Michael Vick @ MindSay

I watched Animal Planet's special on the Michael Vick case last night, and was almost brought to tears a few times for both good and bad reasons. The bad tears came on when video footage of dog fighting was shown. Seeing that was bad enough, but there were a few videos where the losing dog's cries were heard; I couldn't stand that. The angry tears fell when investigators described the mass graves found on Vick's Virginia property, where dogs who had been hung, shot, electrocuted, drowned, and/or beaten to death were buried. Vick did not get the jail sentence he deserved... he should be in there for LIFE for what he did to those dogs. The fact that he's recently filed for bankruptcy only helps marginally.

 

Then the good tears came at the end, when a few of the Vick dogs were shown in their happy new beginnings, with new families and new leashes on life. One dog, Leo, who had visible scarring on his muzzle from fights, actually became a therapy dog and now makes regular visits to hospitals and senior centers. How awesome is that?!

 

I liked that the special talked about the temperament test studies (pits score higher than german shepherds, beagles, and other popular breeds) and the focus on the non-people aggressive trait in pit bulls. I loved that they talked about history of the breed and its place in America as a loved and loyal pet; I mean, Betty Boop and the Little Rascals owned pits! At the very least, I'm hoping that these segments of the special will begin to change America's perception of the breed.

 

However, I thought the show didn't do a good job of explaining the requirements for aggression - the one dog euthanized was the only human aggressive dog, but they referred to him as the only aggressive dog. The 22 dogs sent to the Best Friends sancutary were all dog aggressive to different degrees, and are considered long term - likely, permanent - cases at Best Friends. It's just a side to the story that was left blank. I also wish they would have explained more about Best Friends, the organization that had a heavy hand in saving the dogs from being put down. More time was spent on PETA, which was undeserved since PETA wanted the dogs to be destroyed in the first place. The most of what PETA did was hand out the signs against animal cruelty.

 

But, all in all, I think the average viewer who had no idea what was going on with this case and who had predetermined prejudices against pit bulls will come away with some valuable information from this special. And like I said, if anything, I hope this will help people to realize that pit bulls once were and still are loving pets and not vicious killing machines who will attack a human with no reason. And that dog fighting needs to STOP.

 

Also, the National Geographic Channel will feature four Vick dogs - Cherry, Meryl, Denzel, and Georgia - on the second season premiere of "Dogtown," to be aired September 5. Info here if anyone is interested: Saving the Michael Vick Dogs.

 

 

iFeel:  hopeful

iTunes: office noise

New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez has been caught cockfighting by way of a video posted to YouTube, according to The New York Post.  The video, which has since been taken down, shows Martinez along with Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal throwing two roosters into a cockfighting ring.

However, don't expect another Michael Vick-like fiasco to emerge over this.  The cockfight took place in the two pitchers' native country, The Dominican Republic, where cockfighting is completely legal.

Nonetheless, given Vick is serving 23-months in jail for dogfighting and has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL, should Major League Baseball punish Martinez in some way?

Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick has received a 23-month prison sentence from a federal judge for his role in financing a dog fighting operation.  Vick still faces charges from the state of Virginia, where the crimes took place.  The one-time #1 draft pick also agreed to pay nearly $1 million to care for dogs found on his property.

Now the question becomes, is the sentence too much, too little, or just right?  Further, should the NFL permanently suspend Vick, or allow him to re-enter the league once his sentence is up?

Emmitt Smith

 

Deion Sanders

 

Roy Jones Jr.

 

Stephon Marbury

 

The first two were members of the Dallas Cowboys so it's not exactly shocking. I'm glad we no longer have to hear this: "Wait until the facts come out." "Innocent until proven guilty."

 

He was a shitty quarterback anyway.

The whole Michael Vick dogfighting situation is absolutely deplorable and I hope to god he gets punished to the full extent of the law.  I hope he gets federal and state punishments, and if he does somehow get out of prison before the window of his NFL playing days are over, I hope the commissioner of the league suspends him for life.  What I absolutely do NOT understand is how there is a decent contingent of african american citizens in this country who have somehow turned this into a race issue. 

This is cut and dry, absolutely free of race from any perspective, and any black person who wants to interject that into the conversation is completely devoid of common sense.  The lack of utter intelligence it must take to say "Michael Vick is getting railroaded because he's black" is astounding.  I've heard countless black people on sports talk radio and also celebrities sitting there defending him.  DO NOT TELL ME THIS IS NO DIFFERENT THAN HUNTING, IT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.  Stephon Marbury, shut your goddamn mouth.  Roy Jones, keep cockfighting, because god knows if there isn't two things beating on each other, you couldn't be less interested. 

Do black people get stereotyped, and racial profiled?  Yes they do, I won't deny that.  Let's look at Vick, and his Ron Mexico exploits (walking herpes transmitter), his flipping the bird of his home fans, the marijuana in a water bottle incident and then this.  He and his brother have used their fame for nothing but trash and to break the law.  Maybe black people would have more credibility to complain about injustice when they take a hardline stance on their own people.  The NBA referee, Donaghy, who was found out for taking part in gambling on games is possibly going to get 25 years in prison.  DO I HEAR WHITE PEOPLE DEFENDING HIM JUST BECAUSE HE'S WHITE?!?!?!?!?  No I don't, and he should go to jail, he broke the damn law.  But he didn't force animals to fight to the death.  He did not kidnap other dogs for practice.  He did not hang, shoot, electrocute or slam dogs to the ground.  No, he gambled, and will probably receive 1/5 the sentencing that Vick will get. 

But yeah, go ahead, defend the skin color, at any and all costs.  You should be ashamed.  Nice way to waste social progress.  I remember hearing during the Duke lacrosse case, a black man on the radio saying he wouldn't care if the boys were innocent and convicted anyways, because it's about time it happens to a white man.  Outstanding. 

I'm not a racist.  I looked at the facts of the case (The indictment is online, its long and lengthy and goes into detail the acts that Vick took part in) and there is no defending what he has done, black, white, asian, whatever.  To defend him speaks volumes about whomever stands by his side.