Vick: Guilty? Guilty? Guilty?

[Belegon]

Actually, if I would have checked the wires before posting, I would have learned that the NFL has, today, banned Vick "indefinitely". It leaves him open to the ability to appeal for reinstatement following the conclusion of his legal proceedings. That would include any prison time.

It also allows the Falcons to sue for Breach of Contract and possibly recover some of his signing bonus, something they could not have done if they had released him as some suggested.

 

[sr71plt]

He got both barrels. His plea showed guilt in all areas while still showing he is trying to slide away from culpability--no sense of remorse. The NFL suspended him--without pay, with a pointed letter from the commissioner; Nike dropped him; the state is compiling its own list of charges; lots of pound dogs have new chew toys.

So, he has football talent. There's no lack of that waiting in the wings. The hedge against continued rampant athlete arogance is to load up and give him both barrels again and tell him flatly "This is it; you had your chance and blew it through your own arrogance."

And no "first time" here. When he was in college, he was frequently involved in this and that that would have landed him in prison if he hadn't been a star football player.

 

[3113]

And no "first time" here. When he was in college, he was frequently involved in this and that that would have landed him in prison if he hadn't been a star football player.

Really? What sins did he commit in college?

 

[sr71plt]

Really? What sins did he commit in college?

Various acts of assault, because he was "oh so fine and untouchable."

 

[SlickTony]

I don't think they all end up like Vick. I suppose I'm going to catch flack from people from his culture and his part of the world, not to mention people who raise food animals, but I really do feel like there's something missing from the soul of someone who'd electrocute and drown his own animals simply for poor performance. The sports industry is not always kind to athletes who don't live up to expectations, but at least they are not offed by their owners' own hands.

 

[rgraham666]

The sports industry is not always kind to athletes who don't live up to expectations, but at least they are not offed by their owners' own hands.

Yet.

 

[Trombonus]

Talk about poetic justice

Vick cards chewed by dogs are on ebay

Vick cards chewed by dogs are on eBay
By BRIAN CHARLTON, Associated Press writer
August 24, 2007

Take some trading cards picturing a disgraced NFL superstar. Add some dog slobber and teethmarks. What do you get? The most valuable Michael Vick cards — by far — on eBay, that's what.

Collector Rochelle Steffen of Cape Girardeau, Mo., gave every Vick card she owned to her dogs and let them go to town on the images of the Atlanta Falcons quarterback who is scheduled to plead guilty to a federal dogfighting charge Monday.

Once Monte, her 6-year-old Weimaraner, and Roxie, her Great Dane puppy, were done worrying them, nearly two dozen $1-$10 cards were crumpled, crimped, chewed, torn and generally in a sorry state. Some even had corners missing.

As of Thursday evening, the highest bid on the lot of 22 cards had risen to $455 and more than 2,000 people had viewed the posting. Seventy-seven people already have bid on the auction, which ends Sunday.

The next-most expensive Vick cards — well-preserved specimens from his rookie year — were going for less than half the price of the gnawed ones.

"If I would have had some of his super-duper ones, they would have been right in the mix too," Steffen said Thursday.

She plans to donate the winning bid money to the humane society of the bidder's choice.

Since Vick was indicted on federal dogfighting charges last month, former fans have donated Vick jerseys to dog shelters, while others have tried to cash in by selling Vick T-shirts and chew toys for dogs.

"I'm not angry toward him; my anger is toward anyone who would do this to animals," said Steffen, a college student and artist who wrote a note accompanying her auction to explain it was artistic expression.

"I mean no harm to anyone involved with this auction," she wrote.

Vick said through a lawyer this week he will plead guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and conspiracy to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture.

Steffen's cards join a collection of newly released items on sale. T-shirts are being sold online with slogans that say "Ignorance Breeds Ignorance. Neuter Mike Vick," and "ConVICKt" and others that show dogs urinating on footballs and jerseys.

A few fans also have released "Free Vick" shirts.

The St. Paul Saints, a minor league baseball team known for campy promotions, gave out Vick chew toys Tuesday to the first 15,000 fans with some game proceeds going to the Humane Society. Fans got the St. Paul pig mascot with a No. 7 printed on the back and a tag around its neck with Vick's picture.

The Atlanta Humane Society also has reported former Vick fans mailing in jerseys — often accompanied by financial contributions and letters of outrage over the charges. Those former fans have suggested the Falcons jerseys become animal bedding or rags to help scrub up the messes that dogs leave behind. Other branches of the Humane Society have said they'll take donated Vick items to resell on eBay.

Steffen said she hopes to bring more attention to the abuse of animals involved in dogfighting activities.

"The money donated to local shelters makes this whole idea of selling the cards worthwhile," she said.