Mike Vick

[BeachSiO2]

For the record....I only endorse female mud wrestling.

For RO, got any pix

 

[seacrestkristi]

How about soldiers, police officers, fire fighters, EMS workers, teachers, nurses, social workers, all make 1/4 of these football 'heroes' pay Why aren't our heroes real people more often? We barely even see what our real everyday heroes are doing that make them heroes, the little day to day decisions that impact other's lives in very real ways besides TD's.
Between Pacman and Vick I have lost my football spirit. How can you just do such stupid sheeet So many young kids look up to them too.
My kids have the sweetest pit/ boxer mix ever. She is the gentlest eater of any dog I ever fed. I Lucy. ...had to say that ;-)

 

[scooterbug44]

I have my list of heroes and it includes very few athletes. Those athletes that are included are on there for off-the-field activities and level of class, not their athletic achievements.

You reap what you sow, and behavior like this is a result of constantly bending the rules and making exceptions to facilitate winning and get those sponsorship $$.

 

[ItzKatzTime]

I think he needs to be chased through the woods into that arena in the barn by those wild boars in the movie "Hannibal". Or just give him over to Hannibal Lecter himself!

This is dirty dirty stuff..... even to watch this blood sport is beyond my comprehension. This was for the sport...not the money. The take was nothing compared to what he makes through endorsements and salary. Besides all the other things they should do to him I think they should confiscate the property, home and all, and give it to the Humane Society or sell it and feed, give medical help, and adoption fees for those who want a life long companion and PET.

Sorry to rant......this is just is too much!!!!! On October 21 if Mike Vick runs in to the Super Dome with the Falcons he better be wearing ear plugs and armour! :angry:

 

[NoHall]

First, let me say that I fully believe that it is wrong to torture animals. (I learned this after killing many ants and beetles with a magnifying glass as a kid. sorry.) Someone on this thread suggested we do the same to Vick as he did to the dogs. While I will not directly associate the entertainment-sport of football to the killing of dogs, I think in some small ways, the dog fighting is not too dissimilar to football. There are typically two opponents, each rewarded for winning. The losing team is punished. (there is no comparison to killing the loser to having a reduction in pay or being traded. -- don't take my comparison that literally.) There is also a crowd of spectators, usually betting on one team or dog to win. Some football teams, like UGA, are even named the Bulldogs. With professional teams, there is an owner, just like the dogs' owner. They are in it for the money. If their "dog" isn't making money, they find a better-trained "dog" to put on the team and ditch the "dog" which isn't producing.

I seem to recall a history in Rome, when men were placed in a ring to fight to the death. It was a spectator sport. While today's football game is a long way from the old Roman sports, on the surface, it isn't greatly different in action. There is just more civility now, and big paychecks for the actual players.

While I don't watch football regularly, I have enjoyed playing football in high school, and I have enjoyed watching a few college and pro games. Am I blaming Vick's actions on football? Not at all. I'm just observing slight similarities between the Vick and the dogs.

With all due respect for your observations, and in spite of these similarities, I don't think the analogy holds to modern football. As we all learned in the movie "Gladiator" cool those men were forced to fight, much like the dogs in question. They weren't offered 100 times the salary of the current Roman Emperor for their "sport." Those men had to fight or die, just like these dogs. Vick and his kind may blow out a knee and end up in a wealth management position, at the worst.

Furthermore, there have been a number of men who played professional football and proved themselves honorable. I'm thinking of Steve Bartkowski--ironically, quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons in my childhood. He was a client of the landscape company I worked for in Atlanta, and I heard nothing but wonderful, glowing descriptions of him. (We also had another client who was a notable NFL retiree from the same era, but I only heard what an SOB he was.)

I've also known people who worked for Evander Holyfield. His sport is much more violent, yet he has a reputation for kindness and generosity.

Vick's teammates Keith Brooking and Warrick Dunn also are known around here for philanthropy. (http://www.keithbrookingfoundation.org/, http://warrickdunnfoundation.org/) I don't know much about Brooking's past, but Dunn didn't grow up privileged and entitled.

No excuses...

 

[sandflea]

When ppl stop paying money to see thugs like this- the NFL will get the message.

Unfortunately, that's the only way the public is going to get their attention.

Not only does it affect our kids who look up to those guys, but it hurts the other players in the league who a good ppl (ex Warrick Dunn, Derrick Brooks to name a few).

It will certainly be interesting to see how it plays out.

 

[Gypsea]

With all due respect for your observations, and in spite of these similarities, I don't think the analogy holds to modern football. As we all learned in the movie "Gladiator" cool those men were forced to fight, much like the dogs in question. They weren't offered 100 times the salary of the current Roman Emperor for their "sport." Those men had to fight or die, just like these dogs. Vick and his kind may blow out a knee and end up in a wealth management position, at the worst.

Furthermore, there have been a number of men who played professional football and proved themselves honorable. I'm thinking of Steve Bartkowski--ironically, quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons in my childhood. He was a client of the landscape company I worked for in Atlanta, and I heard nothing but wonderful, glowing descriptions of him. (We also had another client who was a notable NFL retiree from the same era, but I only heard what an SOB he was.)

I've also known people who worked for Evander Holyfield. His sport is much more violent, yet he has a reputation for kindness and generosity.

Vick's teammates Keith Brooking and Warrick Dunn also are known around here for philanthropy. (http://www.keithbrookingfoundation.org/, http://warrickdunnfoundation.org/) I don't know much about Brooking's past, but Dunn didn't grow up privileged and entitled.

No excuses...

Excellent post NH!!! I totally agree with you.

 

[Smiling JOe]

With all due respect for your observations, and in spite of these similarities, I don't think the analogy holds to modern football. As we all learned in the movie "Gladiator" cool those men were forced to fight, much like the dogs in question. They weren't offered 100 times the salary of the current Roman Emperor for their "sport." Those men had to fight or die, just like these dogs. Vick and his kind may blow out a knee and end up in a wealth management position, at the worst.

Furthermore, there have been a number of men who played professional football and proved themselves honorable. I'm thinking of Steve Bartkowski--ironically, quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons in my childhood. He was a client of the landscape company I worked for in Atlanta, and I heard nothing but wonderful, glowing descriptions of him. (We also had another client who was a notable NFL retiree from the same era, but I only heard what an SOB he was.)

I've also known people who worked for Evander Holyfield. His sport is much more violent, yet he has a reputation for kindness and generosity.

Vick's teammates Keith Brooking and Warrick Dunn also are known around here for philanthropy. (http://www.keithbrookingfoundation.org/, http://warrickdunnfoundation.org/) I don't know much about Brooking's past, but Dunn didn't grow up privileged and entitled.

No excuses...

NoHall, I think you take my similarities too much at heart. I agree with your comments. Yes, gladiators were slaves, forced to fight, to keep living another day, just like the dogs. They were not paid money, but much money was earned off of them. Today, as I mentioned, the times have changed. Now, Athletes make the big money, though others who bet or own teams, have the ability to win or lose money, just as the betters in the dog fights. You are absolutely right, that the players don't have to play, and you are right that there are likely to be many respectable people playing in all sports, just as there are also criminals playing too. Having a phat paycheck doesn't make you who you are, nor does a fancy title or job.

There were days when I admired great athletes, but those times have changed. I give some respect for their abilities, but no more than I would give an artist for her abilities. Each may be deserving. Today, rather than watch a game, I would much prefer to throw a Frisbee on the beach with a friend, or just sit and talk about life.

 

[NoHall]

NoHall, I think you take my similarities too much at heart. I agree with your comments. Yes, gladiators were slaves, forced to fight, to keep living another day, just like the dogs. They were not paid money, but much money was earned off of them. Today, as I mentioned, the times have changed. Now, Athletes make the big money, though others who bet or own teams, have the ability to win or lose money, just as the betters in the dog fights. You are absolutely right, that the players don't have to play, and you are right that there are likely to be many respectable people playing in all sports, just as there are also criminals playing too. Having a phat paycheck doesn't make you who you are, nor does a fancy title or job.

There were days when I admired great athletes, but those times have changed. I give some respect for their abilities, but no more than I would give an artist for her abilities. Each may be deserving. Today, rather than watch a game, I would much prefer to throw a Frisbee on the beach with a friend, or just sit and talk about life.

I wasn't criticizing you at all, just using you as a trampoline. You're awesome.

 

[ATJoe]

There were days when I admired great athletes, but those times have changed. I give some respect for their abilities, but no more than I would give an artist for her abilities. Each may be deserving. Today, rather than watch a game, I would much prefer to throw a Frisbee on the beach with a friend, or just sit and talk about life.

I sometimes find myself thinking along the same lines as the sentiments of SJ above. It seems that the adults I revered during my childhood, whether they were athletes, actors, <gasp> politicians :shock: , or others of prominence, just seemed.....I don't know.....better .....than those in like positions of today.

I suppose a great amount of this can be chalked up to the naivete of youth as well as the knowledge and cynicism of age, but I have to wonder had the modern media been in place during my age of innocence, would my heroes have exhibited the same characteristics and participated in some of the same distasteful activities I find so unappealing in today's supposed role models?