Michael Vick Town Hall on ESPN

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: classy I think the level of punishment is being elevated because he is a high profile and wealthy black athlete. If this was Tom Brady he would be getting a fine and people would be making excuses.

And the majority of people think you're dead wrong.

If it was Tom Brady or Peyton Manning, there'd probably be even MORE outrage and it'd be a BIGGER story, since they are bigger stars and FAR better QB's then Vick was or was ever going to be.

Now I agree it's a bigger story because of Vick being a high profile athlete, but his color has nothing to do with it. That angle is simply a cheap cop-out.

Would it be as big a story if it was an offensive lineman nobody but Falcons fans had heard of?
No. But it'd still be big news.

Playing QB in the NFL gains you a lot of exposure. Your good traits will be exaggerated along with your bad ones.
You have to have the brains to steer well clear of stupid stuff....but it's pretty well-known that Vick isn't very smart, so he kept on hanging with the idiots he grew up with and it came back to bite him. (no pun intended)

These dumbasses who have the gift of athletic ability need to learn or be taught that when you make it big, you get out of the poverty/ghetto/hood/wrong side of the tracks/whatever conditions you grew up in.
You don't bring it with you.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: Jhill

Originally posted by: classy

Originally posted by: BigJ

You're comparing dog fighting to taping a snake feeding?

And why would anyone donate money to PETA? They'd be donating to the American Humane Society or any of the organizations with similar goals.

And he wasn't just fighting a dog he picked up at the pound. He was raising, organizing, and gambling.

Taping snakes feeding on defenseless rabbits IMO is no different. Its not like they are in the wild. And as far as the gambling comment, how many illegal card games, football pools are run? Are you thumping your chest they go to prison? I love hockey and have for a long time. Rick Tocchett didn't get a day in jail and he even had a state trooper involved in the gambling ring. Show me your post where you made the case for him to go to prison.

Give him a second to respond, he's out getting his lottery tickets for powerball tonight.

J/K

Powerball's tomorrow

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: classy
You don't have to call me a bastard or anything like that. I stated he was wrong and its sick. I am merely stating that people want blood from him. They want to see him pay unfairly for his actions. Its his punishment that people want is what I have a problem with. And wtf are you talking with Tocchet? The gambling charges were criminal. Running an illegal gambling ring is criminal or did I miss something?

He is a high profile, highly paid athlete. That position is a privilege. With the wealth, privilege, fame and all that comes with that position, he is expected to be a role model. Kids are expected to buy shoes with his number and name. They wore his jersey. They cheered for them, after their parents paid through the nose for tickets to see him play.

He is held to a higher standard, and he SHOULD BE. He betrayed a LOT of people with his behavior.

This has absolutely NOTHING to do with his race. Any athlete as famous as Vick would be treated the same, maybe even worse. And they'd deserve it, too. You earn the public's trust, then you betray it. If you get up on that pedestal they put out for you, you better be ready to get knocked off it if you f-up.

I don't think his sentence is any worse than anyone else who gets busted for running a major dogfighting and gambling ring. We just don't hear about them as much.

 

[classy]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: classy
You don't have to call me a bastard or anything like that. I stated he was wrong and its sick. I am merely stating that people want blood from him. They want to see him pay unfairly for his actions. Its his punishment that people want is what I have a problem with. And wtf are you talking with Tocchet? The gambling charges were criminal. Running an illegal gambling ring is criminal or did I miss something?

He is a high profile, highly paid athlete. That position is a privilege. With the wealth, privilege, fame and all that comes with that position, he is expected to be a role model. Kids are expected to buy shoes with his number and name. They wore his jersey. They cheered for them, after their parents paid through the nose for tickets to see him play.

He is held to a higher standard, and he SHOULD BE. He betrayed a LOT of people with his behavior.

This has absolutely NOTHING to do with his race. Any athlete as famous as Vick would be treated the same, maybe even worse. And they'd deserve it, too. You earn the public's trust, then you betray it. If you get up on that pedestal they put out for you, you better be ready to get knocked off it if you f-up.

I don't think his sentence is any worse than anyone else who gets busted for running a major dogfighting and gambling ring. We just don't hear about them as much.

He earned his position in life, its not about priviledge. The rest of the dribble is old and tired. :roll:

 

[TheFamilyMan]

Originally posted by: classy

He earned his position in life, its not about priviledge. The rest of the dribble is old and tired. :roll:

ROFLMAO...you have got to be kidding if you seriously believe that. Vick hasn't earned shit. He was given passes while in high school because he could throw and catch a football. He was given grades and, if you ask me, his scores were padded to even get him in college. While in college, he was given everything there as well...so tell us, oh great defender of poor, maligned black athletes, what exactly has Michael Vick "earned"?

Bottom line is...he got his jollies off on participating in causing the pain/death of a living, thinking, loving animal for his own pleasure. He tortured and maimed animals he KNEW would feel the pain and he didn't care one bit when they breathed their last breath while he hung, electrocuted, drowned and shot them. He is a piece of shit with absolutely no redeeming qualities who is still not seeing the true error of his ways...what he's seeing right now is the fact he was making $10M per year playing a GAME and had the world at his feet and now he forsees a future not as bright. He could give two shits about the dogs he's killed, the women he's infected with STD's and what he's done negatively for the black community. Hell, a majority of the black community in general, as well as many black athletes, are defending this piece of shit...fucking morons. I wouldn't shed a tear if he was castrated with a rusty pair of dull scissors while in jail and then shanked shortly thereafter. The world wouldn't miss him.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: classy

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: classy
You don't have to call me a bastard or anything like that. I stated he was wrong and its sick. I am merely stating that people want blood from him. They want to see him pay unfairly for his actions. Its his punishment that people want is what I have a problem with. And wtf are you talking with Tocchet? The gambling charges were criminal. Running an illegal gambling ring is criminal or did I miss something?

He is a high profile, highly paid athlete. That position is a privilege. With the wealth, privilege, fame and all that comes with that position, he is expected to be a role model. Kids are expected to buy shoes with his number and name. They wore his jersey. They cheered for them, after their parents paid through the nose for tickets to see him play.

He is held to a higher standard, and he SHOULD BE. He betrayed a LOT of people with his behavior.

This has absolutely NOTHING to do with his race. Any athlete as famous as Vick would be treated the same, maybe even worse. And they'd deserve it, too. You earn the public's trust, then you betray it. If you get up on that pedestal they put out for you, you better be ready to get knocked off it if you f-up.

I don't think his sentence is any worse than anyone else who gets busted for running a major dogfighting and gambling ring. We just don't hear about them as much.

He earned his position in life, its not about priviledge. The rest of the dribble is old and tired. :roll:

Totally, utterly wrong. He was BORN with his gift of speed. Born with it. He didn't earn it.
Because of this gift, he was coddled through high school, college, and the pros. He never had to EARN anything. All he had to do is show up and run.

He is not a hard worker like, say, Michael Jordan. Ever hear the stories of how hard Vick works out in the offseason and pushes his teammates to be better?......of course you haven't, because he doesn't. Jordan was born with athletic ability, but he worked his ass off every season to get better and pushed his teammates to get better. THAT is an example of an athlete who earned something.

No, Vick hasn't EARNED anything. What he's done is waste his gift he was born with.

Now I think he was wasting his gift by continuing to try to play QB when he clearly is not a good one, but that's another debate entirely.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
I believe it should be a felony.

Agreed.

 

[Queasy]

Back to the townhall meeting, ESPN reportedly was pulling in people off the street. It was supposed to be a ticketed event but not enough people showed up to fill the auditorium at the Georgia World Congress Center. This was even after they had blocked off the upper seats. ESPN handlers had to go out in the street and promise passer-bys a chance to get on TV if they would attend.

It was really a disgraceful showing by the people in attendance that reflected badly on Atlanta as a whole.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Torturing dogs b/c they lost by hanging them by a tree and beating them with a baseball bat, drowning them, electrocuting them, etc. out of pleasure are signs of sick person. Throw him in jail and throw away the key.

 

[classy]

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: classy

Originally posted by: Pacfanweb

Originally posted by: classy
You don't have to call me a bastard or anything like that. I stated he was wrong and its sick. I am merely stating that people want blood from him. They want to see him pay unfairly for his actions. Its his punishment that people want is what I have a problem with. And wtf are you talking with Tocchet? The gambling charges were criminal. Running an illegal gambling ring is criminal or did I miss something?

He is a high profile, highly paid athlete. That position is a privilege. With the wealth, privilege, fame and all that comes with that position, he is expected to be a role model. Kids are expected to buy shoes with his number and name. They wore his jersey. They cheered for them, after their parents paid through the nose for tickets to see him play.

He is held to a higher standard, and he SHOULD BE. He betrayed a LOT of people with his behavior.

This has absolutely NOTHING to do with his race. Any athlete as famous as Vick would be treated the same, maybe even worse. And they'd deserve it, too. You earn the public's trust, then you betray it. If you get up on that pedestal they put out for you, you better be ready to get knocked off it if you f-up.

I don't think his sentence is any worse than anyone else who gets busted for running a major dogfighting and gambling ring. We just don't hear about them as much.

He earned his position in life, its not about priviledge. The rest of the dribble is old and tired. :roll:

Totally, utterly wrong. He was BORN with his gift of speed. Born with it. He didn't earn it.
Because of this gift, he was coddled through high school, college, and the pros. He never had to EARN anything. All he had to do is show up and run.

He is not a hard worker like, say, Michael Jordan. Ever hear the stories of how hard Vick works out in the offseason and pushes his teammates to be better?......of course you haven't, because he doesn't. Jordan was born with athletic ability, but he worked his ass off every season to get better and pushed his teammates to get better. THAT is an example of an athlete who earned something.

No, Vick hasn't EARNED anything. What he's done is waste his gift he was born with.

Now I think he was wasting his gift by continuing to try to play QB when he clearly is not a good one, but that's another debate entirely.

Hmmm..........Do you how many millions of gifted athletes are born that won't be a professional athlete? Vick worked at and developed his talent. He earned his spot. No professional athlete doesn't pay the price to get there. He is a football player, which he earned. Your just fvcking jealous you didn't pay the price. I bet when he was in the weight room and working on the track, you like so many others were sucking down a damn donut. So he did this terrible thing which by the way was not against any human being. So now his life should be over because some hateful jealous losers like you say it should be over? Hey, eat another donut

 

[Agentbolt]

If this was Tom Brady he would be getting a fine and people would be making excuses.

This isn't the first time I've heard this, and it's getting stupider every time. The only difference if this had been Brady would be that there wouldn't be a lot of idiotic white celebrities defending him saying "Oh, well this is what white dudes do, you know? Dog fighting is in our culture so it's okay!"

It should be a felony, it's animal cruelty. Animal cruelty is already a felony and it should be. They're not people, but torturing and killing dogs shouldn't be something you get a slap on the wrist for.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
I believe it should be a felony.

 

[Drakkon]

I'm going to be the devil's advocate here and say whats so much different from this than watching and gambling on a boxing/ufc match? Either way its two animals attacking each other to draw blood. what makes dogfighting so much worse that its considered a crime while PPV fighting is created into reality shows?

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: classy

Hmmm..........Do you how many millions of gifted athletes are born that won't be a professional athlete? Vick worked at and developed his talent. He earned his spot. No professional athlete doesn't pay the price to get there. He is a football player, which he earned. Your just fvcking jealous you didn't pay the price. I bet when he was in the weight room and working on the track, you like so many others were sucking down a damn donut. So he did this terrible thing which by the way was not against any human being. So now his life should be over because some hateful jealous losers like you say it should be over? Hey, eat another donut

Typical spineless argument....attack the other person because you can't defend your own position.
Did Vick ever work out? Yes. Did he work hard, really hard? No. He is not known as the guy who does all the extra little things.
He is not known as a hard worker, always striving to get better. In fact, he is known as just the opposite.

He has freakish running ability. He is not bright, he hasn't worked hard to get brighter. He is not a good passer, and hasn't worked hard to get better.
He simply rode that God-given gift of speed.
He was always fast, and he absolutely, did NOT work hard to be that fast. He just was. And not working hard is not why I'm not an NFL QB. No amount of work or even steroids I could have ever done would have made me that fast. Just not what I was put here for. So nice try at an attack, but you failed.

I'm not jealous of him at all. Sure, I'd love to have some of his money...who wouldn't? But I'm doing fine and I don't begrudge athletes and movie stars their fortunes....that's what the market is for those types of jobs.
What I do not like is idiots like Vick who squander God-given talent like he has.....he's not a cashier at Kmart. If one of them gets caught fighting dogs, they'll be prosecuted just like Vick, and pay the price. When they have done so, they can apply and see if Kmart of Wal Mart will hire them back.

An NFL Quarterback job is NOT the same, and it's not as simple as "he served his time, let's suit him up again".
You take the money, you take the fame, you take the adulation, etc.....you better do what you're supposed to do.

If we ever see Vick in the NFL again, it'll likely be at receiver, anyway. That's what he's really suited for.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
I'm going to be the devil's advocate here and say whats so much different from this than watching and gambling on a boxing/ufc match? Either way its two animals attacking each other to draw blood. what makes dogfighting so much worse that its considered a crime while PPV fighting is created into reality shows?

Um, maybe because the contestants in boxing and UFC aren't KILLED if they don't win? Or if they lose, it's not because they DIED?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
I'm going to be the devil's advocate here and say whats so much different from this than watching and gambling on a boxing/ufc match? Either way its two animals attacking each other to draw blood. what makes dogfighting so much worse that its considered a crime while PPV fighting is created into reality shows?

Boxing/ufc contestants aren't forced to fight. And the loser isn't tortured/killed.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Queasy
Back to the townhall meeting, ESPN reportedly was pulling in people off the street. It was supposed to be a ticketed event but not enough people showed up to fill the auditorium at the Georgia World Congress Center. This was even after they had blocked off the upper seats. ESPN handlers had to go out in the street and promise passer-bys a chance to get on TV if they would attend.

It was really a disgraceful showing by the people in attendance that reflected badly on Atlanta as a whole.

Thank you.

It really was pretty sad. Anytime anyone said ANYTHING that didn't fully support Vick, they were basically booed until the host had to step in to let them continue or the next guy speak.

One of the last comments made was something along the line that the people in the audience aren't helping Vick by showing that they think what he did shouldn't even be a crime.

 

[Agentbolt]

I'm going to be the devil's advocate here and say whats so much different from this than watching and gambling on a boxing/ufc match? Either way its two animals attacking each other to draw blood. what makes dogfighting so much worse that its considered a crime while PPV fighting is created into reality shows?

Cripes, you're confusing "devil's advocate" with "clueless internet poster" Do UFC people get killed if they lose? Do UFC people fight with the express purpose of trying to kill each other? Do UFC people routinely end up maimed, crippled, or horribly disfigured from the fight?

Think before you talk. It'll save you some embarassment.

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: mugs
It should not be a federal crime. It should be against state laws, and is in 48 states.

As much as I hate Virginia Tech football, and ergo Michael Vick, I would agree with this.