Michael Vick and Eagles???

[elliemom]

Let me preface this by saying that I am not a big sports fan, but where I live kind of puts me in a position to be VERY upset about this.

Notoriously, Philly fans have been known to turn over cars, break city property, fight and hurt people over a WIN for the Eagles. Can you imagine what this will do to the upcoming season of riots????????????

I have never and would never bring my kids to a game in Philly because it can be downright ugly. But now, it might be downright DANGEROUS

And we live within VERY close proximity to a lot of the players. We have run into them in stores and in certain clubs etc. I fear that many unhappy people are going to be out of control and "visiting" the neighborhoods where the majority of players live. YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope Andy Reid knows what he is in for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Liann]

Thank goodness I'm a Steelers fan!

 

[marnold]

This news made personally made me sick. I don't believe he deserved another chance. What a crock!

 

[JeanneMarie]

I saw this on the news last night. I knew it would kick up a storm of controversy, but for what it's worth, here's how I feel about it...

I'm certainly think what Vick did was horrible, but he has paid his dues. I think he deserves a second chance.

There is a player who continued to play in the NFL after he killed a PERSON. I think killing a person is worse than killing a dog, but that's just me.

Players who have committed crimes every bit as heinous have long since returned to the NFL. Jamal Lewis pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges in 2004 for trying to set up a drug deal. He spent the 2005 offseason serving time, was suspended for Baltimore's first two games the following season and then started on the Cleveland Browns' roster.

Ray Lewis pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in a murder investigation. St. Louis' Leonard Little is still playing despite pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter after killing a woman while driving drunk in 1998, then getting stopped for drunken driving again just three years ago. And despite a number of arrests and even convictions, not even one NFL player charged with domestic violence has been suspended.

I just don't get the mentality of shunning Vick for life. Why is what he did worse than any of the above crimes? Sure, it's awful to imagine poor little abused dogs. I get that. What I don't get is the unrelenting vitirol against him. Why can't people believe that he's repentant? Nobody knows what's in his heart now. I say we should forgive and give him a chance.

 

[kathryn]

Why can't people believe that he's repentant?

Did you see his 'apology'? It looked more like "I'm sorry I got caught" than true repentance. He never apologized for the pain he cause those animals.

As for the player who killed someone and was still playing football: it depends on the circumstances, doesn't it? If VIck had killed a dog in self defense or to save someone else's life, it would be a different story as well. But his acts were premeditated, repeated and ongoing.

 

[elliemom]

Like I said, I am not a big sports fan. And I am not judge and jury of Michael Vick. I won't even give my opinion on his crimes. I am just surprised that of all cities Philadelphia would take him.

After the Eagles won the championship the city had riots and burning cars and BRoad Street was destroyed over a WIN!!!

Philly police have much bigger things to focus on than out of control fans, protestors and fights over a PROFESSIONAL football team.Our local news is ALL about how well Eagles fans will respond to this and quite frankly. IT AIN'T PRETTY

 

[aproudfit]

As much as I am disgusted by what he was a part of - he did pay his dues - he does deserve a second chance. I think he has a long way to go - but he does deserve a chance that any one else should have.

 

[JeanneMarie]

Did you see his 'apology'? It looked more like "I'm sorry I got caught" than true repentance. He never apologized for the pain he cause those animals.

As for the player who killed someone and was still playing football: it depends on the circumstances, doesn't it? If VIck had killed a dog in self defense or to save someone else's life, it would be a different story as well. But his acts were premeditated, repeated and ongoing.

The player who killed someone was driving drunk. He chose to drink and get behind the wheel of a car. I don't see that it's a bit different than Vick choosing to do what he did. Not only that, the player (Leonard Little) did it again 3 years later... got caught for DUI again. He didn't kill anybody that time, but it was definitely repeat behavior.

I hate what Vick did, believe me. But I fail to understand why his crime is deemed worse than Leonard Little killing a woman. I wonder how the dead woman's family feels?

 

[kathryn]

I fail to understand why his crime is deemed worse than Leonard Little killing a woman. I wonder how the dead woman's family feels?

Who said it was worse. I was unaware of the circumstances of the killing, but I would ban both players from professional sports. That would send a strong message to anyone wishing to follow in their footsteps. Now, it's pretty much a slap on the hand (Vic's jail time is already over?) and all is forgiven.

 

[Tamrahan]

Not a sports authority at all so I may have this all wrong but didn't Pete Rose get banned from base ball for for life for gambling? And is he not allowed in baseballs hall of fame?

I know that killing a person is worse than an animal. But as a person I have a better chance of getting out of the way of an oncoming car. I can make a choice not to be on the street when bars close which will reduce my risk of being hit by a drunk driver.

Animals on the other hand are totally innocent and completely dependent on humanbeings. what chance do they have when they fall into the hands of people like M.V. or worse?

I don't think the punishment fit the crime in this case. He should have spent a lot longer time in jail and he should not be allowed back into the sport. I think the law should have made him an example. They had the opportunity to send a STRONG message and blew it.

Last night on the news they mentioned people leaving thier dogs in thier cars at the State Fair. We are having a heat wave here and temps are getting into the 90's with high humidity. I told my DH I think these people should get a year in jail, and a $5000.00 fine. He said well it's only an animal though.

Vick should have served time for EACH animal.

Just my .02.

 

[MDolfiniReed]

I think Michael Vick deserves a second chance. It has taken me a long time to feel this way. Look at my avatar--that's my most precious boy, Ripken. I adore dogs. I can't imagine hurting a pup or a person.

I hate what Michael Vick did. I felt like he tarnished his good years at Virginia Tech (I'm a VT graduate--a member of the HokieNation). Part of me hoped that he wouldn't get another job--okay at least not with my Redskins. But if the Redskins had signed him, I would have accepted it and hoped for the best. I think he has an opportunity to learn from a great quarterback: Donavan McNabb, and to learn from a great coach. Yup, I'm a Redskins fan, but I appreciate good coaches and players with honor and integrity, no matter what team they are with. I hope Michael Vick moves beyond the negatives of his mistakes and lives a better life. What a shame if he doesn't.
~michelle

 

[Liann]

I know that killing a person is worse than an animal. But as a person I have a better chance of getting out of the way of an oncoming car. I can make a choice not to be on the street when bars close which will reduce my risk of being hit by a drunk driver.

I have absolutely no good response to this. But as someone whose friend was killed by a drunk driver, I would hardly say he had a chance to reduce his risk of being hit. I kind of see what you were trying to say, but man it didn't come out right.

 

[nancy324]

I saw this on the news last night. I knew it would kick up a storm of controversy, but for what it's worth, here's how I feel about it...

I'm certainly think what Vick did was horrible, but he has paid his dues. I think he deserves a second chance.

There is a player who continued to play in the NFL after he killed a PERSON. I think killing a person is worse than killing a dog, but that's just me.

Players who have committed crimes every bit as heinous have long since returned to the NFL. Jamal Lewis pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges in 2004 for trying to set up a drug deal. He spent the 2005 offseason serving time, was suspended for Baltimore's first two games the following season and then started on the Cleveland Browns' roster.

Ray Lewis pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in a murder investigation. St. Louis' Leonard Little is still playing despite pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter after killing a woman while driving drunk in 1998, then getting stopped for drunken driving again just three years ago. And despite a number of arrests and even convictions, not even one NFL player charged with domestic violence has been suspended.

I just don't get the mentality of shunning Vick for life. Why is what he did worse than any of the above crimes? Sure, it's awful to imagine poor little abused dogs. I get that. What I don't get is the unrelenting vitirol against him. Why can't people believe that he's repentant? Nobody knows what's in his heart now. I say we should forgive and give him a chance.

What I don't get is that any of them were allowed back to the NFL! I am shocked.

 

[JeanneMarie]

Quote:


Originally Posted by Tamrahan
I know that killing a person is worse than an animal. But as a person I have a better chance of getting out of the way of an oncoming car. I can make a choice not to be on the street when bars close which will reduce my risk of being hit by a drunk driver.

I have absolutely no good response to this. But as someone whose friend was killed by a drunk driver, I would hardly say he had a chance to reduce his risk of being hit. I kind of see what you were trying to say, but man it didn't come out right.

I completely agree Liann! That is a thought process that I just don't get. To say that a person who got killed by a drunk driver had a better chance of getting out of the way just blows my mind. What if that had been YOUR loved one that got killed? How would you feel then? Would you just say that it was too bad and that maybe they should have made a choice to stay home that day or night?

 

[Boilergal]

Originally Posted by Tamrahan
I know that killing a person is worse than an animal. But as a person I have a better chance of getting out of the way of an oncoming car. I can make a choice not to be on the street when bars close which will reduce my risk of being hit by a drunk driver.

Uh, as someone who was HIT BY A CAR in a crosswalk at 11:30AM while trying to go to class in college, I find this incredibly offensive.

 

[Beavs]

"I know that killing a person is worse than an animal. But as a person I have a better chance of getting out of the way of an oncoming car. I can make a choice not to be on the street when bars close which will reduce my risk of being hit by a drunk driver."

Wow....I can't even begin to explain why this statement is so bloody wrong...and appalling.

 

[Tamrahan]

I was hit by a car while riding my bike on a sidewalk.

I didn't mean to offend. I suppose that did come out wrong but I'm not defending drunk drivers. I just meant that animals have no chance against people with ill intent but all the bleeding hearts just want to forgive M.V. and the only punishment was a slap on the hands. A leopard doesn't change his spots. He just seems he's sorry he got caught.

M.V knew what he was doing was wrong and he chose to do it anyway.
People who drink and drive know it's wrong and they choose to do it anyway. The punishment for these two crimes should be much more severe than they are.

 

[coloradomama]

But as a person I have a better chance of getting out of the way of an oncoming car. I can make a choice not to be on the street when bars close which will reduce my risk of being hit by a drunk driver

Wow, that's a pretty ignorant remark. On many levels. So all of those individuals that have been killed by a drunk driver were just not fast enough to get out of the way? Or they took their life in their hands by going out after the bars close? You know, it's not just the bar crowd that causes drunk driving accidents and it can happen at any time of the day.

As far as Vick goes, I thought what he did was pretty bad and should not have been let back into the NFL (neither should other players with serious run-ins with the law). That being said, I am a firm believer in giving someone a second chance to straighten out their life. Hopefully he will go forward in a positive direction and learn from his mistakes. If he continues to have problems, though, I'd draw the line.

 

[Tamrahan]

So all of those individuals that have been killed by a drunk driver were just not fast enough to get out of the way?

That's not what I meant and I think you know that.

You all want to gang up on somebody I guess I'm the "it" girl today.



Pete Rose's career was over just for gambling.

Ray Lewis and Michael Vick should not be allowed back in thier sport or to profit from the sport ie sports commentator etc. Just like Pete Rose.
That's how I feel about it.

 

[Beavs]

That's not what I meant and I think you know that.

You all want to gang up on somebody I guess I'm the "it" girl today.

I doubt anyone is ganging up on YOU personally, but as a person who has known almost everyone speaking at a victim impact panel on the horrors of drunk driving I do take a good bit of offense at the statement you made. It sounds as if you have not been touched personally by drunk driving and for that you are lucky but please do reconsider your earlier statement.