pm)
Reply to: wondering
Fighting roosters is an honored tradition in many parts of our country. And, they probably dispose of unprofitable ones, though hopefully in less ghastly ways. It is illegal, however winked at in some places, including parts of my state.
And, as I said in my reply to surrogate, I think the abuse of dogs is the sensational part of the story. But he is going to jail for other reasons.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.21.07 (6:51 pm)
Reply to: auntconi
Some people say Michael Vick is a nice guy, however easily duped by those close to him. Maybe so. Maybe I would find a way to fall upon my face, if given such opportunity. And such is reason to pity and pray, and try to not be so hard toward this guy. Don't misunderstand me. He deserves what is now happening. But he is not evil incarnate. Just a guy who is in over his head.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.21.07 (6:53 pm)
Reply to: inkspector
For most of us, who and where we are today is the result of personal choices along the way. Can't really blame others. Nor God.
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
08.21.07 (7:18 pm)
"Don't misunderstand me. He deserves what is now happening. But he is not evil incarnate. Just a guy who is in over his head."
I hear you PDave!
posted by:
heavyarms (
reply)
post date:
08.22.07 (7:48 am)
Reply to: heavyarms
I'm sorry. I guess I am. I think the thing that really bugs about this whole thing is that this is over DOGS. Crash an airliner into a building? Oh, well, we should probably try to understand why you did it rather than vilify you. Did you possibly rape some young housekeeper in Colorado? Hey, you bought your wife a diamond ring, so all is forgiven. What's that? YOU MADE TWO DOGS FIGHT AND THEN YOU *GASP* KILLED THE ONE THAT UNDERPERFORMED?????!!!!! Well, that just won't stand. Off to jail with you and good riddance. Dogs are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little puppies of the world.
I guess I'm just confustered as to why we let people slide sometimes when the victim is human, but we're ready to banish the offender from society if he hurts a poor, helpless, cute wittle puppy. Also that the "victims" were pit bulls and, indeed, if they weren't fighting each other would have probably been gnawing on some 7-year-old's thigh.
Of course, this all reminds me of an old joke...What's the difference between a truckload of bowling balls and a truckload of dead babies?
No, I'll spare you the punchline.
posted by:
heavyarms (
reply)
post date:
08.22.07 (7:50 am)
Oh, yeah, and Wondering made a good point with the whole "what if the victims has been roosters?" Would Michael Vick be equated with John Wayne Gacy then? I doubt it.
posted by:
auntconi (
reply)
post date:
08.22.07 (11:09 am)
Reply to: heavyarms
I see your point about dogs vs planes/buildings - why does so much get blown way out of proportion - but what he did wasn't right (in my neck of the woods) but I understand it is in some places. But jail? Why not just have him lose his professional status, etc. Oh well ~ a shame in any case!
posted by:
truthserum42 (
reply)
post date:
08.23.07 (12:30 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave, Great Post and you're right the great majority of the animosity stems from the fact that he is black and famous. what about the abuse of horse racing, don't they euthanize non performing horses and what about the professional hunters who hunt big games for trophies. Irregardless of the method used and they are all barbaric the end game is that the animal is dead.What about the genocide in Darfur,child abuse, spousal abuse,and abortions, why isn't there such an out cry regarding these barbaric events. Michael Vick should be punished for his crime, but it shouldn't be a life sentence.
posted by:
(
reply)
post date:
08.23.07 (4:54 pm)
Just because you are a falcons fan PD, I'll let this one go :)
posted by:
spook102956 (
reply)
post date:
08.24.07 (9:52 pm)
I will pray for Mr.Vick. And kind of off the subject--I liked your mentioning not only school teachers but also firemen in "service positions." Don't get me wrong, I'm not teacher-bashing but I get tired of hearing so much about the underpaid teachers and how hard their job is. I always think , "What about policemen and firemen who put their lives on the line every day?" And they never get the wonderful schedule that a teacher does and they sure aren't paid what they're worth. And yet you don't hear policemen and firemen constantly whining about how hard their job is and how little they're paid (which they'd have every right to whine about ). I think teachers have it ALOT easier than they think and alot easier than alot of other jobs that pay about the same and require about the same education. It's weird but I almost can always know a person is a teacher before they tell me, just by their personality. I am in a service position and when I am dealing with a teacher I smile to myself when they tell me they are a teacher, b/c usually I've already figured that out. Their attitude is that the rest of the world is supposed to run like their little school room world and if it doesn't, someone is terribly inefficient.
Thanks for letting me vent. School is about to start and as a parent of a child that has difficulty in school, I'm already dreading this year. Pray for me and the teachers. I try so hard to be nice to them and some of them are great, but some of them act like they hate the kids. I have two children--one does VERY well in school and one doesn't. It's amazing how the same set of parents can be treated so differently by the same school system, depending on which child you're talking about. If you go in to talk about the child that makes straight A's--oh my goodness, you're just the best parents in the world. If you go in to talk about the one struggling--well, suddenly there's something wrong with you and your child--after all, it can't be anything that the school system is doing wrong!! (very off subject, but thanks for letting me vent and pray I will keep a smile on my face this school year. I am really not a negative person, but when my kids are out of public school, I will celebrate!)
