Should Michael Vick be allowed to return to the NFL?

[WriterDom]

I think any team that takes him is taking a huge chance. The animal rights people are crazy. I fear for his life if he does. I also say screw him. Playing in the NFL is not some inalienable right.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

I had to think about this for a little bit before I said no. First speedbump to get over was the number of NFL players who have violated other laws - domestic violence, drugs, gun possession, DUI, etc., and not just misdemeanor but felony violations - who have been allowed to play. So what would make his crime so much worse that he shouldn't be allowed to play?

Second, though, and what carried the day for me, was your comment: "Playing in the NFL is not some inalienable right." No. It isn't. Therefore, I chose, "No," he should not be allowed to return... nor should any other player who is convicted of a felony.

 

[WriterDom]

He'd be out in baseball for sure. He is such a proven talent that I have no doubt he'll return once he sits out 6 games. And the NFL is pretty hostile as it is. I see it getting bad. Booed everywhere he goes and have things thrown at him. People tend to get more upset about cruelty to animals than to people.

I'm a Lion's fan now. Pains me to say it.

 

[00Syd]

People tend to get more upset about cruelty to animals than to people.

Goddamn that annoys me.

 

[sailorpaul]

No -- the dogs never negotiated a scene, filled out a scene checklist to define limits, nor provided consent.

Vic should be done.

 

[JMohegan]

Two years in prison, $1 million fine. Did the crime, took the punishment. The man should be allowed to support himself in the manner to which his talent and skills are best suited.

 

[gloriann]

I can't respond to the poll because it's not a yes or no answer for me. My emotional, moral side says, no, hell, no, he doesn't deserve the perks of an NFL career for being a convicted animal abuser (AND I don't want him to go to the 9er's, which is my team.) But the legal side of me says he did his time and paid his debt; if he was a bus driver, I'd say he should go back to driving a bus. His profession is football, however.

Maybe he should just get a job driving a bus.

 

[JMohegan]

Playing in the NFL is not some inalienable right.

Working as an electrician is not some inalienable right.

Should he be unemployable, anywhere? How should he earn the requisite money to eat?

 

[ShyGuy68]

Two years in prison, $1 million fine. Did the crime, took the punishment. The man should be allowed to support himself in the manner to which his talent and skills are best suited.

I agree with this. Sometimes we just deserve a second chance, and I don't think it should be different for him.

I do however not agree with how he treated the animals, and do hope that he have learned his lesson after the fine and time in prison.

 

[WriterDom]

Two years in prison, $1 million fine. Did the crime, took the punishment. The man should be allowed to support himself in the manner to which his talent and skills are best suited.

Dude, he killed dogs not cats. I crack me up.

 

[missginger2177]

This was a no-brainer. No. Plain and simple. I personally think he should have gotten more jail time than he did, but that's just me.

 

[JMohegan]

I agree with this. Sometimes we just deserve a second chance, and I don't think it should be different for him.

I do however not agree with how he treated the animals, and do hope that he have learned his lesson after the fine and time in prison.

I assume that no one here approves of the torture and killing of animals. (Except those who buy meat from factory farms, of course.)

I hope he's learned his lesson, too. And I fail to see how his chances of reforming are improved, if he is treated like a pariah.

 

[Netzach]

Working as an electrician is not some inalienable right.

Should he be unemployable, anywhere? How should he earn the requisite money to eat?

I think he's taking the heat for something that should be spread out.

Ideally, no, people who are doing drugs, beating spouses, DUI, or running dogfights should not be working where they're role models for the children. Electricians aren't on TV.

So, because the world fucking sucks and you get people behind you for slugging your wife or kid but against you for fighting a pitbull, he should be able to go back to work.

In a better world where more assholes felt the pinch than not, no.

 

[Homburg]

Two years in prison, $1 million fine. Did the crime, took the punishment. The man should be allowed to support himself in the manner to which his talent and skills are best suited.

Legally, yes. I voted "no" however, as I think that any team that takes him is asking for a PR burden that will injure the team as a whole. I see no problem with the NFL allowing him to return though, nor do I see a problem with them allowing convicted felons to play. Whatever. I just think that team hiring him would be making a poor decision, and, honestly, that the NFL would be making a similarly poor decision should it give the go-ahead.

In short, I don't have an ethics issue with it, just a marketing concern. I still find his actions despicable though.

 

[JMohegan]

I think he's taking the heat for something that should be spread out.

Ideally, no, people who are doing drugs, beating spouses, DUI, or running dogfights should not be working where they're role models for the children. Electricians aren't on TV.

So, because the world fucking sucks and you get people behind you for slugging your wife or kid but against you for fighting a pitbull, he should be able to go back to work.

In a better world where more assholes felt the pinch than not, no.

I don't believe that professional athletes should be held up as role models for children.

Of course I know that they are; I'm just adding to your list of what's fucked up in this picture.

 

[Netzach]

I don't believe that professional athletes should be held up as role models for children.

Of course I know that they are; I'm just adding to your list of what's fucked up in this picture.

I'm not so sure it's the best idea either. We've been doing it hardcore for about 100 years, and it seems to be as stupid now as with Babe Ruth.

I'm just glad that I'll be dead by the time UFC involves spiked gloves, mad max and roman circus shit.

 

[rosco rathbone]

Only if he donates some percentage of his salary to PETA.

 

[Netzach]

Only if he donates some percentage of his salary to PETA.

This "I came to Jesus" kind of thing could be the only overhaul for his career.

"I used to fight dogs, I know how horrible this is firsthand, I've seen the light, save the puppies"

 

[DiscusDave]

This "I came to Jesus" kind of thing could be the only overhaul for his career.

"I used to fight dogs, I know how horrible this is firsthand, I've seen the light, save the puppies"

I think what would be even better would be if he jumped on the Bob Barker band wagon and advertise the spaying and neutering of pets.

http://tvcocktail.ivillage.com/entertainment/E_BobBarker%2B325.jpg


I myself voted "yes." Professional football let alone professional sports in all, is not for the competition and the sport itself. It's a job. A unreasonably high paying one... but a job none the less. If you want "for the good of the sport" go watch the Olympics or some other type of nation vs. nation sports. (Heck, there were once rules against professional athletes being allowed in the Olympics)

And even more than a job, professional sports are meant for entertainment value. Without fans being entertained by their team's games every professional team would be broke and non-existant. What Vick did was terrible. But then again... look at professional boxing, UFC, and any other MMA competitions. Those are literally the paying, watching, and cheering on of PEOPLE beating the crap out of each other. But it's "OK" because it's entertaining.

Vick is bringing a lot of media to the game. He'll bring a lot of media attention to whatever team signs him. Use the old adage "no media is bad media," and you got yourself some free press. And if you think about it, unless the team itself has a problem with him and they don't mesh well, all the booing in the world won't stop him from doing well if he maintained his skills. And if he does start doing well, think of all the headlines that would be about his "turn around in life", and how he "made something of himself after prison."

In actuality, I'm glad he's back in the spot light as a role model. Kids need to learn that if you mess up you get punished. He did just that. But then also think about those countless men and women in jail. What do they have when they're let out. He's setting an example of "you can get back on your feet" after prison to them. Don't they need someone to look up to?

 

[naxalite0906]

I agree with Jmohegan that people in that position shouldn't be role models, but the sad fact is that they are. That is why I am reluctant to agree about him being allowed back. He is in a privelaged position and will be earning a lot of money. Ok, so his crime wasn't murder, but at the same time what he did was wrong.

As for the UFC thing... Dog fighting is a bit different. In UFC/boxing etc, the participants want to take part, where as the dogs where forced to and still tortured afterwards. You do have a good point about kids learning about punishment if you mess up, I just hope what happened isn't forgotten and that the children will learn that from him, rather than "if you are a rich sports star and mess up, people forget if you pay a fine."

 

[Homburg]

But then again... look at professional boxing, UFC, and any other MMA competitions. Those are literally the paying, watching, and cheering on of PEOPLE beating the crap out of each other. But it's "OK" because it's entertaining.

It's okay because the participants consent to it.

But then also think about those countless men and women in jail. What do they have when they're let out. He's setting an example of "you can get back on your feet" after prison to them. Don't they need someone to look up to?

If you were rich and famous before you went into prison, you too can make a comeback when you get out.

 

[Primalex]

Goddamn that annoys me.

Shut up bitch.

 

[DiscusDave]

It's okay because the participants consent to it.

----

If you were rich and famous before you went into prison, you too can make a comeback when you get out.

Well granted they consented, however, In my eyes supporting that violence doesn't bode well. How many times did yo hear on the news of kids hurting themselves in backyard wrestling matches back in the 90's when professional wrestling got big?

To say a dog gave or didn't give consent just seems weird, so we take it as the animals were mistreated. Which they were. I was just commenting on how violence has become entertainment.

----

Celebrities or rich people committing crimes and getting punishments that are lighter, or are accepted into society faster, is wrong. I know this. But if you look at Vick's skill set, it makes sense why he would go back into football. I bet he'd fail or at least have a hard time at most other jobs. So what I meant there was that there are outlets for your skills after prison.

Whether or not the inmates make a "comeback" is not certain, but knowing that there is a way to function again could give some hope. Even if before prison they were minimum wage in some crappy job, knowing they have the opportunity to get another one would help the transition, IMO.

Vick has a lot of things most people could only dream of, but he served time and has to face situations like this where people wonder if he could go back to his old job. Same question (although on a smaller scale) is asked for any person coming out of incarceration.

 

[JMohegan]

I agree with Jmohegan that people in that position shouldn't be role models, but the sad fact is that they are. That is why I am reluctant to agree about him being allowed back. He is in a privelaged position and will be earning a lot of money. Ok, so his crime wasn't murder, but at the same time what he did was wrong.

As for the UFC thing... Dog fighting is a bit different. In UFC/boxing etc, the participants want to take part, where as the dogs where forced to and still tortured afterwards. You do have a good point about kids learning about punishment if you mess up, I just hope what happened isn't forgotten and that the children will learn that from him, rather than "if you are a rich sports star and mess up, people forget if you pay a fine."

NFL Crime Watch. The privileged position of NFL team membership is granted to a whole lot of people who fuck up, and fuck up royally.

I hope Vick's reinstatement will prompt conversations with kids about how ball skills don't necessarily make you a good person, and more broadly about how the reward system in our society seems seriously warped from an ethical perspective.

After they get done talking about professional athletes, they can branch out to pop music and film. Maybe move on to CEOs, if the kids are old enough.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

People tend to get more upset about cruelty to animals than to people.

Goddamn that annoys me.

Shut up bitch.

You *may* have intended that to be funny. It wasn't.