by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright August 19, 2007
All Rights Reserved.

areer plans for Atlanta Falcon's superstar quarterback Michael Vick darkened with the plea deals for dogfighting co-defendants Quanis Phillips and Purnell Peace, both agreed to testify against the six-year phenom from Virginia Tech. Vick faces a career-ending felony and likely jail-time for subsidizing and participating in the “Bad Newz Kennels,” the name given to his dogfighting operation. Without cutting a plea deal, Vick faces a November trial with several eyewitnesses slated to testify about his barbaric behavior with man's best friend, including reports he drowned and hanged under-performing dogs. Vick faces a public relations nightmare, exposing the extremes of politically incorrect behavior, causing nearly universal condemnation. Even before facing a court and answering charges, Vick has watched his NFL career and endorsement deals go down the drain.

      National Football League players are supposed to be ambassadors and role models, furthering the league's image as America's favorite sport. “It seems to be a pretty clear indication there will be some sort to plea entered,” said Atlanta Falcon's owner Arthur Blank before a preseason game with the Buffalo Bills. “When, I'm not positive,” unsure whether Vick would fight the charges or face an ugly, drawn out trial with an unfavorable outcome. Blank refused to say the obvious that Vick's career was finished with the Atlanta Falcons and possibly the NFL. Dogfighting equates with animal cruelty, something so repugnant that most sportswriters and fans find Vick's behavior unforgivable. While despicable, there's nothing inherently more revolting and intolerable than other lowlife behavior like domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse and criminal conduct.

      Vick will plea bargain because there's too much direct evidence implicating him in dogfighting and gambling attached to the “sport.” “Did you conspire with these folks to sponsor a dogfighting venture?” Virginia-based U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson asked Phillips. “Yes, sir,” leaving little room for Vick's attorney Lawrence Woodward to maneuver. Phillips already signed an affidavit stipulating that Vick participated in dog executions by hanging and drowning. “Phillips agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the collective efforts of Peace, Phillips and Vick,” leaving Vick's attorneys limited wiggle-room. Both Phillips and Peace also indicated that Vick supplied most the funds for the gambling operation. “The ‘Bad Newz Kennels' operation and gambling monies were almost exclusively funded by Vick,” read a statement by Phillips and Peace.

      Vick grew up in the “Ridley Circle Homes” housing project in the East end of the port city of Harbor Roads. Living in concrete jungle of 950-federally-funded tenement slums, Vick witnessed firsthand murders, muggings, drug-dealings and drive-by shootings, all packed into two story rows of apartment buildings off I-664. Vick told the Newport Times “Daily Press” in 2001 that he would go fishing when he was 10 or 11 just to get away from the crime and violence. “I would go fishing even if the fish weren't biting, just to get out of there,” explaining, on some level, how the multimillionaire superstar stayed involved in dogfighting and gambling. Instead of joining a gang, becoming a crack-head,. alcoholic or engaging in other types of criminal conduct, Vick got involved in dogfighting. Low as it sounds, Vick was never accused of drug addiction or domestic abuse.

      Vick faced more criticism and disdain than O.J. Simpson, the former University of Southern California Heisman-Trophy winner and NFL Hall-of-Famer. “It's just very sad,” said Falcon's owner Art Blank. “It's sad that those allegations exist and now they are confirmed by others. It's sad that Michael has put himself into that kind of situation. It's his responsibility for putting himself into that situation,” acting as if Vick's NFL career were finished. NFL officials, league owners and fans must get some perspective about Vick's dogfighting indiscretion. Vick didn't deal drugs, rig games, engage in domestic abuse, rape, murder or gang violence. Baltimore Raven linebacker Ray Lewis survived a trial in which he was investigated for a gang-murder in which he had the victim's blood on his clothes. NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant beat rape charges, eventually settling out of court.

      Before the NFL, sports pundits and fans trash Vick's career, they should keep in perspective the nature of his crimes. No matter how cruel and morally reprehensible, Vick made some serious mistakes but didn't rape, murder or commit other unpardonable sins or crimes. Even multimillionaire superstar athletes don't shed childhood scars, leaving them affiliated with lowlifes engaged in ill-advised behavior. “This is one dogfighting ring that's been annihilated,” said Humane Society spokesman John Goodwin, putting Vick's actions into perspective. When the dust settles, Vick will pay a draconic price for engaging in dogfighting. Before NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell acts under public pressure, he should weigh the real damage to the league and offer Vick rehab. Unlike the recent NBA gambling scandal, Vick bet on dogfights, not on NFL regular season or playoff games.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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