Okay, okay, okay. Everyone has had plenty of time to take their shots at Michael Vick about this dog fighting thing, but when will it end? It's time to stop hating on Mike and I'll tell you why:
Because people need to be more upset about more important things in this country.
Recently, baseball player, Mark Buehrle was being interviewed about his effort to rescue a wounded dog (arrow stuck in abdomen). While discussing the noble effort, he took time to say the following about Vick:
"He had a great year and a great comeback, but there were times where we watched the game, and I know it's bad to say, but there were times where we hope he gets hurt," Buehrle told MLB.com. "Everything you've done to these dogs, something bad needs to happen to these guys."
"...hope he gets hurt?" In 2007, Vick was convicted for his role in dog fighting. Here's how Michael Vick
got "hurt":
- Convicted of a felony related to a dogfighting ring and served 19 months in prison.
- Lost a $100 million dollar contract with the NFL, his starting job, his home, and two seasons of play.
- Will forever be labelled as a dog killer.
How much more hurting does he have to do before you're satisfied? Look, I love animals, especially dogs, but personally, I value human life more than animal life. I know that some people treat dogs like family and I'm okay with that to a certain extent. But some of the things I've heard coming from the mouths of dog lovers like Vick should be "put down" or "neutered" are some of the most unjustifiable things I've heard in a long time.
We're not talking about O.J. Simpson killing people or R. Kelly peeing on a 14-year old girl, but about a man who fought and killed dogs. Now, of those three, which two do you think are more serious of crimes?
Yet, I have seen many picket signs condemning Vick and many interviews of people who are absolutely disgusted about what he did to those dogs.
Then, I started thinking, "how many picket signs do I see at court houses across the country when a lady gets raped?"
"When was the last time someone came on MSNBC to talk about a man abusing his child?"
We're so numb to crimes against humans that it doesn't matter any more. "Law & Order" and "C.S.I." makes it easy for us to be nonchalant about dead bodies, I guess. Unless it's one of Michael Vick's dogs.
He did his time. Well, actually, thanks to some of you, he's still doing his time. He lost his job. He lost his money. He lost his home. He lost time with his kids. He lost his livelihood. Plenty of people have done worse and suffered less. Let it go, people. Call off the dogs, so to speak.
I have nothing against dog lovers, but let's keep things in perspective, people, okay? What Michael Vick did was wrong and I can't stress that enough. But if you want to speak out against him, then I expect you to speak out against other criminals with the same intensity!
To help you with that task, I've provided a list below of the names of NFL players arrested in 2010. I want you to sort through the DUI's, assaults, and domestic violence charges until you find a new athlete to hate on in 2011. One that has endangered the life of a human:
12/27/10: Redskins DT Joe Joseph is arrested for DUI.
12/26/10: Ravens LB Sergio Kindle is arrested for DUI.
12/20/10: Broncos LB Kevin Alexander is arrested for assault and battery.
12/13/2010: Buccaneers LB Geno Hayes is arrested for disorderly conduct and trespassing.
12/10/2010: Broncos CB Perrish Cox is arrested for sexual assault.
11/27/2010: Saints DE Will Smith is arrested for domestic violence.
11/19/2010: Buccaneers WR Mike Williams is arrested for suspicion of DUI.
11/13/2010: Seahawks DE Raheem Brock is arrested for DUI.
11/12/2010: Broncos LB D.J. Williams is arrested for suspicion of DUI.
10/23/2010: Buccaneers TE Jerramy Stevens is arrested for felony possession of cannabis with intent to distribute, felony possession of cannabis, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
10/20/2010: Colts P Patrick McAfee is arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct.
10/5/10: Panthers WR Dwayne Jarrett arrested for driving while impaired.
9/21/10: Jets WR Braylon Edwards arrested for DUI.
9/18/10: Ravens assistant coach Andy Moeller is arrested for DUI.
9/3/10: Colts DT Fili Moala is arrested for DUI.
8/30/10: Bucs assistant defensive line coach Chris Mosley is arrested for DUI.
8/17/10: Browns DB Gerard Lawson pleads no contest to DUI charges.
8/9/10: Colts DT John Gill is arrested for public intoxication.
8/8/10: Browns DB Gerard Lawson is charged with drunk driving and hit-skip.
7/24/10: Rams CB Jerome Murphy is arrested for driving without a valid license.
7/19/10: Falcons DT Jonathan Babineaux pleads no contest to marijuana possession.
7/7/2010: Buccaners OT Jeremy Trueblood is arrested for public intoxication.
7/5/2010: JaMarcus Russell Free Agent (Former Raider) QB arrested for possession of controlled substance (Codeine).
7/3/2010: Seahawks RB Quinton Ganther is arrested for DUI.
6/29/2010: Bengals RB Cedric Benson is arrested for assault with injury.
6/26/2010: Lions president Tom Lewand is arrested for DUI.
6/16/2010: Titans DE Derrick Morgan is arrested for speeding and driving with an expired license.
6/13/2010: Titans QB Vince Young is cited for misdemeanor assault.
5/26/2010: Dolphins DE Phillip Merling is arrested for aggravated battery.
5/24/2010: Chargers S Kevin Ellison is arrested for possession of 100 Vicodin pills.
5/23/2010: Saints rookie Harry Coleman is arrested for simple battery.
5/16/2010: Buccaneers WR Mario Urrutia is arrested for a misdemeanor drivers license violation.
5/4/2010: Bengals WR Maurice Purify is arrested for disorderly conduct.
4/30/2010: Chargers WR Vincent Jackson pleads guilty to knowingly driving with a suspended license.
4/27/2010: Free-agent S Clinton Hart is arrested for domestic battery.
4/17/2010: Browns RB Chris Jennings is arrested for suspicion of assault.
4/10/2010: Seahawks LB Leroy Hill is arrested for domestic violence.
4/1/2010: Browns DT Shaun Rogers is arrested for possession of a weapon.
4/1/2010: Seahawks LB Leroy Hill pleads guilty to marijuana possession.
3/27/10: Cardinals LB Joey Porter is arrested for DUI, resisting arrest, and assaulting a peace officer.
3/26/10: Bears OL Lance Louis pleads guilty to misdemeanor battery.
3/19/10: Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown is arrested on suspicion of DUI.
3/13/10: Packers TE Spencer Havner is arrested for DUI. (His agents have denied that he was charged.)
2/23/10: Chargers WR Vincent Jackson pleads guilty to DUI charges.
2/20/10: Dolphins CB Will Allen is arrested for DUI.
2/19/10: Redskins CB Byron Westbrook is arrested for DUI, negligent driving, and failure to drive right of center.
2/7/10: Dolphins DE Tony McDaniel is arrested for misdemeanor battery.
2/2/10: Cowboys FB Deon Anderson is arrested for traffic warrants and brandishing a weapon.
2/2/10: Bengals LB Rey Maualuga pleads guilty to DUI.
1/30/10: Chiefs CB Michael Richardson is arrested for various alcohol-related charges.
1/18/10: Redskins G Chad Rinehart is arrested for public intoxication.
1/17/10: Chargers WR Vincent Jackson is arrested for driving with a suspended license.
1/15/10: Titans WR Kenny Britt is arrested for outstanding traffic tickets.
1/15/10: Former Bears DT Dusty Dvoracek is arrested for public intoxication, assault and battery, and interference with an official process.
1/12/10: Jets WR Braylon Edwards pleads no contest to assault charges.
1/10/10: Bucs S Jermaine Phillips is arrested for felony domestic battery by strangulation.
1/1/10: Colts WR Taj Smith is arrested for DUI.
And you act as if Michael Vick is the worst guy on the planet.