Say Hello To Pacman, Mr. Vick

[Kiwon]

The story has received national attention and no matter how much the locals want it to go away, do you think the news agencies hungry for a story, or PETA hungry for a high profile conviction to make a point will let it die so easily? I know that Goodell has his eye on the investigation as well, so it will be interesting to see how this one plays out.

In a perfect world, if he's guilty he would be punished. But we don't live in a perfect world.

The public's moral outrage is fleeting. People will forget about it and if he has a great season there will be significant pressure not to prosecute him. Celebrities are held to a different standard in our society.

Look at Vick's arrogance now - "the world supports Michael Vick" (paraphrasing). He's never been held accountable for anything and the Black community generally has a non-judgmental, anti-snitching undercurrent running through it. Add to this that Vick's a star and it's more likely that the informant will suddenly disappear, be discredited or get forgetful before Vick is convicted of a serious crime.

On one side: The Black community doesn't want him convicted. The general football fan doesn't want him convicted. The local prosecutors probably don't want to convict him. The NFL doesn't want to lose a star or antagonize their Black fan base.

On the other side: The Law and PETA. PETA and its supporters want to make an example out of him but they are generally regarded as left-wing extremists. Their own negative publicity cancels them out. This case will come down to whether or not public officials will investigate fairly and uphold the Law.

Vick might cop a plea to a misdemeanor or something like that but I can't imagine that he'll be convicted of anything serious. He'll go on being arrogant and people will continue to buy tickets to see him play. That's my prediction of what will happen.

[MJZiggy]

PETA may be too far out there, but the Humane Society and ASPCA are not. Also, much as the NFL may not want to lose a star, Goodell is bound and determined to clean up the NFL and he himself has commented on the progress of the investigation. Look how Portis and Samuels (who has since apologized for his comments) have been villified. Actually, I agreed with some of what Samuels said and the point he was trying to make before he opened his mouth one too many times. Vick shouldn't be crucified before he is convicted, but on the other side, someone's gonna have to pay the price for this one. If Vick doesn't take the fall, then he sells out his own cousin for it.

[digitaldean]

The story has received national attention and no matter how much the locals want it to go away, do you think the news agencies hungry for a story, or PETA hungry for a high profile conviction to make a point will let it die so easily? I know that Goodell has his eye on the investigation as well, so it will be interesting to see how this one plays out.

In a perfect world, if he's guilty he would be punished. But we don't live in a perfect world.

On one side: The Black community doesn't want him convicted. The general football fan doesn't want him convicted. The local prosecutors probably don't want to convict him. The NFL doesn't want to lose a star or antagonize their Black fan base.


Vick might cop a plea to a misdemeanor or something like that but I can't imagine that he'll be convicted of anything serious. He'll go on being arrogant and people will continue to buy tickets to see him play. That's my prediction of what will happen.

I don't agree. I believe the average football fan WOULD want him punished. This isn't any PETA activated type of scandal.

I think people of most any ethnic background would be appalled by this. Doofuses like Clinton Portis may not agree, but I am hoping his voice isn't indicative of the African-American community.

First off, if this informant's statements prove accurate, then Vick should banished for 1 year. Hornung and Karras were suspended for a year for gambling on football, this putz should be suspended 1 year for betting on something that is a felony in 48 of 50 states!

[Kiwon]

I don't agree. I believe the average football fan WOULD want him punished.

To clarify...eight, nine months from today after indictments have been made and the case actually gets to court I doubt that there will be enough (numbers-wise) of average football fans calling for justice.

It's just hard for people to maintain that level of outrage over that length of time.

Even today, there are many who would agree with Clinton Portis' attitude - live and let live. It's his personal activity on private property. Dog and cock fighting exists for a reason - a certain segment of society likes it. Portis said he knew where to go in his community to see it. I don't think he's lying.

Vick's a hood. That's obvious. He's gotten away with so much already and that's why he apparently doesn't fear prosecution.

[GBRulz]

Whether Ferguson should be investigated is an interesting question, though. Should every pit bull breeder in the country be investigated? It's quite possible that Ferguson breeds them for the same reason that NORMAL people own therm--simple love of the breed.

I'm not at all saying every breeder in the country should be investigated. but if they are going to go after Vick on this, I just have a feeling that every NFL player affiliated with pit bulls for whatever reason, will at least be investigated.

[Rastak]

Whether Ferguson should be investigated is an interesting question, though. Should every pit bull breeder in the country be investigated? It's quite possible that Ferguson breeds them for the same reason that NORMAL people own therm--simple love of the breed.

I'm not at all saying every breeder in the country should be investigated. but if they are going to go after Vick on this, I just have a feeling that every NFL player affiliated with pit bulls for whatever reason, will at least be investigated.

He was fighting them not just breeding them. They shouldn't go after dog breeders, they prosecute scumbag dog fighters.

[Fred's Slacks]

"They'll let this other thing go -- what is it called? UFC [Ultimate Fighting Championship]?" he asked. "That is every bit as bad -- you know, that's terrible. But then you have thousands of people that cheer, rah, rah, and they really love that. You see guys get their heads busted, you know, and they get their arms messed up, their legs twisted almost off. But then they fuss over this here, is wrong."

This is one of the more naive things I have ever read. Dog fighting is nothing close to the same thing as UFC. For one, these UFC fighters are paid for what they do and they do so under their consent. These dogs have no choice in how they are raised. Thats the smaller difference. The big difference is that in the UFC there is a long list of fouls to protect fighters from serious injury. On top of that, a fighter can end the fight at any time with a tap out and even if they can't physically tap out they can verbally tap out. I was getting physically sick listening to the dogs yelping as the other dog was thrashing his throat. Meanwhile the hicks cheer them on. Yeah, that's the same.

I am not a UFC fan and I am not condoning what they do but their is no way you can say it is as inhumane as these dog fights. I hope Vick and any other athlete found to be involved get banned for life from their sports. I know it won't happen but I still hope it does.

[RashanGary]

I heap praise on ESPN for showing what really happens. One can imagine, but I just sort of try to ignore it or not really think about what acctually happens. By showing it on TV, it brought a certain realness to it. It is truely brutal. I hope fans take a stand in Atlanta and boycott the Falcons untill Vick is gone. Even if it is 10% of fans, I hope the Blanc's suffer for this. They know what is going on and they turn their heads. They deserve to lose in this too; greedy bastards.

[Partial]

I heap praise on ESPN for showing what really happens. One can imagine, but I just sort of try to ignore it or not really think about what acctually happens. By showing it on TV, it brought a certain realness to it. It is truely brutal. I hope fans take a stand in Atlanta and boycott the Falcons untill Vick is gone. Even if it is 10% of fans, I hope the Blanc's suffer for this. They know what is going on and they turn their heads. They deserve to lose in this too; greedy bastards.

Why?

What happened to innocent until proven guilty. This is America after all..

[RashanGary]

The law rightfully holds off punishment untill PROVEN guilty but that should't stop the court of public opinion from aknowledging the obvious.

Vick is involved in dog fighting just like OJ killed his ex-wife. Just because it can't be proven beyond a reasonable doubt doens't mean it never happened. Why is OJ in a high speed chase after his wife died when if he didn't knwo she was dead? Was it proven? No, but it is pretty obvious. I respect the way the law is upheld becuae one innocent man being put to death is worse than 20 guilty men getting off but you are on some serious crack if you don't think Vick is involved in this. He owns a property with dozens of pit-bulls and many of them are scarred as well as other evidence of dog fighting going on. Do you really think he wasn't involved? If it's not proven, he gets off rightfully so but I'm pretty sure that Vick was aware and involved. Either that or he is one of the dumbest, most nieve morons to grace the NFL. He's dumping money into this underground dog fighting ring and has no clue? Yeah right, and Barroids head didn't inflate because of sterroids.

[Partial]

There really isn't any proof yet. I will withhold judgement until all the facts are established.

He never lived at the mansion according to sources.

Anybody out there can make a false statement to the press saying "hell yeah my dog fought his dog. That cat came to play with the big money!".

How do you know that one of the dozens of the mansions employees involved in maintaining the manner didn't bring the dogs in? How do you know they didn't host dog fights there behind Vick's back because it was a huge, private place to do it?

[RashanGary]

There really isn't any proof yet. I will withhold judgement until all the facts are established.

He never lived at the mansion according to sources.

Anybody out there can make a false statement to the press saying "hell yeah my dog fought his dog. That cat came to play with the big money!".

Parial, the guys had a ton of money invested in this place. Again, either he is a complete idiot and just dumps hundreds of thousands of dollars into this mansion and has no clue why there are dogs (scarred and unscareed) at his mansion or he is involved. I unserstand the importance of innocent undtil proven but it doesn't mean that a guy is innocent and in this case, like iwth Bonds, it is fairly obvious although not proven.

[Partial]

There really isn't any proof yet. I will withhold judgement until all the facts are established.

He never lived at the mansion according to sources.

Anybody out there can make a false statement to the press saying "hell yeah my dog fought his dog. That cat came to play with the big money!".

Parial, the guys had a ton of money invested in this place. Again, either he is a complete idiot and just dumps hundreds of thousands of dollars into this mansion and has no clue why there are dogs (scarred and unscareed) at his mansion or he is involved. I unserstand the importance of innocent undtil proven but it doesn't mean that a guy is innocent and in this case, like iwth Bonds, it is fairly obvious although not proven.

How many people that have 9 figures in the bank have multiple mansions that they've enver been to? I am sure upwards of 50-60% of them at the minimum. If he has truly never been there as he has said, how can he be guilty?

Even though you all seem to think he is a punk, what has he done in the past to make you believe this? Aside from the Jewelry containing water bottle(which some douche down in the PO wanted to make into a big story by staying he smelled mj), he has stayed out of trouble for the most part.

You guys don't consider Ahman Green a bad person and a villian when he was in the news constantly for allegedly beating his wife, etc.

Bonds has been indicted over the allegations and taken to court. He is not under risk of being convicted for any steroid laws. He'd be in trouble for comitting perjury. A very different offense.

Innocent until proven guilty. No one knows the true facts but Vick. My guess is you'll see several more of these big media leaks and interviews with anonymous sources(who in there right mind is going to admit to comitting a felony just to rat someone else out? Sounds fishy to me).

[Scott Campbell]

Innocent until proven guilty.

That rule holds true in a court of law. The court of public opinion is a different matter.

[Rastak]

There really isn't any proof yet. I will withhold judgement until all the facts are established.

He never lived at the mansion according to sources.

Anybody out there can make a false statement to the press saying "hell yeah my dog fought his dog. That cat came to play with the big money!".

Parial, the guys had a ton of money invested in this place. Again, either he is a complete idiot and just dumps hundreds of thousands of dollars into this mansion and has no clue why there are dogs (scarred and unscareed) at his mansion or he is involved. I unserstand the importance of innocent undtil proven but it doesn't mean that a guy is innocent and in this case, like iwth Bonds, it is fairly obvious although not proven.

How many people that have 9 figures in the bank have multiple mansions that they've enver been to? I am sure upwards of 50-60% of them at the minimum. If he has truly never been there as he has said, how can he be guilty?

Even though you all seem to think he is a punk, what has he done in the past to make you believe this? Aside from the Jewelry containing water bottle(which some douche down in the PO wanted to make into a big story by staying he smelled mj), he has stayed out of trouble for the most part.

You guys don't consider Ahman Green a bad person and a villian when he was in the news constantly for allegedly beating his wife, etc.

Bonds has been indicted over the allegations and taken to court. He is not under risk of being convicted for any steroid laws. He'd be in trouble for comitting perjury. A very different offense.

Innocent until proven guilty. No one knows the true facts but Vick. My guess is you'll see several more of these big media leaks and interviews with anonymous sources(who in there right mind is going to admit to comitting a felony just to rat someone else out? Sounds fishy to me).

So maybe you could explain a pet store owner in town who indicated Vick himself had purchased dog supplies on occassion. You think he mailed the stuff accross town to his own house and didn;t realize all the dog fighting stuff was on his property. You REALLY REALLY have to delude yourself to believe that.