The HSUS is no better than PETA for allowing him to buy his acceptance back. He should euthanized like most of the animals that PETA said it was saving.

Hitting a woman does not point to deep psychological problems, or a disregard for life, no, it is anger.

What did she do to make him so mad? A question heard by most battered woman. Play on.

It that clear enough? I was also addressing the commenter’s opinions who alluded to the abused as being able to get a restraining order or carry a gun as an excuse for taking the abuse against an animal more serious as abuse against another human.

I myself believe that people should be given second chances since we ALL are fallible, yet at the same time I understand why people do not want to watch Vick’s play in the NFL. I just think it should be taken with the same gravity as a football player who commits violence against another human such as spouse or girlfriend or child. I don’t think it is, and many people including the NFL cover it up by pretending it is a ‘private’ matter.

If a NFL player wants to keep his private life private, then stop involving the police. Once the police are involved then their qualifying for playing professional sports should be questioned, just as Vick’s qualifying to play professional sports for his abuse of animals is being questioned.

I agree with Meryl. It’s the money and whether a players behavior will affect the profits, not necessarily the seriousness of the crime.

“However, they know their players almost all do drugs, violate training rules, etc. and probably 80% of them are guilty of statutory rape.”

“These are serious accusations. Do you have any proof that any of this is true, or are they just your opinions?”

No, I don’t have proof that any of this is true. These are my opinions….similar to the opinions expressed by many others in this thread about the apparent lack of moral norms on the part of many NFL and NBA players.

My point is that the front offices of many of the pro-sports teams seem to kick in to overdrive on certain select situations. What is their criteria for going into the agonizing self-examinations? What is their criteria for throwing a Pete Rose overboard as opposed to (apparently) being tempted to recycle Michael Vick?

I overstated my opinion in hyperbole. Withdrawn.

I still wonder how they decide which situations to get excited about. Is it tied to negative public relations? Impact on ticket sales? Or does someone really believe they are actually delving in the “potential redemption” aspect and not wanting to be “too hard” on someone who’s paid the penalty under law?

I guess it seems to me that if indeed they want to recycle Vick at this point, then they shouldn’t have any trouble signing a brand new player who has exactly the same personal history (significant prison time served for dog fighting). Do you think they would do that?

P.S. Too bad that a restraining order didn’t stop Nicole Simpson from getting knifed, and too bad some consider having to carry a gun around to protect oneself from another human is an acceptable way to live. Perhaps if the sports world took violence against women and other humans as seriously as violence against animals, we wouldn’t be having this conversation because Vick’s would know that he would be gone, and might have made a better choice. That might not make him a better person but might have saved a lot of animals, and humans too.”

I imagine that the first sentence is aimed at me since I was the one who used that passage. I’m glad that you know the exact meaning, since I would have just thought that it meant we are not to judge others, considering that there are other passages in the bible that tell us that in other ways. I am not sure how you made the jump from Vick’s offense to Nicole Simpson, but I’m sure it makes sense in your mind. You do know that those acts are totally unrelated and committed by two different people, right?

Jack Okie – The name I use is because I usually have more questions than answers. I have been using that name for a while, it has nothing to do with this particular subject. You seem to have a hatred toward Vick that I don’t understand. I realize what he did was horrible, but there has to come a time when you have to move forward. You said, “The only person who can forgive an offender is the one offended against.” You do realize that dogs aren’t people, right?

You are assuming that because people don’t see things the way you do, that they have never had dogs. Your assumption is wrong. I worked with a local chapter of the SPCA (which was around for years before they changed it to the ASPCA) years ago – as my kids like to say, at the beginning of time. What you don’t seem to realize is that the pet industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. They care less about you being attached to your dog than they do that you spend money on your dog.

I volunteered with this organization back when dogs were outside animals for most people. We lobbied for animal rights, we educated people about spaying and neutering their dogs and cats, so that we could cut down on the numbers of strays that had to be put down, and we educated children about how to take care of their pet. At that time, we were seen as crazy people, but we managed to get some things changed. I also saw this organization change from people who would do anything for the animals, to people who cared more about money and legislative power than about the animals they were supposed to protect. I was in charge of going out on cruelty and injured animals calls. So, yes, I understand how horrible the things were that Vick did.

Back then, I had 3 dogs and 3 cats, and over the years I have had pets. I know dog-lovers who think violence to dogs is worse than violence to women. I have seen a person walk around a hungry child to feed the dog that she had with her. I have also seen dogs that fight their owner, regardless of what type of training they’ve had.

What you and others are proposing goes beyond justice or consequences. You are proposing outright revenge. That is the reason that I asked you to examine your motives. Vick is a professional football player. If you knew a plumber who was sent to jail for drug possession, should he not be allowed to be a plumber when he gets out of jail? Vick should be allowed to continue in his profession.

Meryl – #80

“However, they know their players almost all do drugs, violate training rules, etc. and probably 80% of them are guilty of statutory rape.”

These are serious accusations. Do you have any proof that any of this is true, or are they just your opinions?