Editor's Note: The following is a commentary. The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily the views of Women's eNews.
(WOMENSENEWS)--National Football League superstar Michael Vick is in trouble, serious trouble. Federal prosecutors charged the Atlanta Falcons' quarterback with animal abuse for his role as the alleged leader of a dog-fighting ring and, after denying it for months, Vick pleaded guilty on Monday. He faces stiff sentencing.
He's in big trouble with the NFL too, which has said he might never play professionally again. According to Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFL's Player Association, "the practice of dog-fighting is offensive and completely unacceptable."
I just wish the NFL had the same outrage toward spousal abuse and other forms of domestic violence. But they don't. Not by a long shot.
Scores of NFL players as well as players from the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball have been convicted of domestic abuse, yet they play on with no fear of losing their careers. Most pay small fines, if that, and are back on the field immediately.
The message is clear. Beat a woman? Play on. Beat a dog? You're gone.
What could possibly account for this bizarre situation?
Part of it is that it's the dog days of August--the notoriously silly season for news--so the Vick story has attracted tremendous press attention. But it's been all over TV as well during the past four months, since Vick's indictment in April.
Animal Lobby Attacks
The anti-animal abuse lobby, meanwhile, is going after Vick with all four paws.
PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which received almost $30 million in contributions last year, according to its Web site, and other animal rights organizations are demanding a boycott of companies that continue to sponsor Vick and are bombarding the NFL with letters demanding a no-tolerance policy when it comes to cruelty to animals by football players.
On blogs, the outrage continues on sackvick.net and other sites, with comments like "lets give #7, 7 to life," or "lets make Michael Vick into dog food."
A cottage industry of anti-Vick merchandise is out there. You can buy a chew toy for your dog in with a likeness of Vick, a "hang Vick" hat or even an eye-for-eye justice T-shirt that says "Stick Vick in the Pit."
Vick has already lost most of his sponsorship deals worth millions of dollars and he deserves to lose a whole lot more.
Comparing a beaten woman with a beaten dog (or child) ? There's no relevance, because NO dog (or child) has the ability to escape. A woman can choose to be beaten more than once - can even choose to allow her child to be.... but NO dog has the opportunity to make that choice. Furthermore, cruelty against animals LEADS to cruelty against humans.
Sadism needs to be punished severely.
Vick must NEVER be allowed to play again, because ALL professional sports figures are ROLE MODELS for our children! God forbid such a Lowlife ever again be placed in the position of a "Hero" to any kid.
by
mary-ann (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 55 comments)
on Saturday, August 25, 2007 at 10:10:00 PM
He was gambling and has lied to the football commissioner. If I lied the CEO of my company about gambling and I worked in a field that people bet on what do you think should happen? This is not just a felony conVICKtion. If I was the commissioner I would not let him near the game.
by
Gallaher (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 530 comments)
on Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 1:30:43 AM
Your ridiculous entry is based upon an entirely false premise...
... that since a woman can walk, run or crawl away from a first beating, that it isn't as heinous to beat a woman as to beat a dog or a child...
Hello..??!?!?
What planet are you from?
BEATING ANOTHER HUMAN BEING IS INEXCUSABLE. NO FURTHER COMMENT IS NECESSARY... ESPECIALLY WHEN THAT HUMAN IS SMALLER, WEAKER OR CANNOT DEFEND HIM OR HERSELF.
Beating a dog is cowardice. Beating a woman or a child is cowardice plus inspired by Satan.
There is never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever an excuse for hitting a woman or a child.
Never.
Never.
Never.
Do you get it yet?
Put down the crack pipe and listen to me.
NEVER... YOU F***ING MORON!!!
by
Mikael Rudolph (49 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 76 comments)
on Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 2:37:15 AM
Many sports figures get away with what they do because they make way too much money for someone. The League must have decided Micheal Vick was going to cost them more than he would bring them, so they've written him off as a loss. Cesspool la vie. Here's a plug for the Peace Alliance, which is working to institute the development of the US Department of Peace and Nonviolence. http://www.thepeacealliance.org/ While it would generate its own bureaucracy, it would have to be better than the Department of Homeland Stupidity http://www.homelandstupidity.us/
by
Dave Kisor (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 125 comments)
on Sunday, August 26, 2007 at 2:09:27 PM
Good, intelligent article. Dogs are dogs, humans are humans. What that jerk did is despicable, but dogs are still dogs. He is paying a steep price of over one hundred million dollars and time in jail.
A woman cannot get out of her circumstances when you saddle her with few skills, two kids that cost three hundred dollars a week for Day Care, in a man's world with guys like PIZZED on every corner.
Thanks for saying what really need to be said
by
pratliff94 (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 945 comments)
on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 at 12:02:13 AM
Indeed - especially in the 'dominance culture' of professional sports, where the strongest, fastest and sometimes most violent are rewarded - this is a man's world to too large degree.
To those of us men who get how that imbalance hurts everyone in our culture and our nation it is important to strongly encourage and support in partnership with women all legislation and other changes that bring a more healthy balance to the genders legally, socially and financially.
Gentlemen... don't just insist on "going Dutch" when dating (cheapskates!), insist on a culture that allows women full equality in order to be able to afford to make all their own financial decisions apart from dependency upon a male wage earner's income - to whatever degree they desire and pursue that route.
Politically, we can stop insisting that women wear 'man suits' and cover up their cleavage to run for office. Let's embrace the full array of masculinity and femininity as expressed by either gender throughout society.
Violence against animals is pathetic, cowardly and inexcusable under any circumstances.
Violence against any weaker human being is all that and unforgiveably criminal.
The first conviction of any major sports athlete should be an automatic suspension - the degree to which should be decided by a committee of a balance of male and female athletes and their spouses - completely apart from the ownership and league offices.
Woman are the majority after all. It is about time we recognized that fact.
by
Mikael Rudolph (49 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 76 comments)
on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 at 1:09:01 PM
