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Formerly known as "InterMat" on AGM. Broadcast Journalist/Producer/Writer/everyman for the sport of wrestling. Spent eight years working for a daily rag, ventured into the internet realm managing wrestling media sites and now, entering the television fray. I prefer not to take myself seriously and enjoy watching sports, but I'm a cynic about the NBA (because it sucks), but I love college roundball. I travel the country covering an under-appreciated sport for little reward other than doing something I love with my own rules.
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There are better ways to disagree with the Michael Vick situation than ‘hate’
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Posted at www.bryantwrestling.com
I watched the interview, I’ve read the stories, in fact, I even wrote a blog about the Vicks (Michael and his younger brother Marcus) a few years ago for ArmchairGM. But this was before all the dog fighting charges.
I’ve been privy to many hateful comments in my years of trolling internet message boards. Some get outright nasty, but I don’t think I’ve ever read more hate, real absolute hate, than I have in the comments on newspaper web sites, message boards and the “comments” section underneath news stories around the web than I have as it relates to Michael Vick.
A common theme has been drawn to how people are reacting to Donte’ Stallworth’s DUI manslaughter charges. The relationship is drawn as to how people are reacting to Stallworth killing a person while under the influence and Vick killing animals. I don’t condone either action, in fact, both are actual deplorable and heinous.
Here’s where I find things to get strange. Let’s forget about Stallworth, because quite frankly, he doesn’t impact my opinions on Vick at all. I think what he did to be one of the most heartless things I’ve ever had the displeasure of reading. Having known Michael a long, long time ago, I always kept an eye on his career. I covered him and his brother in high school, so while public perception is one thing, there’s a tie into how I follow athletes from back home. I follow Justin Verlander, David Wright, Allen Iverson, among others, the way I did the Vicks — specifically Michael.
Now, on to the point. I mentioned hate earlier, and I really can’t believe what I’m reading. Perhaps the anonymity of the internet allows people to be brazen and say what’s really on their minds. Then again, with the people so outspoken about Vick being “a monster,” “scum,” and “a piece of trash,” willing to sign their name to it proudly, I get annoyed with the “Glass Houses” crowd.
I grew up with a dog named Linus. I lived with (at one time) four dogs (no, I’m not grouping roommates into that number) in college. I love animals, although my allergies don’t always allow me to be around them as much as I like. I don’t currently own a dog, but as many dog lovers and dog owners know, there’s just something about a loyal pet.
Michael Vick never knew this, and this was played out by his actions with Bad Newz Kennels. Vick is back in the NFL and people are furious. People don’t believe he should have any rights. He’s been in jail, lost millions of dollars and deservedly so. He was punished, some people don’t feel it was enough. I personally find it appalling to know people who end the lives of other human beings get off for less. I’m not putting a value on the life of a dog, because that’s not the point.
The hatred viewed for another human being by people who aren’t without their own faults is sickening. We love dogs, so that gives us the right to say things about someone that would make even the most foul-mouthed of truckers cringe. Like I said, glass houses. I’ve got my faults, I’ve made my mistakes, so for these reasons, I typically stay out of any moral debates when it comes to an issue like this. Who am I to judge?
Those of you who feel it’s necessary to get on your high horse and cast out the laws and rights. The quick reaction is “well, those dogs didn’t have rights.” That’s very true, they didn’t have a choice. But here’s the thing. Life is about choices, Vick made some horrible ones. I’ve made some bad ones, and I can guarantee every single one of you people saying these horrible nasty things about Vick has made some bad ones too. In our society, we have the right to speak our minds, but that doesn’t make the things we say any more right than anyone else. What’s the saying — opinions are like assholes, everyone’s got them, and most of the time, they stink.
I realize I’m rambling here, but nothing seems to tick me off by people using high morality to justify lowering themselves down to the level they want to attack. If you don’t think Michael Vick should have an opportunity to rehab himself, that’s your opinion. You can be justified in having that opinion, but in all the hatred that flows through your words, you contradict all this “moral” sentiment.
I don’t blog or talk publicly about my religion and my beliefs, because in today’s world, people would rather focus on the fact I am a Christian to disprove my arguments than the actual merit behind them. Flaunting your personal beliefs as a platform for your hatred completely defeats the whole foundation of Christianity. So get off your high horse and let the man be.
PETA’s cult-like following purports what’s wrong when people hate so much, they end up defeating the public image of their cause. I don’t condone what Vick did, and I can’t stress that enough. The internet has made any hateful, rage filled individual a pundit on life, morality and ethics. Michael Vick is the latest target.
I know he’s not the victim here. He shouldn’t be treated as such, and I’m not treating him as such. But even convicted murderers have people saying let them get on with their lives and try to be a productive member of society.
Do I think Michael Vick was remorseful? Possibly. But I personally love <insert sarcasm> how people didn’t even give him a chance in his interview. Face it, if you think he’s the scum of the earth and should be banished to Frigia (Flash Gordon reference), you weren’t going to see remorse in anything he said. You don’t have to justify it by saying, “He wasn’t remorseful.” You wouldn’t think he was remorseful if he cut off his throwing hand and sat in the bottom of a Port-O-John. Nothing is going to change your mind — and that again, is your prerogative.
But the road to recovery is something only Michael Vick can control and it’s not something we can control from the letters on our laptops — no matter how hard we want to infer our will, hatred and moral code onto the nearest message board.
Would you not let a bricklayer return to laying bricks after he was busted for dog fighting? Would you care?
He did some sick shit … but people would rather watch him rot than even attempt to make an effort, no matter how big or small, in trying to right the wrong he’s done. In the eyes of many, he’ll always be scum. Sure, I can’t disagree with that. He’s always going to be remembered for dog fighting, regardless if he wins a Super Bowl ring with the Iggles. I guess our society is more hell-bent on online hatred than second chances.
Atheists and non-believers can just skip over this next statement. The only one to judge us is the big man upstairs when our day comes. Sure, we can “judge” people and we do it every day, we all do, but I guess what I’ve been rambling on about is, in an nutshell, if you’re using your religious indignation to spew this type of venom, what are you really? Entitled to your opinion, but contradicting it in the process.
Those of you who express your displeasure without name-calling, without using religion as a false crutch for your hate speech and are simply going to hold true to what you believe because you simply disrespect and care not for Michael Vick, thank you. There are better ways to express your displeasure with someone’s actions than lowering yourself down to a sub-human level with words. What Michael Vick did could be considered sub-human by many, if not all people, the real “moral high road” here is how people can be dignified and approach their dissension about his re-entering the NFL and do it without the vulgar and hateful words.
Personally, I don’t think he should be allowed to play this year. How about spending this year (maybe more) doing all that humanitarian work to TRY to make good on righting his wrongs. That will never happen, because those poor murdered dogs won’t have the chance to live their lives. You can’t right those wrongs, but preventing it from happening and doing real work for the cause rather than attending training camp would make more sense to me.
Only then, he should resume his career. Not snuffing it out completely, but making him do some real work for the cause before getting back into the NFL.
Finally this …
Those of you who post comments saying: “I’m tired of hearing about Michael Vick.”
You know what I say to that?
I’m tired of hearing people who are tired of hearing about Michael Vick commenting about Michael Vick.
