I'm appalled at the decision of the NFL to allow Michel Vick, convicted dog torturer / killer, to play football again. I'm even more appalled that any team would sign him. I've been a football fan since I was a kid, through many of the NFL's scandals. I've seen the NFL try to improve its image by community outreach programs and events aimed at demonstrating to kids that pro football can be an honourable career. I've seen pro football players work hard in their communities to improve the quality of life for the residents, and I've seen many of them give their time and effort to local charities.
The Philadelphia Eagles have decided to forgive, forget, hire, and pay more than a million dollars to one of thousands of people who can toss a football. I will boycott the Eagles and their advertisers - because I will not forget.
I know this isn't much of a diary, but I'm really upset that a proud NFL team will spotlight a man whose main contribution to society is participation in dogfighting. I didn't see any other diaries on the hiring of Michael Vick, so I also apologise if I missed any.
I do not believe in forgive and forget. I believe in forgive and remember, so you don't fall for anything twice. I'm having a tough time forgiving Michael Vick, but I'll never forget that he helped torture and kill innocent living beings for fun. I'll eventually fully forgive him, but I'll never forget that dogfighting is wrong. No apologies, no excuses, can change that.
This is the letter I sent to the Philadelphia Eagles:
This business with Michael Vick is just too much. I'm glad I know which NFL team hired him, because now I know which team to boycott. I'm astonished that any team would take him, let alone pay him over a million dollars. I guess if you can chuck a football - or torture and murder some dogs - the Philadelphia Eagles will proudly set you forth as a shining example of humanity for kids everywhere to see. If that's how the NFL and the Eagles want to play it, why not start recruiting from prisons instead of from colleges? I'm sure there are plenty of serial killers and rapists you could sign. Will you be adding a dead dog to the bonuses a child can receive when they join the Kid's Club?
As for the boycott - I will not watch any game with the Eagles in it. I'll start my advertiser boycott with the ads on your web site. For example, the NFL network can count on me not to watch anything on their channel. Sovereign Bank can count on no deposits from me. The Lincoln Financial Group can rely on my broker's ability to sell as well as buy. Tastykake will sell a bit less junk food when I drive through Pennsylvania, and Turkey Hill is a brand of ice cream I'll never be tasting. I'll certainly miss the Pepsi, Snapple, and Dunkin Donuts, not to mention the KFC and Taco Bell, but maybe I'll lose a few pounds while you lose a viewer and they lose a customer. I don't use Verizon wireless, but my planned change to Verizon won't happen. I'll be buying my pizza from one of the many pizzerias that isn't Papa John's. Of course, thanks to your exquisite choice of criminals, I'll have to get my hair cut somewhere other than our local Great Clips, but I'm sure I can find someone who will do just as good a job.
You get the point. Shame on you. Shame on you. Shame on you.
Very sincerely,
Y'all may not agree with me. You may think dogfighting is minor. Such is life. However, I will not sit by, munching on Dunkin Donuts, while the Eagles demonstrate that they'd rather buy a Big Name criminal than search out and hire an equally-worthy currently-unknown quarterback. All I can do is boycott the Eagles and their advertisers. And I shall.