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  #61 (permalink)  
Old 08-22-2007
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drgoodtrips drgoodtrips is offline
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Re: Vick's dog fighting problems

Quote:
Originally Posted by ZakattackSJ View Post
So Vick is a victim because of his own upbringing? Because he came from a semi-rural place, he therefore did not know that maybe this dog fighting ring was a bad idea? That's like me saying, "Well Judge, the reason why I shot those people is because of my upbringing. I grew up playing violent X-box games all my life, so this has always been in my neck of the woods. It's a learned accommodation, Judge, the A button on the controller."
That analogy would make sense if you grew up actually shooting people, or if Imperator had said that Vick grew up in a culture where dog fighting in arcade games was prevalent. As it is, you seem to be treating us to a straw man argument.

That said, I don't really buy the cultural angle so much. Perhaps he got the "shaft" because he's a much more high-profile player (franchise player) compared to the Tank's and Pacman's of the NFL and because you have an incessantly shrill, pants-wetting organization like PETA taking up the cause. But Vick had to know that dog fighting was illegal (i.e. all the secrecy), had to know that organizing a racketeering outfit was against NFL policy, and had to know that Abu-Ghraibing dogs in a secret pit wouldn't fly with his endorsers.

My opinions on the absurdity of "animals rights" aside, I have no pity for him. He's an idiot.
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  #62 (permalink)  
Old 08-22-2007
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Re: Vick's dog fighting problems

If you got rid of all the felons, there would be far fewer NFL players around.

And just about no NBA left.

Matt
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  #63 (permalink)  
Old 08-22-2007
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Re: Vick's dog fighting problems

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Originally Posted by MattLarson View Post
And just about no NBA left.
Take out the (black) players who father illegitimatechildren and you got ust about no basketball league left!

Nice to think our sports industry is madeof us just as many crooks as Congress is, how fitting one should investigate the other.
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  #64 (permalink)  
Old 08-22-2007
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Re: Vick's dog fighting problems

Vick is going to jail. Good. My faith in the justice system isn't completely out the door.
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  #65 (permalink)  
Old 08-22-2007
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Re: Vick's dog fighting problems

Sorry if its beginning to seem like I am beating Mr. Ed - but this is a great article.

Quote:
I understand Vick's guilt is a tough, humbling thing to swallow because the one thing black men in this society understand is the feeling of being piled upon, discounted and discarded. Last year, several studies showed that American black men are failing at an alarming and heartbreaking rate. More than half of black men in the inner cities don't have a high school diploma. There are more black men in prison than in college. Everyone else in society -- whites, Latinos, women -- is gaining ground, but black men are falling further and further behind in virtually every category.

Black men have a history of being marginalized and demonized in the mainstream, so although your rush to defend Vick was misguided, it also was understandable.

But now that we know of his guilt and complicity, let's be honest and not use racism as an excuse. Let's not point to Rae Carruth, Ray Lewis and Leonard Little and cite their crimes -- as if wrongs can exonerate other wrongs. Racism isn't putting Vick in jail. Awful decisions did that.

Instead, let's attack this poisonous idea in the black community that equates only negatives with success. Surely, one reason Vick kept his circle of friends is because successful black people are pressured into keeping their toxic buddies around for the sake of "keeping it real" -- even though they've spent most of their lives trying to escape the street lifestyle in which many of those friends remain.

Of course, what's forgotten is that if Vick's "friends" truly cared about him, they never would have allowed him to jeopardize his freedom, NFL career and family for an illegal enterprise. A $100 million man involved in dogfighting isn't keeping it real. That's keeping it stupid.




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  #66 (permalink)  
Old 08-25-2007
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Re: Vick's dog fighting problems

Quote:
Originally Posted by ZakattackSJ View Post
So Vick is a victim because of his own upbringing? Because he came from a semi-rural place, he therefore did not know that maybe this dog fighting ring was a bad idea? That's like me saying, "Well Judge, the reason why I shot those people is because of my upbringing. I grew up playing violent X-box games all my life, so this has always been in my neck of the woods. It's a learned accommodation, Judge, the A button on the controller."

you are taking my statement way out of context and have apparently ignored the rest of my comment...
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  #67 (permalink)  
Old 08-25-2007
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Re: Vick's dog fighting problems

The Falcons wanna try retreive some $22 million from him. For that they need to keep him on the roster which i know sounds confusing but its apparently to do with the arbitrator's agreements with the player unions and stuff.

Basically they wound up giving him some $40 Million or he got that much anyway from endorsements and bonuses and so on but whether they can redeem that is different matter or part of it like the bonus they might be able to which is where the 22 figure came in.

Anyway the plea saves him a Rico but ends his career and practically destroys his financial prospects in the near future, he'll have to pay fines and huge lawyer fees, no more money coming in for quite a while and money h has already been given being tried to be recouped.
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  #68 (permalink)  
Old 08-25-2007
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Re: Vick's dog fighting problems

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Originally Posted by Traveler View Post
The Falcons wanna try retreive some $22 million from him. For that they need to keep him on the roster which i know sounds confusing but its apparently to do with the arbitrator's agreements with the player unions and stuff.

Basically they wound up giving him some $40 Million or he got that much anyway from endorsements and bonuses and so on but whether they can redeem that is different matter or part of it like the bonus they might be able to which is where the 22 figure came in.

Anyway the plea saves him a Rico but ends his career and practically destroys his financial prospects in the near future, he'll have to pay fines and huge lawyer fees, no more money coming in for quite a while and money h has already been given being tried to be recouped.
Sheesh... it's going to take a lot of dog fighting to earn back all that money
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  #69 (permalink)  
Old 08-25-2007
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Re: Vick's dog fighting problems

Well for the next couple years he may well be the dog in that federal prison boxing ring while others take bets on his performances. What do you reckon the odds are he'll lose and someone will electricute him?
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  #70 (permalink)  
Old 08-25-2007
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Re: Vick's dog fighting problems

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Originally Posted by Traveler View Post
Well for the next couple years he may well be the dog in that federal prison boxing ring while others take bets on his performances. What do you reckon the odds are he'll lose and someone will electricute him?
Pretty high... the last time I saw Vick in prime time, he was getting worked by the Beloved defense. It was brutally cold in Chicago, and he couldn't get to the sidelines and his blanket fast enough. I'm pretty sure he was contemplating asking Mora to bench him each time he looked over the line and saw Lance Briggs showing blitz
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  #71 (permalink)  
Old 08-25-2007
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Re: Vick's dog fighting problems

Things are just gonna wind up going from bad to worse for this guy, for a start the state is gonna slap on more charges for sure on him. But i don't think they can prosecute on interstate commerce can they? That'll save him the gambling rap but the league will boot him for life anyway; or long enough to finish his career.

Secondly everyone was talking about how he needs to keep his nose clean now and behave in the big house and then when he comes out make sure he sets up a fund for animals and contribute and do work for anmal charities and i'm thinking "Yeah riiiight" like he's gonna do any of that. Not a chance.
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  #72 (permalink)  
Old 08-25-2007
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Re: Vick's dog fighting problems

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Originally Posted by Traveler View Post
So why bother having things like endangered species lists? Why protect certain animals above others?
I believe that might have something to do with keeping the ecosystem intact and functioning, the failure of which can cause harmful effects to humans.
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  #73 (permalink)  
Old 08-25-2007
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Re: Vick's dog fighting problems

When he gets out of jail in a year, he will be a better quarterback than 10 or 15 of the QBs that are starting in the NFL and Michael Vick puts the fannies in the seats. Maybe a team goes 6-2 and then loses their QB, there are a lot of people who will see Michael Vick as a key to getting into the playoffs.

I think it all depends on whether he implicates other players.
If he takes the fall himself, he gets back into the NFL in 2 years.
If he implicates others, he's out for life.

I mean does this guy have any friends that are football players?
Did he never say to a teammate," hey man, wanna see something cool?"
There have got to be others involved in this, and how Vick handles it determines how it affects his career.
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  #74 (permalink)  
Old 08-25-2007
Slon Slon is offline
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Re: Vick's dog fighting problems

Quote:
Originally Posted by Speakeasy View Post
Drgoodtrips,

Personally, I don't think that 'animal rights' are in place to protect animals, but are ultimately in place to protect humans. I believe the fear is, if someone were to maliciously kill an animal for entertainment, then they might be more inclined to 'up the ante' and go after humans. If you were use manatees for shooting practice, it could be assumed that you lack any sort of empathy or respect for life and are a danger to others.
Might as well ban violent video games.
Quote:
And remember, method and purpose of death are crucial. Pigs at a slaughter house serve a purpose, as they are being killed for food. They're being killed not for the sake of being killed, but to provide a product.
And animal torturers might do it for pleasure, not "for the sake of having them turn from live to dead."
Quote:
It would be much different if someone one just slaughtering pigs to watch them die. You could make a credible case that a person who does this isn't quite balanced in the head.

Same thing with other animals. It's not legal to kill a dog for entertainment, but it is legal to kill a dog because it's a stray, as long as the method of death is approved by the government and you are licensed to kill the dog (such as a vet).

So, reason plays a big part. If you were lost in the wild and the only way you could survive was by killing bald eagles and eating them, I'm sure you wouldn't be hit with a lawsuit after being rescued.

Oh, and as I mentioned above:


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  #75 (permalink)  
Old 08-26-2007
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Re: Vick's dog fighting problems

the falcons are also contemplating suing him for part of his signing bonus ( over 30 million)since he will not be available to play etc...
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No individual can plan his own existence in their view.

So the state planners must arrogate to themselves the right to manipulate any sector of the economic system if the good of “society” or the “general welfare” is paramount.

Ipso- if the rights of the individual get in the way, the rights of the individual must be sublimated.

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