Should NFL let Vick play?Asset/Liability

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Registered: 03-18-2000
Should NFL let Vick play?Asset/Liability
163
Tue, 07-28-2009 - 9:39am

Michael Vick paid his debt, but should NFL let him play?

Legally, there seems no question the disgraced quarterback's reinstatement is justified. Morally, many animal lovers will have misgivings.


http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-pucin-michael-vick28-2009jul28,0,9346.story


Reporting from Kanab, Utah — Your head says Michael Vick has served his time, has suffered some punishment for his horrific involvement in a dogfighting ring and that people who have committed more serious crimes are allowed to leave prison and go back to work.

Your heart, though, remembers a May day in a large and airy kennel here at Best Friends Animal Society, and Georgia, one of the unlucky members of Vick's Bad Newz Kennels, where she was taught to fight and then, because she was so good at that, had all her teeth pulled -- by a veterinarian. That way she could serve her time as a breeding bitch, whether she wanted to or not.

Your head says from a legal standpoint it is wrong to keep Vick from playing football this season for an NFL team if a team wants him. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Monday that Vick is immediately eligible to practice with an NFL team and can play in the final two exhibition games, with the idea that he may be fully eligible to play in the NFL by mid-October. Otherwise, your head says, what's the point of thinking our justice system works?

Your heart, though, remembers listening to John Garcia, Georgia's main trainer at Best Friends, talk about the worst parts of life for Georgia and her Bad Newz Kennel mates. About how some of the dogs were swung around by the neck and killed for not fighting or not fighting well enough. About how they were beaten and forcibly bred on something called the "rape stand."

Think about that.

Your head says, these are animals after all, not humans, and pro athletes and others in our society have killed humans -- by accident or with malice -- were imprisoned for their crime, served sentences and came back to society.

My heart, though, is at home with a dog named Dillon, who has cancer, who is undergoing experimental chemotherapy and whose spirit and happiness and daily anticipation of the good things in life put a lot of humans to shame, even as he suddenly loses a little hair around the ears.

That's what the sweet pit bull named Georgia teaches people who come to see her.

Georgia, with her toothless grin and her wiggly butt and her desire to kiss anyone and everyone, has become a goodwill ambassador. She puts on a bejeweled pink collar, is hooked on to her pink leash, and Garcia takes her around the country to show how even the fiercest fighting dog can be taught something else.

All Georgia wants is to please people. When her people wanted her to fight, she did. Now when her people want her to make kids giggle and to have adults marvel at her capacity to enjoy life, she does.

Outspoken Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens has the right to his opinion given to reporters in Buffalo over the weekend.

"I think the way the commissioner is handling it is unfair to Michael Vick," Owens said. "I think he's done the time for what he's done. I don't think it's really fair for him to be suspended four more games. It's almost like kicking a dead horse in the ground."

Did anyone else's stomach turn at that phrase?

At Best Friends, Garcia sat on the ground in Georgia's kennel and spoke eloquently about Vick's dogs.

"How they were treated," Garcia said, "humans shouldn't be capable of that."

Garcia said his head told him Vick should one day be able to have a job.

"But is it his right to make millions of dollars?" Garcia asked. "I guess it is."

While he spoke, Georgia had run to the far end of her kennel, under a shady tree. She shook her head as if to signal John and a visitor that they should come to the cool place. So we did and she settled down for some petting time.

Should Vick play in the NFL again?

This heart says no, which makes it much less forgiving than Georgia's. She most certainly would give Vick a second chance. She's given all of us humans one. In that way, I guess, she's better than many of us.


 

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2008
Tue, 08-18-2009 - 11:37am
I am always amazed at the lack of forgiveness people have for others. He who has not sinned, cast the first stone. We all have done things that were not right and could have landed us in jail. I don't agree with what Vick did, but I believe that people can change. It seems strange to me how we are now placing more value on the life of dogs than humans. In my city, I saw men go to prison for 6 months for killing a person but Vick got 2 years for killing dogs.
We don't seem to care about human life as much as we do animals. But the biggest thing is that you don't want to give him a chance to prove he has changed. Your sins are no different than his and you try to stand as the judge and jury. He ultimately has to answer to God. Judge not so that you are not judged.
Avatar for ddnlj
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 08-18-2009 - 12:16pm
I am always amazed at how quickly forgiveness is given depending on WHO is being forgiven.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2009
Tue, 08-18-2009 - 12:20pm
NO NO No Vick should not be able to play and make all that money after he put those dogs through hell.
Avatar for ddnlj
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 08-18-2009 - 12:34pm

Let's remember that a "drug user" can always be tested to show whether or not they are using. Many employers won't even give someone a second chance based on that.


Yet a man who is involved in what I consider organized crime activity

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2007
Tue, 08-18-2009 - 3:17pm
Everyone deserves a second chance.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2007
Tue, 08-18-2009 - 3:39pm

Sure is a wide range of opinions on this subject. Amazing thing about it is, at least for myself, is that I find that I get swayed from one side to the other (or at least a bit toward the center) after reading an opinion different than my own, but worded in a way that really makes me want to re-think my take on Vick.


This is one topic where there is no definitive "right" or "wrong" answer is there?


Oops, that statement may come back to haunt me....lol. He's back and that's the way it will be. I wish your daughter luck in finding a good job.




Edited 8/18/2009 4:03 pm ET by midwesternman
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2007
Tue, 08-18-2009 - 4:02pm

I'd have more respect for Vick if he would have had to start back as, let's say, a janitor and work, plus earn trust back. But for a team to say all is forgiven, and we will pay you 1.6 million to boot. I just have a hard time getting past that.

Don't get me wrong. I believe in second chances. Heck I gave my ex-husband, second, third, fourth, fifth.......

I'm not a bleeding heart for animals either. Grew up on a farm. Would stand and watch as a cow received a bullet right between the eyes. Told not to go near the barn, I couldn't resist. Peeked in to see a two headed calf being put down by the Vet. I was like 7 years old. I've seen a lot in my life. But for a human to harm an animal or a child. I just don't understand.

Like my son, it will take someone who is willing to take a chance on her. But she also has to accept that not everyone will want to hire her.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2009
Tue, 08-18-2009 - 5:02pm
I will go into riot mode with you if Vick gets to go back and play in the NFL....with ANY team. What a horrible person he is to do such things to animals. What he did should never be forgiven or forgotten. When he was on 60 Minutes, I didn't believe anything he said. He should be punished for LIFE.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2007
Tue, 08-18-2009 - 5:22pm
Well get your protest signs ready. He probably be playing in a couple of weeks for the Eagles. McNabb (the quarterback) said he'd be in one of the pre-season games. There are only 4 and they have already played one.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-18-2009
Tue, 08-18-2009 - 5:35pm
No, No, No, he shouldn't be allowed to play in the NFL.

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