Vick Pleads Guilty
VIDEO: The man is human …
“I Will Redeem Myself” … “What I did was very immature. That means I need to grow up. I totally ask for forgiveness.”
Vick to be sentenced Dec. 10 after guilty plea ….
memories, oh, memories…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlXp3AxMehc]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hCPmhXWW0Q]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm3nfLFTmaU]
Keep your head up man, I’ll see you on the field soon!
I just heard his Press Statement over the radio - and wow - he said everything he really needed to say. And while he still needs to follow through and let his actions show much he’s changed, that release really won some fans back for him I bet.
Smokin Joe said this on August 27th, 2007 at 11:47 am
I didn’t hear it, damn. Is it on the net somewhere?
alisbasement said this on August 27th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
I just heard it, damn I feel bad for him. He is after all just human and you saw it right there in the interview. What’s sad is that his team can only talk about the team and they have nothing to say about him as a person, no one wants to say all the nice things they said before this case. I hope he gets a chance to redeem himself.
“What I did was very immature. That means I need to grow up. I totally ask for forgiveness.”
alisbasement said this on August 27th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
I especially liked when he claims responsibility for his actions, and actions he let occur. Quite the statement given that he could potentially get 5 years in Prison.
And MAN - I want to hear him throw that idea out you had:
Start own Shoe line through some company or whatever - and donate proceeds to Dog Shelters.
Smokin Joe said this on August 27th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
He is going to have to do some type of donation or company for the benefit of dogs after this. He was def wrong, but is also def human.
A lot of people don’t realize that where he is from, dogfighting is not as big a deal as other places.
Reminds me of a story I heard on UNC’s campus when I went there. “Fast” Willie Parker (who now plays for the Steelers, but amazingly got no PT at UNC) used to talk about how he had “never lost a race to a human.” (In the small town he is from, there were lots of racing/fighting dogs)
The Mixtape Monster said this on August 28th, 2007 at 11:10 am
I don’t want to stereotype, but you’re right, dogfighting is accepted by a lot of people in the south and I think a lot of people were blind to how serious of a crime this was. I can honestly say, that I know it’s wrong, but I didn’t know how harsh the penalties could be. He was definitely wrong in what he did, but everyone deserves a chance to redeem themselves.
alisbasement said this on August 28th, 2007 at 11:19 am
Dogfighting isn’t a felony everywhere - in some states it’s just a misdemeanor.
I think the most tragic part is the fact of how much less people might be coming down on him if he had killed the dogs in a quick/painless manner.
Joking aside, I’d like to think they tried different ways to kill the dog faster. I mean, you can’t even shoot a pitbull in the head (with a small caliber) and guarantee its instant death.
Smokin Joe said this on August 28th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
So, you’re saying that if Vick was in Idaho or Wyoming, it’s just a misdemeanor? hmm.
alisbasement said this on August 28th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
I know, weird huh?
Smokin Joe said this on August 28th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
I wanted to share with anyone who didn’t see it on my other post-
I just read this on an MSN article, usually not the best source for defending black athletes, which they’re still not doing, but they made some good points:
“And aside from Henry E. Hudson of the U.S. District Court in Richmond, who is to judge him?
Is it an American public that regards dogfighting as a horror and bullfighting as a tourist destination?
Is it Gene Upshaw, who distanced himself from Vick so fast you would’ve thought he was a retired player?
Is it the NFL establishment, whose ace security force somehow managed to miss Vick’s operation for six straight years?”
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7162218?MSNHPHMA
alisbasement said this on August 28th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Human - yes.
Truthful - probably not, IMHO.
If there is anything good about the Michael Vick story, it is that there is an emerging increased awareness about animal cruelty and animal fighting. There is so much anger about this issue. If we channel it into a positive direction, hopefully, something good can come of it. However…
I watched Vick’s public apology with my little son who USED TO wear Michael Vick jerseys to school. It is disturbing to think a certain percentage of the population is honestly going to be swayed by Michael Vick’s “enlightenment” carefully crafted by his overpaid attorneys. Call me a cynic, but I don’t believe a man who has been allegedly torturing animals since childhood coincidentally has a religious epiphany as a result of getting caught and losing his job. I hope I am wrong.
I think it is a sad commentary that we, as a culture, are using the Vick story to compare “What’s worse?” “What’s worse”, we ask, “carelessly fathering illegitimate children, or dogfighting?”. “Dogfighting or gambling?” “Dogfighting or rape?” “Dogfighting or racism?” “Dogfighting or hateful nationalism?” “Dogfighting or (fill in the blank)….?” The comparisons to dogfighting have been endless.
Dogfighting is one more piece of evidence our country is in need of a spiritual transformation (please note I said spiritual and not necessarily religious). Animals are sentient beings - they feel pain, and they suffer, just like we do. They are not more important, or less important than human beings, but like human beings, they are important, too.
Dogfighting pits one dog against another until one of them dies. The survivor gets his flesh torn off, ears ripped off, eyes pulled out, etc., and the reward for being “a winner” is to writhe in pain until the next fight. Enough said. The pictures make my flesh crawl. The losers are tortured, beaten, starved, electrocuted or drowned. For what? Because these poor creatures were unlucky enough to be born a dog!
Every major faith teaches its followers to be responsible stewards of animals and the Earth. Please help us get the word out that caring for animals, just like caring for people, is an important part of just being a decent person and citizen. If we make this a priority, there will be no more dogfighting horror stories, and no more pointless comparisons of evils. Let us all rise, together, to be better people than we are today, shall we?
Chaplain Nancy Cronk
Founder, http://www.AnimalChaplains.com
animalchaplain said this on August 29th, 2007 at 1:35 am
Nancy, you’re a little late on your post because from the get go I said that dogfighting was wrong and so has everyone else. But, I strongly disagree with you that he wasn’t being honest in his apology. Yes ma’am you are a cynic and a hater, there was no prepared speech, no notes, no papers involved, he spoke from the heart and let it at that. He’s going to use the next year to mature (like he said in his speech “I acted immature” - so he’s taking responsiblity) and to redeem himself. I think he won a lot of people back with his apology.
I seriously doubt that as a child he was doing this, please. This man is only 27 years old and he’s supported by a loving family. I can’t think of one person who hasn’t made a huge mistake and faced this amount of persecution and not become spiritual, who else can he turn to, you all (the public) have banished him, so all he has is his family and God, I see no wrong there. But who are we to judge, isn’t that God’s job, “chaplain”?
People like you make me sick, you build a person up by saying all these great things and buy their merchandise but as soon as they make a mistake, you’re the first to knock them down. I’m sure you’re not perfect and have made mistakes, should we publicly judge you also?
And, IMHO, people like you are a little crazy, dogs will never be more important than humans because THEY’LL NEVER CHANGE THE WORLD. I believe in God and understand that cruelty to animals is wrong. But, it’s insane to even suggest such a thing. Also, the work you’re doing is not that honorable, so get off your high horse. I find it extremely sad that some dogs in America live better lives than children who live below the poverty line in this country, that’s sick. Why don’t you turn your “Animal Chaplain” job into a service for kids in poverty. I think that would benefit this world far more than caring for animals, you know why? because they can actually make a difference in this world. Think about it, let’s take your situation, you have a son and you have a pet(s). If something were to happen to you, would you want some organization taking care of your son or your pet(s)? Please seek help if you believe your pets are more important than your son.
alisbasement said this on August 29th, 2007 at 9:14 am
To be frank, while Vick may not be a traditional role model anymore - he still can be a role model for kids who have made a mistake in their life (a BIG mistake) and don’t think they have a future anymore - Vick is taking responsibility and admitting his mistake. While parents may not want their kids to start dog-fighting, they should let their kid know that Vick still worked every day since he was a kid to get where he was, Football-wise, and he is ready to give it all up to admit he was wrong.
And animals < humans.
I don’t want to lump you into the Animal-Nut category Nancy, you seemed respectable (I liked your mention of a Spiritual Journey specifically) - but nothing drives me crazy than to hear people Claim that only humans murder and kill and such.
Animals are just as dirty as humans.. or humans are just as dirty and nasty as animals - because we are animals. Except we can contemplate our own existence.
Smokin Joe said this on August 29th, 2007 at 9:31 am
This is what I was waiting for, I knew God you were listening! I don’t need to defend Vick anymore, a dead crazy rich white lady just did it for me. This would only happen in America, I told you all this is the only country that values a dogs life more than a human being.
“Real estate billionaire Leona Helmsley left $12 million in her will for her dog Trouble but cut out two of her four grandchildren entirely.”
read the full story here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070829/people_nm/leona_helmsley_will_dc_3
alisbasement said this on August 29th, 2007 at 9:40 pm