BeachSteelers

What up this this Dumb.ss? $120 million just isn't enough. If true I hope his new number is a prision number on an orange suit. Or better yet slam his head on concrete like he "allegedly" did to dogs that wouldn't fight. Guess some Coach should've broke his arm when his completion percentage is below 60. Well Mike get some lipstick cause when your Team asks for it's signing bonus back and then your contract is voided your broke. So have your Buddies send Cigs so your new name isn't Michelle. But I got a feeling they like your type in Fed Pens. Best of luck Mike... NOT!!!

gotothebeachmom

That one word pretty much sums it up. I think his lipstick choice will be "Arrest me Red". What a jerk! The Falcons need to cut his sorry self loose ASAP!

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Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo. ~H.G. Wells

kathydwells

I heard this on the way to work this morning and had real good cry. Freaking idiot. And, I also heard that some guy from the Washington Redskins was defending Vick, saying "Well it is none of anyone's business, it is his house , his dogs, blah, blah, blah...as far as I am concerned his A$$ needs to be in jail as well!!!!!!! These guys make a gazillion dollars and it isn't enough that they have to do this!!! Let me at him. I hope he freaking rots in jail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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~He can who thinks he can, and he can't who thinks he can't. This is and inexorable, indisputable law.~ Pablo Picasso.

sandflea

Too bad we couldn't subject him to the same punishment he put those poor dogs through. Waste of flesh- him AND his brother.

Cheering472

Amen. I hope I never see either name in print again. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

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One tequila, two tequila, three tequila...floor.

Lady D

I couldn't even read much of that article. My husband saw that in the sports section of our paper yesterday. They couldn't find a tree high enough to hang him and his brother on. I cannot tolerate such cruel things being done to dogs, vicious or not.

Cheering472

In fairness, the little brother, Marcus Vick may not be involved in the dog fighting. The indictment is for Michael Vick. But Marcus has flown above reproach throughout his days at Virginia Tech. I'd kicked his bum off campus years ago. He's a low life too, but for other reasons not dog related.

As for what I read, Michael Vick deserves only the same treatment he handed out to those poor dogs. Enjoy prison and your new boyfriend Michael.

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One tequila, two tequila, three tequila...floor.

iwishiwasthere

What did he do to the dogs....or do I want to know? Animal cruelity is inexcusable!!!!

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People will forget what you said.
People will forget what you did.
But people will never forget how you made them feel.

Gypsea

Poor dogs!!!

singinchicken

You really don't want to know unless you really really want to get pissed off. I walked in my door yesterday, and my wife imediately went ballistic...she needed to vent. Her feelings, mine too, run pretty much in line with all you guys above.

Here's what is really sad. The Falcon's won't cut him loose for damage control because of what it will do to their salary cap, and the NFL has said no suspension...

Nice, huh?

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kathydwells

Greedy BATURDS!!!!!!!

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~He can who thinks he can, and he can't who thinks he can't. This is and inexorable, indisputable law.~ Pablo Picasso.

singinchicken

At least his endorsement deals are dropping faster than Paris Hilton's underwear. As each deal has expired, it has not been renewed. AJC just posted that Nike, his biggest endorsement, is delaying the release of his new branded shoe. It's just a matter of time before they all drop him...

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kathydwells

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~He can who thinks he can, and he can't who thinks he can't. This is and inexorable, indisputable law.~ Pablo Picasso.

Cheering472

The Humane Society here is organizing a letter wrtiting campaign to the NFL commissioner Roger Goodell urging him to take action against Vick. Check with your local chapter.

Vicks treatment of the dogs, either by making them fight, abusing them to make them mean, (we won't go into horriffic details here ) or outright killing the dogs with a handgun when they failed to fight is beyong cruel.

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One tequila, two tequila, three tequila...floor.

Miss Kitty

I can't look too much for fear of what I will learn, but read this....

Dallas-Based Advice for a Dog-Based Idiot

Crisis manager Chris Anderson at Dallas' The Marketing Arm released a press release (as opposed to keeping it a secret, I guess) with some words of wisdom for Atlanta Falcon and alleged dog-fighting entrepreneur Michael Vick. The Smoking Gun has a copy of the indictment that has Vick in hot water. According to Anderson, the allegations will present Vick with a "reputational burden" for years, no matter his guilt or innocence. Hmm. Ya think? My advice to Vick is plain and simple. First, get a time machine…

posted by Adam McGill | July 19th, 2007 11:06am | filed under Media, Sports

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The mind is like a parachute, it works best when it is open.

30A Skunkape

Par for the course ATL dirty bird stuff. WHO DAT?!

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Smiling JOe

Celebrities, including sports celebrities, are often mistaken at being good people. However, being good, is an honor which is earned, and does not come from excelling at football. I'll be glad when our role models are people with with good hearts, rather than people with phatt bank rolls from face time on the television and movie screens.

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kathydwells

Amen Brother.

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~He can who thinks he can, and he can't who thinks he can't. This is and inexorable, indisputable law.~ Pablo Picasso.

Lady D

I thought it involved him and his brother both, but maybe I heard wrong. IWIWT, you don't want to know what was done to some of those dogs. Pit bulls or not, it makes me so mad!!!

Beach Runner

Like I always say, "Too much green, not enough blue." Making a gazillion dollars a year doesn't give you any class. Vick is a freakin' low life.

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NoHall

"To whom much is given, much will be required."

People who live in the eye of the public have a responsiblity, whether they accept it or not.

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iwishiwasthere

Okay, I won't go looking. I do not think I could stand to read about the abuse. That is why I usually avoid the news.....always a tragedy.

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People will forget what you said.
People will forget what you did.
But people will never forget how you made them feel.

jay

I really hate to see someone that is so cruel take it out on animals I hope they ruin this guy. I have a young female pit I raised from a tiny puppy I rescued from under a trailer where abuse had led to the deaths of her siblings. She is the sweetest most loving dog I have ever owned and has never even chewed up a shoe. A house dog with her own bed that is when she is not sneeking into mine becuase she is scared of the thunder.

sandflea

I understand the indictment is for Michael- Marcus has already shown he's an idiot. My point was they are both idiots and need to learn big lessons.

ktschris

I had heard about this a few months back. SI actually had a very detailed article about a month back. According to the article, there very well could be a few more big name athletes involved. Let's hope he rolls on them!
It was amazing to read that quite a few of his friends and teammates defended him!!!! I wish I could find the link because it was worth reading.

Smiling JOe

First, let me say that I fully believe that it is wrong to torture animals. (I learned this after killing many ants and beetles with a magnifying glass as a kid. sorry.) Someone on this thread suggested we do the same to Vick as he did to the dogs. While I will not directly associate the entertainment-sport of football to the killing of dogs, I think in some small ways, the dog fighting is not too dissimilar to football. There are typically two opponents, each rewarded for winning. The losing team is punished. (there is no comparison to killing the loser to having a reduction in pay or being traded. -- don't take my comparison that literally.) There is also a crowd of spectators, usually betting on one team or dog to win. Some football teams, like UGA, are even named the Bulldogs. With professional teams, there is an owner, just like the dogs' owner. They are in it for the money. If their "dog" isn't making money, they find a better-trained "dog" to put on the team and ditch the "dog" which isn't producing.

I seem to recall a history in Rome, when men were placed in a ring to fight to the death. It was a spectator sport. While today's football game is a long way from the old Roman sports, on the surface, it isn't greatly different in action. There is just more civility now, and big paychecks for the actual players.

While I don't watch football regularly, I have enjoyed playing football in high school, and I have enjoyed watching a few college and pro games. Am I blaming Vick's actions on football? Not at all. I'm just observing slight similarities between the Vick and the dogs.

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ktschris

But you leave out the most important disimilarities, --- Vick CHOSE to play football, these dogs don't have that option.

Smiling JOe

My focus was on similarities, not differences. There are plenty of differences, and as I mentioned, I don't think that killing animals for not winning a fight is in any way similar to an athlete getting sent to another team, or getting his or her contract renegotiated for less pay.

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TripleB

For the record....I only endorse female mud wrestling.

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"Quick! Get the canopy up! The turtles are coming! The turtles are coming!"

gotothebeachmom

Oddly enough, this doesn't shock me.

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Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo. ~H.G. Wells

BeachSiO2

For RO, got any pix

seacrestkristi

How about soldiers, police officers, fire fighters, EMS workers, teachers, nurses, social workers, all make 1/4 of these football 'heroes' pay Why aren't our heroes real people more often? We barely even see what our real everyday heroes are doing that make them heroes, the little day to day decisions that impact other's lives in very real ways besides TD's.
Between Pacman and Vick I have lost my football spirit. How can you just do such stupid sheeet So many young kids look up to them too.
My kids have the sweetest pit/ boxer mix ever. She is the gentlest eater of any dog I ever fed. I Lucy. ...had to say that

scooterbug44

I have my list of heroes and it includes very few athletes. Those athletes that are included are on there for off-the-field activities and level of class, not their athletic achievements.

You reap what you sow, and behavior like this is a result of constantly bending the rules and making exceptions to facilitate winning and get those sponsorship $$.

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"I hate to break it to you, but this year (and probably the next few) was going to suck even if Jesus himself was president. These problems were not created overnight and they aren't going away overnight." -Jdarg

ItzKatzTime

I think he needs to be chased through the woods into that arena in the barn by those wild boars in the movie "Hannibal". Or just give him over to Hannibal Lecter himself!

This is dirty dirty stuff..... even to watch this blood sport is beyond my comprehension. This was for the sport...not the money. The take was nothing compared to what he makes through endorsements and salary. Besides all the other things they should do to him I think they should confiscate the property, home and all, and give it to the Humane Society or sell it and feed, give medical help, and adoption fees for those who want a life long companion and PET.

Sorry to rant......this is just is too much!!!!! On October 21 if Mike Vick runs in to the Super Dome with the Falcons he better be wearing ear plugs and armour!

NoHall

With all due respect for your observations, and in spite of these similarities, I don't think the analogy holds to modern football. As we all learned in the movie "Gladiator" () those men were forced to fight, much like the dogs in question. They weren't offered 100 times the salary of the current Roman Emperor for their "sport." Those men had to fight or die, just like these dogs. Vick and his kind may blow out a knee and end up in a wealth management position, at the worst.

Furthermore, there have been a number of men who played professional football and proved themselves honorable. I'm thinking of Steve Bartkowski--ironically, quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons in my childhood. He was a client of the landscape company I worked for in Atlanta, and I heard nothing but wonderful, glowing descriptions of him. (We also had another client who was a notable NFL retiree from the same era, but I only heard what an SOB he was.)

I've also known people who worked for Evander Holyfield. His sport is much more violent, yet he has a reputation for kindness and generosity.

Vick's teammates Keith Brooking and Warrick Dunn also are known around here for philanthropy. (http://www.keithbrookingfoundation.org/, http://warrickdunnfoundation.org/) I don't know much about Brooking's past, but Dunn didn't grow up privileged and entitled.

No excuses...

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sandflea

When ppl stop paying money to see thugs like this- the NFL will get the message.

Unfortunately, that's the only way the public is going to get their attention.

Not only does it affect our kids who look up to those guys, but it hurts the other players in the league who a good ppl (ex Warrick Dunn, Derrick Brooks to name a few).

It will certainly be interesting to see how it plays out.

Gypsea

Excellent post NH!!! I totally agree with you.

Smiling JOe

NoHall, I think you take my similarities too much at heart. I agree with your comments. Yes, gladiators were slaves, forced to fight, to keep living another day, just like the dogs. They were not paid money, but much money was earned off of them. Today, as I mentioned, the times have changed. Now, Athletes make the big money, though others who bet or own teams, have the ability to win or lose money, just as the betters in the dog fights. You are absolutely right, that the players don't have to play, and you are right that there are likely to be many respectable people playing in all sports, just as there are also criminals playing too. Having a phat paycheck doesn't make you who you are, nor does a fancy title or job.

There were days when I admired great athletes, but those times have changed. I give some respect for their abilities, but no more than I would give an artist for her abilities. Each may be deserving. Today, rather than watch a game, I would much prefer to throw a Frisbee on the beach with a friend, or just sit and talk about life.

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NoHall

I wasn't criticizing you at all, just using you as a trampoline. You're awesome.

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ATJoe

I sometimes find myself thinking along the same lines as the sentiments of SJ above. It seems that the adults I revered during my childhood, whether they were athletes, actors, <gasp> politicians , or others of prominence, just seemed.....I don't know.....better .....than those in like positions of today.

I suppose a great amount of this can be chalked up to the naivete of youth as well as the knowledge and cynicism of age, but I have to wonder had the modern media been in place during my age of innocence, would my heroes have exhibited the same characteristics and participated in some of the same distasteful activities I find so unappealing in today's supposed role models?

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This isn't flying.....this is falling WITH style.

jdarg

I agree. I'm sure most of today's athletes love their sport, but it seems the money just overshadows everything that was good about sports- skill, good sportsmanship, setting good examples, etc. It all just bores the crap out of us now- we do not watch any sports on a regular basis. Sponsorships, endorsements, blah blah blah, yawn....

Ocean Lover

It's really quite sad. Mr OL used to LOVE to watch basketball. Back in the day...Dr J was his fav and then in the 80's we got to see Michael Jordan and the Bulls play a few times. Seems like now they're all a bunch of ...I'm not even going to say. It's just not fun anymore to watch so like SJ, we go and play instead.

ATJoe

I would agree with Mr. OL's assessment of professional basketball. The 80's and early 90's were, for me, the glory days of the NBA. Great teams populated with great players playing a game using more or less traditional basketball skills. Today's game seems to revolve so much more around individual athletic talent as opposed to team oriented basketball skills. Today, I rarely watch the NBA, but I remain a fan of college basketball.

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This isn't flying.....this is falling WITH style.

NoHall

Hot off the press:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7052768?MSNHPHMA

Personal Conduct Policy? I haven't heard of it, but I applaud the NFL for it.

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seacrestkristi

singinchicken

Same rule the NFL went after Packman Jones with. He, too, has not, yet, been convicted of anything, but after more than 10 arrests, the NFL invoked that rule in an attempt to protect their image.

As bad as all of this is, the NFL does not even come close to being the overpaid dysfunctional family that the NBA is!

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John R

with regards to the loser bogs being put down, sometimes that's better than them being left alive. such a horrible and tragic "sport". convicted owners and promoters should be made to fight to the death, that would slow things down a bit.

npr has down a good bit of coverage, not only on vick, but on the fighting.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...oryId=12104472

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click >> Filter your water instead of using bottled water << click

Smiling JOe

I don't get it. The NFL or Falcons (not sure which), is telling people not to judge Vic prior to his trial, yet Vic just announced that he is pleading guilty to the charges.

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singinchicken

Not Mike...one of his co-defendants, Tony Taylor. He plead guilty after cutting a deal to testify for the prosecution...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20035354/

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Smiling JOe

That makes more sense. I must not have heard the news story correctly.

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