Drug Addiction Treatment Blog

In response to the latest news on the Michael Vick controversy, I decided I would add a little more opinion to the recent statements made regarding the NFL decision to suspend Vick “indefinitely”.
I saw today that the Atlanta chapter of the NAACP has come out in defense of Michael Vick claiming these charges are racially motivated and that Vick should be given a second chance to prove his character before we ostracize him from society and the NFL. Many more Atlanta residents and members of society across the nation feel similarly.  I guess we all heard about Stephon Marbury’s comments that as far as he is concerned, dog fighting is a sport.  I don’t know how many people would go quite that far - I think it’s a reach to contend that an activity that is based on extreme violence and often death can be considered a sport.
Nonetheless, I continue to receive feedback from Atlanta residents as to their opinions on this issue.  One resident states ” I do not know how much an embarrassment Vick is to the city of Atlanta or at least he has not embarrassed me.  Everybody is human and as such we are flawed individuals. ” Well, fair enough - there’s no getting around the fact that no one is perfect.  People make mistakes every day ranging from completely non-consequential to life-changing.
Obviously, Vick has admitted to making the mistake of being involved in this horrible activity, but what about those who feel a ban from the NFL is going too far?  I know Pamela, from Atlanta isn’t alone when she says “Vick committed a crime and he is going to be held accountable for his actions by the justice system.  That should be good enough.” Without doubt, he should be held accountable for his actions, but he isn’t just a citizen who committed a crime.  If it were you or I who were facing these charges, the justice system is the only system we answer to - the only set of man-made rules to which we must adhere.  However, Vick is more than just a citizen. He is also a representative of the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons. When players enter professional sports, they take an oath with full understanding of the fact that they must abide by common law as well as the rules and regulations of the professional league to which they belong (code of conduct).  If his actions in  gambling on dog fights, knowingly financing the operation, and possibly being a party to the execution of the under-performing dogs are all violations of the NFL, then should he not be held accountable by that organization as well?  Sure, Vick has sold out games in Atlanta and has been a huge money maker for the Falcons and the city of Atalanta, but at what cost?  What kind of message would the NFL be sending if Vick were allowed to continue playing despite his multiple violations of NFL regulations (not to mention the fact that a large percentage of Vick’s fans have dogs as pets)?  In a sense, wouldn’t his continued participation in the NFL be similar to the justice system dismissing the charges completely?
While I do understand the sentiments of Pamela and the many others who feel that a ban from the NFL is going too far since Michael Vick is such an exceptional player, I don’t feel that tremendous talent should be used to get him off the hook with the NFL.  Big money or not, if Michael Vick has committed crimes against the NFL code of conduct, he needs to be held accountable through the NFL just as he is being held accountable for his crimes against common law by the justice system.
Now, as far as the NAACP claiming this whole thing is racially motivated, that’s just garbage.  Dog fighting is illegal, period. It wouldn’t matter if it was Brett Favre or the first polka-dotted player ever, a crime is a crime. Just because Vick is black and being charged with a crime doesn’t mean there are racist motivations behind it.  There is more than sufficient evidence for this charge (let’s not forget the guilty plea).   The NAACP has it’s benefits and it’s a great organization, but as an African American woman, I’m a little taken back to hear about this kind of nonsense.  Not everything is a racial matter.  These efforts are best saved for a truly racially motivated crime or charge, but this is not that case.
Then, I’m hearing people using the excuse that Vick’s father wasn’t around to tuck him in at night and he had to scrap for everything he had. Okay, well a lot of us have had to do that.  The large majority of American’s aren’t born into the Huckstable home with infallible guidance and a silver spoon in their mouths, but that doesn’t excuse the commission of crime or the disregard of life because childhood wasn’t what it should have been. People have overcome far worse and grown up to change the world.  History is full of examples.  Look, there is no way around this.  Michael Vick committed a heartless, brutal crime in having knowledge of dog fighting and allowing it to continue, not to mention the charges of execution if that turns out to be true.  He just doesn’t have an excuse and I feel it amazingly naive of any person attempting to manufacture one for him. He’s a grown man and he knew what the NFL required of his conduct before he ever wore the Falcon’s uniform. He violated those regulations and he committed a federal offense. He needs to deal with it and pay the price - on both ends.  And for all those Vick fans out there, it’s fine to appreciate his talent.  Most of us do recognize that he is an extraordinary football player, but he’s also a criminal - period.