Boycott the Eagles, and now boycott Nike. Don't be like Mike. (Photo: flickr.com)

I understand that professional sports are more about business than they are about the love of the game on an organizational level. A great deal of money is changing hands among fans, advertisers, merchandisers and teams, and that money must be handled properly. Nike and the Philadelphia Eagles are not different in that regard, so it’s understandable that products, endorsements and other kickbacks will fly back and forth. While an average people contemplate a personal loan application, a sports team or shoe executive contemplates when to bust out the Cristal.

However, when someone like Michael Vick gets involved – a convicted dog killer – right-thinking people need to take a stand for what is right.

Boycott the Eagles

First of all, Vick was reinstated into the NFL by Commissioner Roger Goodell. If I were an owner, Vick’s reinstatement would have earned my vote of “no confidence” in the leadership Mr. Goodell supposedly brings to the NFL. Second, as a fan of the NFL, I would take action against the Philadelphia Eagles. An Eagles boycott is entirely appropriate, as they are displaying no sense of social responsibility by putting Michael Vick on the field and paying him an NFL-sized salary. He got off too easy for his crime; hopefully tougher legislation will be passed that make serious crimes against animals punishable by tougher sentences – even for “super” stars.

Boycott Nike

Next came the rumor of a Michael Vick Nike contract. Before his dog fighting history came to light, Vick was a Nike spokesman, but they dropped him in 2007 in order to save face. Because we all know that Nike is a corporation that does not concern itself with others:

According to the USA Today, Nike has denied that Michael Vick is signing an endorsement contract with the company. That’s what spokesman KeJuan Wilkins is saying on behalf of his oh-so-socially conscious employer. However, Vick’s agent Mike Principe says otherwise.

Here’s Nike’s Official Word

“Nike does not have a contractual relationship with Michael Vick. We have agreed to supply product to Michael Vick as we do a number of athletes who are not under contract with Nike,” they said in a statement. But another Michael Vick agent – Joel Segal – told SportsBusiness Journal that the Vick is “excited to be part of the Nike team again.”

Damage Control! Must Separate From the Vick!

Multiple sources are indicating that an explicit endorsement where Michael Vick and Nike contract to promote one another is bogus. I say “explicit” because Nike is still implicitly endorsing Michael Vick by giving him free product. Vick is scratching Nike’s back by accepting, because he (and his team) can certainly afford to outfit him with gear. Thus, Nike continues to prove that they have the conscience of an ax murderer buried beneath all the token efforts they make to seem like a decent company that cares about their fellow man.

Michael Vick doesn’t deserve anything but the chance to rehabilitate himself out of the spotlight in an authority-monitored community service program.  The Philadelphia Eagles boycott should go forward, no matter how many mindless slobs in Philadelphia and elsewhere there are who think Vick “did his time.” Now, a Nike boycott should commence. I don’t own Nike products and will never purchase them again. If I had to buy shoes and only Nike was on sale, I’d fill out a personal loan application so that I could buy anything other than Nike product. That’s a decision I can sleep with at night.

Related Video:

(Click if you missed PART ONE or PART TWO of this story)

Or, if you’re looking for payday loans or short term loans, click the button below to apply.

The man to save the man? (Photo: flickr.com)

That’s the spin on the bottle. Tony Dungy is Michael’s spiritual adviser. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is using Michael Vick as its “anti-dog fighting ambassador” these days, hoping that he can help convince the 40,000 professional dog fighters and 100,000 other street fighters (their statistics) to evolve into illuminated adulthood. But let’s be honest here. Commercials with big stars… who do they really impress? And are you actually reaching your target audience with TV, Internet, newspaper and radio ads? At the very least, grassroots efforts are necessary, on a constant basis. If Michael Vick is going to be allowed to live (which it appears that he is), his full-time profession should be as a street campaigner.

At least somebody has the right idea

“If we punish Michael forever, and don’t pivot to the problem in the communities where kids are victimizing these dogs… that’s a dead end street,” said Wayne Pacelle of the HSUS to “60 Minutes.” “I’m really hopeful that Mike sticks with this and really reaches these kids … because I really believe he can do that.”

Truly, constant imprisonment does nothing for society but present a financial burden. I’m a firm believer in the rusty knife kept in the back room. Nobody talks about that room, but everyone knows it’s there. Quick and cheap, for those who are truly in a position where their removal from society would be of greater benefit than remaining. No bullets, no gas, no electrocution, no gallows or guillotine to maintain. Get this done. Life is for those who respect it, and if you think that keeping someone locked away for decades achieves that end, you probably work for the prison system and are on the take. Or you are blinded by ideals that have no place in a society where humanity is destined to grow.

Here’s how it should be

Bare minimum, Michael Vick should be out of football and on the streets, working for positive change. Michael Vick on “60 Minutes” did not make things right. His commercial spots will not even reach their target audience in most cases, so what’s the point? Ah, that’s it… so certain executives, politicians, NFL commissioners, Philadelphia Eagles owners and blindly accepting fans can pat themselves on the back and feel good.

So stop asking Michael Vick to apologize, people. It doesn’t make him feel good…

Related Video:

Bring him down. Bring him down. (Photo: flickr.com)

CLICK HERE if you missed part one of this article about Michael Vick on “60 Minutes.”

That wouldn’t be cool, would it Michael? Justice is truly blind. And I don’t mean that in a good way. I hear it also has season tickets to NFL games, perhaps even Eagles games. Payday loans and short term loans were not involved in financing what amounts to blood for blood.

Among many other news sources, The Examiner covered the Michael Vick “60 Minutes” story. While it’s true that the televised appearance lost some of its thunder due to his press conference speech the day he signed on with the Eagles, there were still some rather powerful moments of self-deprecation. Vick told James Brown that serving almost two years in prison made him “realize the magnitude” of what he had done and what he had “allowed to happen to animals.”

Some people think he holds less responsibility because he didn’t kill them himself

Which I say is poppycock, because Michael Vick knew what was going on. Yet he claims he cried “so many nights” as he attempted to come to terms with the hurt he’d caused and guilt he’d felt over what he’d done. “You were convicted of beating them, shooting them, electrocuting them, drowning them – horrific things, Michael,” Brown said, as Vick listened, stone-faced.

Nope, no signs of antisocial behavior there…

Certainly, Michael Vick didn’t behave like a leader. But how much responsibility does Vick appear to be taking for his actions when he tells Brown “I don’t know how many times I gotta say it. It was wrong and I feel tremendous hurt about what happened.” He feels the hurt because he was caught, folks. Otherwise this would still be going on. And he’s irritated about how many times he has to admit fault? You committed a heinous crime, Michael. Sorry to inconvenience you by calling you on it.

Sanctioning six years of death

Michael Vick told “60 Minutes” that his dog fighting ring went on for about six years. That isn’t a weekend, a week or even a month of bad decisions. That’s six years in which a high-profile member of the entertainment community made the inhuman choice to sanction death for entertainment purposes. The cathartic release of fantasy violence is one that that some will debate, but the real thing is something else altogether.

He told James Brown that his actions “showed a lack of moral character,” but the call of competition and the sweet adrenaline rush were too much to resist. Perhaps some kind of chemical castration could have helped you, Michael… if you had made the decision to seek help instead of continuing to sanction death for six years.

Yet WE’RE inconveniencing HIM!

Yes, Michael Vick claims to understand why people are upset with him. It doesn’t take payday loans and short term loans for that kind of sagacious awareness. But if you need them, apply here.

“I understand why, and I’m gonna say it again – it sickens me to my stomach. The same feeling I’m feeling right now is what people was feeling. Disgust. Pure disgust.”

Look at what that Michael Vick did, says Michael Vick. It’s disgusting. I’m mortified. But as Michael Vick, I’m getting tired of having to answer questions for Michael Vick. My personality is fractured as a result of a horrific upbringing, society’s entitlement for athletes and the plain and simple fact that I don’t want to grow up and take responsibility for myself. The law let me out in less than two years, so I suppose they’re living in their childhood fantasy land as well. If they were adults, they would have dealt with me like a normal person who happened to commit murder.

So says Mr. Michael Vick. CLICK HERE for the conclusion of this article, in which we see that it’s all about being a “feel good” society…

Related Video:

He's an Eagle now, folks. He stays in the bird family... and dogs love to chase birds (Photo: flickr.com)

As most of the news-watching public knows by now, Michael Vick did not sign with the Buffalo Bills. He has inked a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, which, according to ESPN, bears the following terms, which coincidentally do not include provisions for the payday loans and short term loans he’ll need if he’s cut and can no longer make it in the world of football:

• $1.6 million total salary for 2009, which won’t go into effect until the 2009 NFL regular season begins. Vick cannot play in a game until after Week 6, per NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
• There are $2.75 million worth of incentives for 2010
• $3.75 million in salary next year ($1 million of which is guaranteed)
• A $1.5 million roster bonus
• If the Philadelphia Eagles decide to pick up Vick’s option for 2010 (it is not guaranteed), he could make as much as $8 million total

I’m not keen on the concept of redemption

Why should I automatically accept that Michael Vick deserves a second chance? How many molesters and murderers have gone on to repeat their crimes as soon as they are released from the sheltering arms of their rehabilitators? Too many, as far as I’m concerned. I’m not one of those who think that our tax dollars are well spent on the traditional American prison model. Simplicity and low cost hold more appeal for me. Paying to incarcerate those who would do injury to me makes no sense at all, and neither do notions of “human rights” that include multiple chances for those who take the lives of sentient beings for sport or the thrill. Neither can I condone those who slay the innocent due to irresistible compulsion or some other cold, premeditated reason. If I person cannot help themselves from killing, I do not believe rehabilitation is possible or cost effective. If evolution made a mistake, the mistake should be removed from the gene pool so that nature can try again.

So what am I saying in relation to Michael Vick?

I struggle with this, because I don’t believe in taking life without a very good reason. And according to his words in the Michael Vick “60 Minutes” interview, Michael participated in dog fighting because it was a “cool” thing to do in the community that spawned him. Thus, we come to the question that psychologists have debated for years: Just how much of a role does environment play in shaping the human being? I definitely believe that it is a factor, but I also believe that human beings have an innate sense of right and wrong that evolution grants us. There are certain things you know are not contributing to the betterment of the race, or at least your continued genetic lineage. So you don’t do them. People make this out to be much more difficult and mystical than it should be. This is basic stuff, everyone. If you need payday loans and short term loans to buy a book that will teach you what you should already know, do it. Because this is something you must know.

Pain and suffering, left unchecked, lead to death. When a living being is dead, it cannot contribute to its society or continue its genetic line. Extinction follows, and extinction should never be taken lightly, as sport. Michael Vick thought it was “cool.” CLICK HERE and see just how sorry he is…

Related Video:

Justice. (Photo: Infidelsparadise.com)

Anyone who commits a crime should be held responsible for their actions. This includes celebrities and superstar athletes who frequently find themselves in a position where they are held above the law. No special plea bargains, no special privileges,  no skating where normal people would be put away for hard time. The time in which high-powered attorneys and PR teams can confuse juries by obfuscating the truth and wage war on those who sue their clients – beating them back via pure attrition – must end. The dog fighting crimes for which Michael Vick was arrested and served time were heinous, resulting in the careless death of many animals.

Now we see news of Michael Vick reinstated by the NFL. This is a colossal mistake and I hope that fans boycott whatever team signs him (there will be one, as he is an athletic talent, if not a great quarterback). That would include all of said team’s sponsors. Hit them where it hurts, where a team will notice. Put them in a place where they need cheap loans for quick cash. However, if you attend their games, watch them on television or purchase the merchandise of Vick’s new team, you are labeling yourself a barbarian. You are saying that it’s ok to maim and kill animals for your amusement. You, sir or ma’am, would label yourself a disgusting excuse for a human being.

Commissioner Goodell has lost his mind

Mark Maske reports for the Washington Post that on behalf of the National Football League, Commissioner Roger Goodell has agreed to a condition-laden reinstatement of Michael Vick. Currently, Vick is allowed to attempt to sign with a team and participate in their training camp activities.

I’ve been waiting for football to show a chink in its armor like this for a while. Since baseball is America’s true sport, I’m hopeful that this Michael Vick business will hurt the game of football enough that baseball will regain ground. That’s what you get with crazy labor problems and traditionally poor marketing – you lose your spot as the national game. Now, pick up the baton and try to run again, baseball.

Tony Dungy, too? He’s also making a huge mistake for associating with Michael Vick

Former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy has agreed to be Vick’s advisor. Sure Vick needs help, but will that help mean anything? PETA (yes, a hypocritical “animal rights” group, but they make good points in this case) had this to say about Vick and rehabilitation earlier this year:

PETA sent a letter to the National Football League asking that convicted dog fighter Michael Vick be subjected to a psychological test as well as an MRI brain scan like the one now in use at the Western New Mexico Correctional Facility in order to look for evidence of clinical psychopathy or anti-social personality disorder. Based on the fact that Vick funded and participated in a massive dog fighting operation (playing a direct role in hanging, drowning, or shooting countless dogs-and even slamming dogs to the ground to break their backs), it might seem obvious that there’s something wrong with the guy. But whether or not Vick is indeed a clinical psychopath is an important piece of a bigger puzzle.

PETA believes that Michael Vick should have to pass such tests in order to prove he is not longer a danger to living things. I support this idea, specifically because the nature of his crimes are beyond disgusting.

I doubt he can be reformed

It doesn’t matter how many anti-dog fighting PSAs he does online and on TV. If this is as pathological as it seems, Vick has much in common with pedophiles, serial killers and others who exhibit sociopathic behavior. You don’t have to love animals to understand how wrong what Vick did was in his dog fighting ring. He raised them for slaughter, neglected them and made them desperate, violent beasts. All for his amusement. He should still be in prison, and ideally his organs should be harvested so that people in dire medical need could make better use of them.

It’s called “indefinite suspension” for a reason, Goodell

And that reason is not so that he can be definitely reinstated. Sure, Vick may be out of federal custody now (another titanic mistake, but who needs justice anyway?). Sure, he’s missed the last two NFL seasons while serving his sentence. But an average person who did what he did with animals wouldn’t see the light of day for a LONG time.

But here’s what it comes down to. Money! Vick is a proven moneymaker, despite numerous weapons and drug-related arrests previous, which ALSO would have put an average person away for a LONG time. The 29-year-old sociopath Michael Vick was released by the Atlanta Falcons in the offseason, perhaps the only sensible thing that has occurred in this chain of unbelievably poor decision-making.

Who wants to sign this chump?

It isn’t clear. Nobody has the courage to fess up, although I imagine Oakland and Dallas will be first in line. Average people look to cheap loans for quick cash when they’re in trouble. If you’re in that boat, you can apply right here.

Athletes depend upon the senility of Al Davis and Jerry Jones

“This step-by-step approach is not meant to be a further punishment and should not be viewed as such,” said Goodell in a letter to the convicted dog fighter.

Really, Roger? Wouldn’t want to yield a firm hand here, now would we? The legal system has cleared failed taxpayers once more here, so perhaps you could be a voice of reason and police your own league? No? OK, I’m done with football if anybody signs this cancer. I will not watch a game or buy an NFL-themed product. I’ll also steer away from NFL sponsors. I encourage everyone else to do the same, even if you’re a die-hard football fan. Show that you’ve got a pair and teach evildoers a lesson.

But the Amazing Goodell goes on

You can only dodge for so long, dog killer (Photo: stateoftheline.wordpress.com)

“Instead, it is intended to maximize the prospect that you can successfully resume your career and your life. I believe that a transitional approach with a strong network of support will give you the best opportunity to manage effectively the various issues and pressures that you will inevitably face in the coming weeks and months and earn your full reinstatement.”

Michael Vick reinstated? Shouldn’t have happened. He should remain in jail, then eventually be released as an employee of the State of Virginia. Community service for a couple of decades with a reasonable stipend of compensation would be a positive step. He cannot be allowed endorsements of any kind. He cannot return to a position of public adoration, a position that children hold up as a role model. “Do as I say, not as I do” isn’t enough. Michael Vick needs to be held to the same standard a non-celebrity would be. He needs to repay his debt to society.

Related Video: