The masses stand in line ready and willing to beat up on Michael Vick (the Chicks included) for his admitted role in a dogfighting ring. He's been labeled everything from a monster to a pig, lost a giant endorsement deal with Nike, and faces an uncertain future in the NFL. But if Vick had beaten his girlfriend instead of forcing dogs to beat up on each other, there's a good chance he'd be getting ready for his closeup in Nike's next ad campaign and taking the field in the Falcons Monday night matchup against the Bengals.
Which leads us to this question: When an athlete beats his wife, why is the public so willing to turn the other cheek?
Before Vick entered his guilty plea on conspiracy charges in the dogfighting case, animal rights groups had already started reaching for their billy clubs and torches to hunt down this "evil presence" in the NFL and stop him in his tracks. And it wasn't hard for them to pick up support along the way. The public, clutching their Labradoodles tight, demanded immediate action against the fallen star long before he could have his day in court.
But where was this dramatic outcry for justice in 2003 when Tampa Bay running back Michael Pittman was arrested for deliberately ramming his Hummer into a Mercedes-Benz driven by his wife and carrying his 2-year-old son. It was his third domestic violence related arrest and it earned him a 3 game suspension. According to the St. Petersberg Times, Pittman's wife told investigators she was subjected to 30 to 40 incidents of domestic violence that were not reported. Meanwhile, Pittman not only continues to play for the Bucs but is highly regarded as one of the most versatile and respected backs in the league. Translation: "Beating...what beating?"
What about former Indianapolis Colts Defensive back Mustafah "Don't Call Me Steve" Muhammad, who was convicted in 2000 of beating his pregnant wife with his stepson standing by? Apparently that's only enough to earn you a 2 game suspension in the NFL.
Kansas City Chiefs star Larry Johnson has been arrested twice on domestic violence charges. Once for allegedly brandishing a gun during an argument with an ex-girlfriend and a second time on charges he grabbed his girlfriend by the shoulders and shoved her to the floor. Punishment: No suspension and 120 hours in community service. Oh, and he'll also be featured in a new line of commercials for Campbell's Chunky Soup starting this fall. So much for "Hard Knocks"...
While no one will deny the repulsive nature of Michael Vick's crimes, you can't help but wonder if the NFL, and its fans for that matter, would sleep a little easier knowing the Falcons phenom had used his wife as a punching bag instead of two precious pooches. Has the health and well being of man's best friend somehow taken precedent over man's girlfriend? History seems to dictate so.
When recently asked if I could accept Michael Vick ever playing in the league again, I looked at my black and white Border-Lab mix, a Katrina rescue, and sighed "Maybe, I don't know." (I tried to ignore the "Et tu Brute?" look in my mutt's big brown eyes.) And while I'm still unsure, what I know for certain is that I am among the millions of NFL fans who have done nothing to call for the dismissal of convicted wife beaters given the liberty to redeem themselves both on and off the field. I for one am not ready to say that domestic abuse is a more forgivable crime than dogfighting. And though I know it's true that two wrongs don't make a right, neither does one wrong.
A Tale of Two Michaels: If Vick Were a Wife Beater, Would We Still Love Him?
Taking a Bite Out of Crime
While Michael Vick remains in the dog house trying to avoid the big house, one trio of savvy businessmen has decided to use Vick's personal woes for their personal gain. The guys have teamed up to sell the ultimate in ironic pet treats, the Michael Vick Dog Chew Toy. According to vickdogchewtoy.com, the product is made of
"state of the art dog material...and is so strong and flexible, it will challenge every breed. Especially the Pit Bull."
The toy sells for $10.99 plus shipping and handling. Portions of the proceeds will go toward animal cruelty awareness.
Is it just us or does this toy share an uncanny resemblance to Louis Armstrong?
Countdown to Camp
For most of us, going to camp signals the start of summertime fun. For NFL players, it's just the opposite. The start of training camp means the party's over, back to work, no more sleeping in late. For some it means no more time spent making the Madden versions of themselves do things they could never accomplish in real life. (That means you Rex Grossman!) For others it means less time to prepare for the next court date.. (The dog-days of summer indeed #7.)
So just what makes camp so kick-ass and worth all the coverage it's getting in the media? For one, it's a chance for us NFL junkies to finally get our fix. We get to see if our draft picks are living up to their potentials, if the old fogeys on the team will get to keep their jobs as starters, and whether our teams made the right offseason moves. And just like the true NFL coaches and GMs, we're sizing up the best picks for our fantasy football squads.
As we prepare for the unoffical start of the NFL season, there are many questions left to ponder.
1) Is it 'game over' for Pacman?
-The Titans cornerback wants in on camp but he's still on suspension for his many, many, many legal troubles. And NFL commissioner Roger Goodell never ruled camp or preseason games off limits.
2) Will this season be Daunte's inferno?
-QB Daunte Culpepper is like the kid in class no one wants on their kickball team. You can't help but feel sorry for him, but you're still not pickin' him!
3) Will Ginn wear the fin?
-#9 draft pick Ted Ginn Jr. has yet to sign with the Miami Dolphins. The kick returner/receiver is expected to report to camp on Sunday.
4) Is the Saints' season "tanked?"
-Rumors are swirling that troubled former bears Defensive Tackle "Tank" Johnson could sign with New Orleans or the Buffalo Bills. Johnson is known for having as many arrests on his stat sheet as he does tackles.
5) Is one infamous falcon preparing for life as a jail-bird?
-While the Falcons are hinting QB Michael Vick will get to take part in camp regardless of his indictment on dog fighting charges, there's no telling what Falcons GM Arthur Blank could decide to do to salvage the team's season before it begins. Many believe Vick will do little more than serve as a distraction. While others can't help but break out in cold sweats at the thought of Joey Harrington leading the Falcons' offense.
Oh yes my friends, this should be the most interesting round of "How I Spent My Summer" book reports since Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan's last lunch date. Stay tuned...
"Ookie" Indicted: Day 2
You've heard the rumors, you've harassed every Falcons fan in your Rolodex, now click here to read the indictment of Michael Vick in black and white.
Don't feel like it? Let the chicks sum it up:
-First of all, Vick is referred to in the indictment as "Ookie." That's right, Ookie.
-"Ookie", "Q", "P Funk" and "T" are accused of buying the dogs, setting up the kennel, hosting the fights, & sponsoring dogs used in the fights
-Poorly performing dogs were allegedly executed in a way that would make the writers of those "Saw" movies squeamish.
-Female dogs were allegedly subjected to a "rape stand." (We won't describe what that is but we suggest you grab a barf bag before looking it up.)
-The feds site 4 cooperating witnesses as the sources of much of their information.
So what does it all mean? Nothing some say. "He's innocent until proven guilty." Sure he is...
Regardless of Vick's guilt or innocence, the court of public opinion has already tried him and sent the jury home. Sports talk stations got lit up with calls from people urging the NFL to suspended Vick for the entire season. The Humane Society wants endorsers like Nike to kick Vick to the curb. And the PETA peeps are rethinking their position on fur and considering a new coat line made out of 100% Ookie.
Down in the "dirty dirty," some Falcons fans are already erecting statues in backup QB Joey Harrington's honor or pleading for the team to sign Dante Culpepper...quick. Other fans and loyal Vick supporters say nothing should happen unless there's an actual "conVICKtion."
To state the obvious, millions of dollars and the fate of an entire franchise are at stake. Which means no decisions should be made one way or another without reviewing all the facts. But if what's good for the Pacman is good for the Ookie, Vick will no doubt be suspended. (You'll recall the league suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones for the entire 2007 season because of repeated arrests and suspected criminal activity.)
As for what's next, Vick's first court appearance is set for July 26, just in time for the start of Falcons training camp. Legal experts suspect the QB and his lawyers may try to work out a plea agreement to avoid a lengthy courtroom ordeal. And Falcons owner Arthur Blank could announce before week's end how he plans to handle the situation.
Meanwhile, we Chicks wonder how many personalized jerseys with "Ookie" on the back will slip through the cracks before the league catches on.
Dirty Bird Learns His Goose Could be Cooked
Oh Ron Mexico. Remember the simpler times when being accused of spreading herpes was the biggest threat to your reputation? Now it turns out Michael Vick will need more than Valtrex to bail him out of a pinch. Just when we thought the feds were barking up the wrong tree, an indictment handed down Tuesday accuses the Falcons QB and three others of running a dog fighting ring out of Vick's Virgina property. Vick is charged with "dogfighting, procuring and training pit bulls for fighting and conducting the enterprise across state lines." Now that's a dog-gone shame!
The indictment also states that the operation ran under the title of "Bad Newz Kennels." Vick is still swallowing the "bad newz" that he could face up to six years in prison, and $350,000 in fines and restitution. Investigators say the dogs were housed, trained and fought at a Surry County, Virginia property owned by Vick.
According to the indictment, it all started in 2001. Dogs on the property allegedly fought to the death and those who lost were either electrocuted, drowned, hanged, or shot.
Vick is now not only in the dog house with investigators, but with the NFL. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy is quoted as saying
"We are disappointed that Michael Vick has put himself in a position where a federal grand jury has returned an indictment against him...The activities alleged are cruel, degrading and illegal. Michael Vick's guilt has not yet been proven, and we believe that all concerned should allow the legal process to determine the facts."
The details of the indictment are far too gruesome for these Chicks to stomach, much less repeat. But, for all you sick puppies out there who want more details, click here to get the full story from the AP.
As much as one (as in I) may loathe the Falcons, no one can deny the excitement Michael Vick brings to the game. For the sake of all those kids who look up to him, let's hope these allegations are false. Needless to say, the man we all know as #7 could be sporting a lot more numbers in the near future.
The Pink Falcon in the Room
June 8, 2007
"To Our Season Ticket Holders:This off-season has certainly presented a lot of challenges to us, and we realize it has been difficult for our fans. Therefore, we thought it would be helpful to let you know where we are as an organization.Any time a player in our league – and especially a Falcons player – shows up in a negative light for any act, it is disappointing to us. While unsubstantiated to date, the current public situation concerning Michael Vick puts us in a particularly difficult spot because of the daily attention it is receiving in the media, and our inability to respond because we don't yet have all the facts with which to deal.We hope you understand it would be inappropriate and premature to make any definitive statements or take any action until we know the facts. Therefore, we are awaiting the outcome of the investigation just as you are. For the benefit of our fans, the Falcons and Michael, we hope there will be a quick and clear resolution to this matter so we all can move forward.In the meantime, we want you to realize there are many examples of our organization impacting our community in a very positive manner.We have a large number of players on our football team who go above and
beyond in giving back to our community. For example, this off-season Tight End
Alge Crumpler was one of four NFL players who spent 12 days on a USO tour to
U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. Defensive Tackle Rod Coleman,
through his foundation, gave metro Atlanta teenagers a head start on their adult
careers by sending them to a Youth Business Camp....."(Blah, blah, blah...you get the picture.)
Anybody want to join me in pouring a little liquor out for their '07-'08 season?
