So Michael Vick has been signed by the Philadelphia Eagles. As a lifelong pet lover, this sickens me. I truly thought he'd never get another chance at playing in the NFL. Guess I was wrong.
I am a Democrat, and a yellow-dog liberal one, at that. I believe in second chances. I try, every day, not to judge my fellow humans, no matter how dastardly their deeds may be.
And yet the thought of Michael Vick getting another chance in the NFL sickens me.
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I can remember reading the articles in Sports Illustrated a few years back when the story broke...
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/...
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...and being disgusted by his willful actions.
I know that some people, especially those in the sports media, keep on saying that he served his time and that he should be allowed to resume his career. And I would probably agree with that sentiment were it not for the nature of his crimes.
He hurt innocent animals. He killed "underperforming" animals. There is such heartlessness, such a complete lack of human decency in these actions that I cannot fathom how he is being allowed to resume his lucrative career.
I have no problem with him resuming his post-prison life, of course. He has served his time and is now a free man. Now go get a normal job like the rest of us, Mr. Vick.
Perhaps I can best explain my feelings for Vick by contrasting them with the tragedy that Donte Stallworth caused a few months ago. Stallworth, drunk behind the wheel of his Bentley, killed a pedestrian.
Awful story, right? You bet. Stallworth’s actions were moronic and thoughtless, and he’ll live with the memories of his actions all the days of his life.
But it’s different than the Vick situation. How? Well, Stallworth, I think it’s safe to assume, didn’t wake up that morning and declare, "I’m going to get liquored up today and run down a pedestrian!"
Stallworth’s actions were not premeditated.
Vick, on the other hand, woke up every day for several months, maybe years, and was a willful member of a band of thugs who made money at dogfighting.
In my mind, there’s a huge difference there.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell got it right when he said that playing in the league was a privilege, not a right, and I genuinely thought he would ban Vick forever. Obviously, he hasn’t.
I’m looking forward to seeing James Brown interview Vick on "60 Minutes" Sunday evening. I will go into it with an open mind, and I truly want to think he has realized how horrific his actions were. But even if that’s the case, does it mean he gets to resume his lucrative career?