Sunday, May 27, 2007

Mike Vick

I'm not sure how I feel about this situation. I thought I was totally against Mike Vick on these illegal dogfighting allegations, but then I read something that made me think deeper.

Someone pointed out that while we make a big deal about people fighting dogs, claiming that it is cruelty and inhumane, there are many other crude and brutal behaviors taking place. The writer pointed out that the Ultimate Fighting Championship is about as raw and violent as it gets right now on TV. Yet, we do not hear anyone shouting that this channel should be boycotted, etc. because it airs UFC.

Violence is wrong, no matter what community you come from.

Drugs have an impact on all of our neighborhoods.

Skin color should not be the determining factor when you decide to help someone. I know a lot of white people in need of financial assistance.

First we need to sell the junk and then we can get to the good stuff.

3 Comments:

Blogger narbolo said...

Michael Vick, or Mike if you will needs to go down hard on this one. Consider me amongst the vast majority of people in this country who have grown sick and tired of the rich black athlete who has no sense of responsibility and no accountability what so ever. Vick is a product of what is wrong with a majority of black youth today, I can do what ever I please and get away with it, basically I am above the law. This attitude crosses a lot of issues within the black community, gun violence, drug dealing, deadbeat parenting, disrespect for authority, lack of education to name a few. Vick is a role model. Right or wrong, whether he wants to be or not. That status comes automatically when he agrees to millions of dollars to play football and appear in commercials and endorsements. Some of us wonder where have our black leaders gone...alot of them are the high-profile athletes that our youth get their cues from. They represent the face or black people on some levels. Vick continues to get into trouble because he is not smart. He has no depth to step back and see his actions let a lot of people down, starting with his own. dog fighting is cruel and inhumane. Period. There is no comparison to Ultimate Fighting where the participants are simply knocked silly and the action halted. Dog fighting usually means one of the animals are dead or hurt bad enough to be put down. If Mike enjoys that kind of violence, that's one thing, but to breed dogs and be so deeply involved in illegal activities is plain unintelligent. I saw him on television last week boasting that he still had all of his fans and so much support despite his most recent problem. Well it's that kind of bravado that has led him down his current path, and while he continues to make that journey he fans will inevitably fall of the Vick bandwagon.

May 29, 2007 at 12:35 PM  
Blogger battscomm said...

I agree with where you are coming from NARBOLO. I think Vick should be held accountable. I didn't say that I was exonerating him. But I am saying that violence on all levels should stop. As far as the UFC thing is concerned, I have written and edited pieces about folks who get into the UFC ring because they desperately needed the money. One lady, who was a mother of two, did it and got the crap beat out of her. She died. But folks were cheering and laughing and whooping it up the whole time she got her beat down. I think I fall somewhere between where you are on this and where Clinton Portis is. I like dogs, too, but I think we need to keep some perspective here. If we are going to come down hard for dogfighting, then we need to come down hard on some other stuff, too.
Now as far as Vick is concerned, well he needs to grow up, understand the ramifications of his actions and be willing to accept responsibility. He cannot continue to play the ignorant role and say that things happen beyond his control. He needs to cut ties with all that is negative in his life and behave like a professional. We have to understand that despite his physical gifts, this is a young man who has not experienced very much in life in terms of exposure to sophisticated thinking. He is another kid from the neighborhood who grew up and went on to athletic greatness. That athletic greatness has placed him in a high profile position and basically made a corporation out of him. Mike Vick, Inc. But I don't think he is prepared to handle all that comes along with it. Because being a successful professional athlete means so much more than how well you play. It also involves how you conduct yourself. I think Mr. Iverson finally saw that point and has kept a very low profile off the court over the past couple of years. He needs to pull Vick aside and school him.

May 29, 2007 at 6:34 PM  
Blogger narbolo said...

Stop defending him. He has been a pro for 6 years now. He managed to stay trouble free for 4 1/2 years and all of a sudden he can't steer clear of problems. It seems like the further along he gets and the more money he makes, the more arrogant he becomes. I don't want him punished if he is innocent, but he clearly is involved on some level.

As for the UFC comparison ... The unfortunate situation you are talking about where the woman died took place in a Tough Man Competition. Totally different than the popular UFC. Tough Man Competitions are unsanctioned, unregulated events that let untrained ametuers get in the ring and fight for money. Tough Man is largely popular in small towns and the events take place in small venues like high school gyms. That is the human equivalent to dog fighting and that is why Tough Man has no mass appeal. The difference is that a person can decide for themselves, an animal has no deductive instincts.

All of that is off the point though. The issue is not about cheering violence on one hand and condemning it on the other. Dog fighting is illegal in VA.

May 30, 2007 at 7:10 AM  

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