The wording of the federal statute would probably not apply to Vick, unless the phrase “resulting in physical harm to an individual” would be read to apply to a dog.

I don’t think the state statues would apply because it was a federal felony.

(There are other problems, too, with applying a ‘Son of Sam’ law, since Vick has already made court-ordered restitution regarding his offenses against dogs, and that might already be fully paid off).

They don’t hold forever-grudges against people for what they have done in the past.

People do that.

Maybe we ought to learn something from dogs.

And are you seriously comparing zoos to dogfighting? Zoos serve a purpose. They preserve endangered species and serve as a learning tool for the public. Not to mentioned they take care of the animals and don’t abuse the them like the dbags who think it’s cool to fight dogs.

Anyone who fights dogs is a selfish lowlife who’s more concerned with looking hard than actually being a good, compassionate human being. But I guess the latter doesn’t earn you any street cred these days.

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Thing is, though, that the opposite is the truth. It was pretty clear at the time that Vick was made an example of, and I believe he actually received one of, if not the harshest, penalties anyone had for the crimes he committed.

This isn’t to say he didn’t deserve it. He deserved everything he got. Obviously it’ll never be enough for some people, and that’s understandable. I’m an Eagles fan and I’m still not sure exactly how I feel about the guy. But he’s continuing to do charity work, and he’s owning up to all the awful things he did before without downplaying any of it. There’s something respectable about that, at least.

As a a guy who got into a lot of trouble as a minor and has made an effort to do right as a grown man, I can tell you I’m not even half the liar I was 15 years ago, and can’t even convince my fiance that I didn’t drink out of the milk carton these days.

He’s more concerned with improving how the public feels about him than he does about the prevalence of dog fighting, and better yet, he’s gonna be getting paid to do it with book royalties. He should donate 100% of the proceeds of that book to anti dog fighting organizations or animal shelters. He does not need to make any more money from his dig fighting experience.

He took great pains to conceal his dog fighting activities all those years because he knew it was illicit. That makes his contrition hard to swallow.

Of course he should get to resume making a living after he did his time, and were he a baker, or a shoe salesman, he’d quietly slip back into society. But he’s an NFL football player. His salary depends on his marketability, and he’s not marketable unless he shows this contrition, genuine or not.

Michael Vick no doubt went through the same process. Beginning with the lying, then blaming the people who ratted on him and eventually facing the truth that it was his actions that got him into this and only accepting this would get him out of the situation, not more lies. I believe like me he is a better person for it. Unfortunately, unlike him I was not able to get back what I’d lost after the realization of who I really was.

I hope he lives up to his word, and does enough good in the world to offset the bad. I wish him the best.

However, I do believe that he paid his debt and also that he did what it took to be allowed back into the league. So let him play, and give him a chance to show that 1 mistake doesn’t make a man.

I would like to believe what he is saying now. If it is true, then he is a step ahead of alot of other professional athletes, politicians, and celebrities. He has admitted that he was wrong and that he was at fault.

Only time will tell if he really means what he says, but it is nice to at least see him attempting to make the change. Admitting wrong doing and taking responsibility is a good first step.

Bravo!

A good follow up question would have been- “if you had seen an athlete stand up and say dog fighting was bad when you were young, would it have stopped you?”

Of course it wouldn’t have. Even after everything that has happened, there are still posters on this site who don’t think there is anything wrong with dogfighting.

I’m sure we’ll hear from some of them.

in the first sentence you justifiably questions his sincerity and point out that he admitted he was a good liar, then you proceed to imply that because “a number of people around the league” have bought in, it must be real. silly.

Dungy, “parogon of virtue”???
Still waiting for Dungy’s book on how he failed as parent. I know florio has said he has meals with him frequently so you may not allow this post, but let’s not forget that while he was spending all his time trying to win, his son was no doubt in horrible pain to the point he killed himself.
I would not call that a “paragon of virtue”.