So I was reading Peter King’s Tuesday Mailbag, and a lot of the content had to do with Mike Vick’s release from prison and his re-instatement to the NFL. Now, I hope I’m not breaking any legal bullshit when I do this, but I’m going to quote a few of these emails because I found one of the responses to be fascinating.
I am a huge NFL fan, have been for over 30 years, and have Twittered you enthusiastically (@DownUnda2008) in the past regarding the NFL. However, one point I will NOT falter on is that Michael Vick should not be permitted back into the NFL. He embodies everything that is disgusting about the NFL insta-millionaires. Regardless of what you think about animals, it has been established beyond a reasonable doubt that he has taken lives. Granted, they were animals. However, if you love life and animals as I do, that is utterly inexcusable. I am an attorney, and yes I recognize that he has in fact served his time for those offenses.
However, in my opinion he should not be afforded status in the NFL. Much like the privilege of voting, some privileges should not be reinstated after incarceration. I truly hope Roger Goodell does not afford Vick the privilege of representing the NFL ever again. If Vick is reinstated, I am done with the NFL — absolutely done and will not watch another game again. I know many [including you] people disagree with me and that is certainly their [your] prerogative. But I stand firm with my convictions. I trust that I am not the only person. I love life and dogs more then the NFL. Please don’t reinstate him Commissioner Goodell.’
First off…HEY ASSHOLE…PLAYING IN THE NFL IS NOT A FUCKING PRIVILEGE.
This is the stupidest saying in all of sports, that the chance to make millions playing a game is a privilege. Really? Nothing is earned here? You mean to tell me the time from when these guys are in grade school, working almost year round on their respective sport’s skills and training their bodies, that they haven’t EARNED their spot in pro sports? Really?
Well, guess what, you’re fucking wrong. Not only that, but the only reason you gave for not giving Mike Vick a second shot in the NFL is because of your high-brow opinion, that isn’t just off-base, it’s completely fucking wrong. People deserve second chances. CEO’s who fuck over their stockholders get second chances. The cop who gets a DUI gets a second chance. Fuck dude, you’re an attorney…your whole fucking line of work is giving people second chances…you think that you’d have a little compassion towards this guy no matter what he did.
And don’t for one fucking second pretend like the NFL is some paradise where guys get everything they want without having to work at all. When you sign an NFL contract, you’re beholden to the franchise no matter what. You’re chained to your job. So, Mr. Attorney, do you have 70-hour work weeks where, at the end of the week, the very event that serves as your purpose in life leaves you so battered and bruised that the next morning you can barely walk? Does your line of work take years off your life? Is there any chance of you getting a bone broken, ligament torn or even paralyzed or killed? I’m sorry, but the NFL isn’t a game, it’s something I want absolutely no part of. But yea, keep thinking it’s a privilege.
But, I want to move on to another one…a much dumber email.
I have to disagree with your assessment on how Vick should be allowed back in the NFL. What Vick did was a disgusting, horrible and despicable thing. A thing that cannot be forgiven. If the NFL lets Vick back in to play, then the NFL is not sending the right message to the players and fans. It’s not just us adults who watch this game. Children of all ages watch and dream of playing in this game. When they see Vick back on the field after killing dogs for fun in the manner in which he did, then they’ll think its OK to do so as long as you do a SMALL amount of jail time to pay that price. The message this sends to players is equally horrible. Adam “Pacman” Jones did things not nearly as bad as what Vick did, and yet nobody is talking about letting him back in to play. There are numerous ex-players who played the game who won’t be allowed back in for far less than what Vick did. Mr. Goodell is trying to show the world that the NFL will not tolerate men of dishonest, and bad moral character and judgment in the league. He would be making a huge mistake letting Vick back in, and would completely undermine everything he’s trying to accomplish in the NFL. God I hope nobody lets Vick play a game in the NFL again.
Dear Lord…where to start?
A SMALL amount of jail time? Do you even know what he was convicted of? He wasn’t in jail for dogfighthing, you dumb fuck, he was in jail for the gambling aspect and violations of the Interstate Commerce Laws. His punishment was handed down by a fucking court, which knows a whole hell of a lot more about the crime than you do, so I’d say that SMALL jail sentence was pretty fucking legit, considering he was there for TWO FUCKING YEARS. But totally…TWO FUCKING YEARS in LEAVENWORTH FEDERAL PENITENTARY is a fucking vacation.
Two…Pacman isn’t playing because he can’t cover anyone and he committed OVER TEN FUCKING CRIMES IN 18 MONTHS. TEN!!! But the most important part of why Pacman isn’t playing is that first part…the fact he sucks. And numerous ex-players who aren’t allowed to play in the NFL for what they’ve done? Really? Name ONE. Leonard Little killed a woman while driving drunk and got another DUI a few months later…last time I checked he was on an NFL roster despite showing no remorse for his original crime.
I cannot stand this kind of shit. Who the fuck are you to say that someone doesn’t deserve another shot to redeem themselves and salvage their career? Yes, what Vick did was fucking terrible and, as a human, it thoroughly disgusts me, and I don’t think he’ll be soon forgiven, but he’s still entitled to earning a living doing whatever he wants to for whomever chooses to employ him.
That’s the thing…if Vick wasn’t a pro athlete, this wouldn’t be an issue. If he was a really good IT guy or soemthing, nobody would care that he got another job in the industry, but it’s the same fucking thing. Mike Vick is a pro athlete who’s spent his entire life working towards playing a professional sport. He EARNED his spot in the NFL just like that really good IT guy EARNED his.
So what is it? Why do people harbor such ill will against Vick despite the fact that he’s completely bankrupt, just served a jail sentence, and who’s life is a running punchline? Is it because this guy gets to do something you’ve dreamed about doing your entire life, but just weren’t that good at? Probably. The man has had everything stripped from him, and now has a chance to redeem his career and his legacy for a fraction of the compensation he’d normally accrue.
Please, someone. ANYONE. Give me ONE good reason why Mike Vick should not be allowed to seek employment wherever he can find it and I’ll gladly take everything back. ONE reason…that’s all it’s going to take and I’ll shut up. But see, that’s the problem…there isn’t a good reason other than some fuck’s morality getting in the way of objectivity.
And you know what? God forbid you or any of your family members ever fuck up anything in their lives either, because if that’s the case, I wish them nothing but the worst of luck getting their life back on track because if Mike Vick doesn’t deserve a second chance, neither does anyone you care about.
Amen Spencer, preach on!
Didnt read who wrote this but figured it out once I got to this line.
I hope Vick comes back and tears it up. Fuck everyone.
The NFL, like any business should hire the most qualified people. This would include Michael Vick (say what you want but Tavaris Jackson got significant playing time last season). The fact that he is a piece of shit does not matter. I bet, if I took the time to get to know my co-workers, 80% or more would be pieces of shit. Good thing I don’t waste my time getting to know my co-workers, cause fuck those people.
There was actually a study done on this and if I recall correctly, the number was actually 94%.
No he doesn’t. The end.
I’ve stood by the Vikings for a lot of shit. Mike Tice, Brad Childress, Tavaris Jackson, etc. But if they sign Michael Vick I’m done. He can go fuck himself.
give me a reason, fetch. ONE fucking reason. legitimate.
Big deal, let him play. They fucking eat dogs in the Phillipines and nobody gives a shit.
Stop writing stuff like this. You sound like an asshole.
Spence do you own any animals
yes, i have a dog that i love very much. and what he did disgusted the hell out of me, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t entitled to the same rights as any other american person. it’s his RIGHT, not privilege, to seek employment in whatever field he can, and if that just happens to be on the football field, then more power to him.
he’s a QB/whatever, not a govt official (many of whom have sick pasts as well) or a religious man (pederasts). he’s someone who gives us 3-4 hours of entertainment per week. nothing more.
and im still waiting for that legitimate reason.
Apples and oranges, littlebuddha. You can’t compare Third-world values to those of people from Georgia. Er, never mind. Solid point.
Now if Mike Vick had killed that keyboard cat, I would say ban him for life.
Agreed. The keyboard cat is a national icon.
i have two dogs, but i agree with spencer on this one 100%. how you feel about what he did shouldn’t matter, i mean fuck, hopefully there isn’t a person out there that thinks what he did was right, but that shouldn’t take away his chance to make a living at what he does best, which is football. i’m still waiting for people to bitch about leonard little, who did less time in jail(pretty sure) and got suspended from the nfl for less time and getting two dui’s and killing a person.
spence only wants vick on his team. this whole post is his way of saying “mr.vick…you complete me.”
the way i see it is if leonard little is in the league mike vick can be in the league. i am a dog/animal lover but he went to prison(for a period of time i disagree with…waay to short.) he has got out of prison. let him play football. if you dont like him on a certain team doint watch or go protest.
EXACTLY. Leonard Little actually killed a young mother and didn’t get banned.
Fuck Domestic Animals. They smell and so do people who own them. Send them all to a Island.
I think the title of this post is missing a couple words. It’s one thing to say “Michael Vick deserves a 2nd chance”, and to that, I kind of lean towards Fetch’s opinion; no he doesn’t. It’s quite another thing to say “Michael Vick deserves the opportunity to seek a 2nd chance”. I suppose I can agree with that. Just like it’s Vick’s right to try and gain employment within the NFL, it’s each owner’s right to turn him away. And based on some pretty loose verbiage that’s never been clearly defined, Roger Goodell has sort of a carte blanche to turn him away as well.
mrejr…im one of the biggest vick fans in the world, but i put that aside for the purpose of this post. this was pure outrage at stupid, hypocritical assholes.
Rae Carruth. Did I ever tell you guys about the time Carruth came to my high school and practiced with us? He was fast. Also, he was small. I bet he could fit into the trunk of a car.
happy…very well said.
this was pure outrage at stupid, hypocritical assholes
Or as I like to call them, “people”.
doesn’t count seeing as he’s in jail. if he were free (and talented…something he wasn’t) im sure some team would give him a tryout.
spencer- awesome!
Did I ever tell you about the time Rae Carruth tried to borrow my truck? Said he needed to haul some dead weight. Good thing I didn’t let him.
Also, that first dude isn’t an attorney at all. Let’s just say I know from experience that you can vote after being incarcerated, even if for a felony.
Also, truth, my man, truth.
Spence gives Kobe more shit and he didn’t get convicted.
Well, Kobe is a douche.
He didn’t say you can’t give Vick shit, to be fair. If that’s the case, I withdraw my support. Vick deserves a second chance and I deserve the right to ridicule and harass everyone. Fair is fair.
Fair point.
I think those 9/11 terrorists deserve a second chance.
/spencer
Equating terrorists with a poochfighter?
You’re gonna make a fine lawyer, Fetch.
That’s not fair, Fetch. You lost me. Michael Vick is not a 9/11 terrorist. He had a dog-fighting ring at his house.
Maybe we’re judging this on merit, but if we didn’t, then anyone who committed any kind of crime ever would be subjected to the same fate. There’s a reason why he’s on house-arrest two years after his conviction as opposed to being on death row. Just like there’s a reason why after getting pulled over for speeding, we get a citation and not a life sentence in prison.
You’re better than that, Bud.
Fetch, have you tried to figure out why you care so much about this? It’s one thing to give a shit, but to reeeaaaallly give a shit? I mean, I hate middle easterners ’cause of the gulf war and shit, but I don’t get all wadded up about ‘em. Maybe it’s ’cause I’m old, I dunno. Kids…
I’m just saying, he did it for years, it’s not like he walked in on a dogfight one night and that was it.
Happy I liked you better when you didn’t take anything seriously.
I liked me better then too. Stop making me take things seriously.
/fuck Michael Vick?
/dick joke
fetch…
i give kobe shit for the rape because a) it was a rape of a real, live human being and b) he paid her off to make it go away and wasn’t punished in any way. but in actuality, i don’t really care about the rape as much as i care about his volume shooting and overall inefficiency when compared to lebrontosaurus.
and i never said that vick is absolved of any criticism…far from it. what he did was fucking terrible, but what he did, killing 50 or so dogs for sport, was HARDLY on the same scale as killing thousands of people with a few airplanes. the fact you would even equate the two is disturbing, but i understand your general point that what he did was so heinous it doesn’t deserve to be forgiven.
i just happen to disagree…i think he deserves to play in the NFL and get mercilessly booed and ridiculed wherever he goes.
Easily the best sentence ever written.
BRILLIANT writing, sir.